On day three of Champions Week, we honor the 2024 WeTHRIVE!℠ Health for All Champion Award winner, Madison Kist from Mt. Healthy City Schools.
About the award
“The WeTHRIVE! Health for All champion award is given to an individual or team who works across sectors to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they live, work, learn, and play,” says Mary Ellen Knaebel, director of Health Promotion and Education with Hamilton County Public Health. “Health for All champions are advocates for a diverse and inclusive environment for everyone, ensuring that community members of all backgrounds and abilities have access to health and safety initiatives.”
Madison Kist accepted the 2024 WeTHRIVE! Health for All champion award at the annual WeTHRIVE! Recognition Event in December 2024.
Promoting health and wellness for students, staff, and families
As a dietitian with Mt. Healthy City Schools’ food service department, Madison Kist leads the district’s WeTHRIVE! team with passion and purpose, always working to create a healthier school environment for all. She is creative when developing initiatives for students and staff and is passionate about engaging everyone in the planning process. She also works with WeTHRIVE! partners to organize effective and diverse initiatives for students and staff.
During the 2023-24 school year, Madison organized a 5K fun walk/run for staff to promote social connection and physical activity (see our story for photos and more!). This event was so successful that it will be expanded to students and community members this year. She also coordinated biometric screenings for staff and collaborated with 1N5 (a WeTHRIVE! partner) to offer a meditation workshop series within the schools.
Olivia Conroy, WeTHRIVE! population health specialist, works with the Mt. Healthy Schools Health and Wellness Team. She says, “Madison is a dedicated and well-rounded individual who consistently gives her all in everything she does. With her enthusiastic leadership, she guides the team meetings, ensuring they are engaging and impactful. Madison also excels in organizing successful events and initiatives for students and staff, all focused on promoting healthy habits.”
When asked what winning the WeTHRIVE! Champion Award means to her, Madison said: “I am so grateful to have been nominated by my team for this award. Our wellness committee works hard every year to improve staff wellness and it is truly a team effort. I could not have done it without all their hard work and dedication! I am very proud of my team.”