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Symons Elementary School Principal Nancy Tetens was the winner of the myLifetime.com Clean Start Challenge. She was awarded $10,000 and a trip for four to Disney World. She is pictured with fourth-graders Jesse Schmidt and Abbie Moccio, who read a tribute.
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An abrupt, anticipatory hush fell over the Symons Elementary School gymnasium Tuesday morning as hundreds of students and faculty awaited the imminent entrance of their principal, Nancy Tetens.
They had a surprise for her.
She had won. And won big.
When she came into the gym, the students hollered, "Surprise!" and she was presented with an oversized check for $10,000 from a producer of Lifetime Entertainment.
Tetens was the winner of myLifetime.com's Clean Start Challenge.
"I can't stop shaking," she said. "I didn't really expect to win."
In January, Tetens was selected as a finalist for myLifetime.com's Clean Start Challenge, an original Web series that asked 10 women from across the country to document the ups and downs of accomplishing their New Year's resolutions over a 10-week span by way of weekly videos posted to the Web site. The woman who received the most votes from viewers was to receive $10,000 and a trip for four to Disney World.
Tetens' goal was to lose weight by living a healthier, more active lifestyle and to inspire the teachers and students at Symons to do the same. She resolved to engage the help of her students and to become a daily role model to the kids.
Her weekly videos chronicled her efforts to eat better and exercise more. She spoke of the support she was receiving from her students.
"I want the students to know you can commit to something and stick with it," she said at the outset of the contest. "I wanted them to see that even as adults we can set a goal and stick to it."
Tetens began eating smaller portions, swimming regularly and walking often. In the end, she lost 35 pounds.
And won $10,000.
"This is cool," Tetens told the cheering students gathered in the gym, "but what's even cooler is that no matter what you want to do with your life, you can do it."
Symons teacher Dan Adams orchestrated the presentation, while Lifetime Entertainment producer Michael Prochaska filmed the event.
Fourth-graders Jesse Schmidt and Abbie Moccio read a tribute to Tetens' efforts.
"From Day 1, you've embraced this challenge," Prochaska said. "You've been an inspiration to your community and to our online community."
To close the presentation, teachers, district administrators and Tetens joined the students in an energized round of the hokey-pokey.
Tetens said the best part of the challenge was interacting with her students, feeding on their encouragement.
"It was neat to involve the kids because that's really what it was all about," she said. "I don't think I've ever been successful with weight loss. I think being able to involve the kids helped."
And Tetens knows she has farther to go. She knows she can't stop now just because the contest is over.
"I plan to continue doing what I'm doing until I get healthy," she said.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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