LEWISTON – Dr. Patrick O’Neill, principal of Lewiston High School, has been recognized for his participation in the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthy Communities Principal Challenge, a six-month competition among six area principals designed to encourage young people to practice healthy living.

Jim Parker, general manager of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, has presented O’Neill with a check for $500 to be used for new health and fitness equipment or in any other way that will continue to promote and encourage high school students to practice healthy lifestyles at Lewiston High School.

“This was a wonderful experience for the students and me,” O’Neill said. “Not only did it help us promote the importance of nutrition and physical activity, it also gave us a sense of accomplishment because we became involved with the community.”

O’Neill began the Principal Challenge by participating in a regular walking exercise with other faculty. He used a pedometer every day to chart his steps and was surprised to learn that a typical week yielded 37,000 steps.

He invited the entire school to power walk the track for two miles after school twice a week with him. “Besides the obvious physical benefit of these walking exercises, I also found them to be very relaxing,” he said. He took a Pilates class and charted his daily physical workouts, which included activities such as weight lifting, kayaking, swimming and stacking wood.

O’Neill also participated in a healthy cooking class at the Portland Public Market and employed that knowledge during last year’s Thanksgiving dinner. “I prepared many dishes using new methods and ingredients to make it a healthier meal,” he said.

The community benefited from Lewiston High School’s participation in the challenge as well. The consumer life sciences class made mittens and scarves for kids, while the French class raised money for the needy and the Spanish class participated in Adopt-A-Family through the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project. The school also participated in The Linus Project, where students knit blankets for homeless children.

“The Linus Project was a special accomplishment and something the school has decided to do again next year,” O’Neill said. “We all learned about the rewards of good stewardship. By being involved in the community, the students, parents and faculty all contributed to the success of the Principal Challenge.”

Parker said that the community relations team at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield came up with an idea. “We were hopeful the principals would embrace our concept of spreading the word about healthy lifestyles, and they did an outstanding job by sticking with the entire program. Everybody involved in the program got excited with their activities and, in the end, we all exceeded our expectations with the first Principal Challenge.”

The challenge officially began on July 1 and ended on Dec. 31, 2003. Each month focused on a specific goal, and at the end of every month each school was awarded stars based on its level of participation.

Other participants in the inaugural challenge were Jeanne Crocker, South Portland High School; Carl Stasio, Thornton Academy; Chris Mosca, Greely High School; Paul Pendleton, Morse High School; and, Sheila Jepson, Bonny Eagle High School.