Registration open for ‘Fishing for Fitness’ Tournament

by Kelly Rogge

Kansas City Kansas Community College is getting ready to go fishing, but not in the way you might expect.

The Fishing for Fitness Tournament starts March 31 at KCKCC’s Wellness and Fitness Center. The four-week Incentive Program combines physical activity with tracking of weekly fruit and vegetables. Pam Hall, personal trainer at the Wellness Center, said it is a great way to challenge KCKCC employees and students.

At the beginning of each week, participants will catch a “fish,” which will determine the amount of weight in pounds that week’s activity will be worth.

Activity pounds are tracked and turned in weekly.  Bonus activity pounds can be earned as well as bonus pounds for daily fruit and vegetables.  At the end of the four weeks, participants “weigh in” to see who has the most pounds of healthy activity.

“The goal of the program is to challenge our employees and wellness students to add more physical activity to their days and weeks, to make a consistent effort to include physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices in their everyday lives,” she said. “This program provides physical activity and nutrition components that are assigned an amount of poundage. The goal is to weigh in each week with the most amounts of pounds you can accrue accordingly.”

This is the third time KCKCC has done Fishing for Fitness. Last year, the Wellness Center had an indoor duathlon for the spring health incentive program, however, not many participated. Instead, past participations of the Fishing for Fitness Tournament requested it be brought back.

“This program gets participants who are struggling to keep an exercise program going jumpstarted and motivated to keep going for a consistent four weeks,” Hall said. “The Fishing for Fitness Tournament also will challenge the consistent exercisers to add a bit more to their weekly activity. It will challenge all participants to take four weeks and give back to themselves in a healthy way.”

For more information or to register for the Fishing for Fitness Tournament, visit the KCKCC Wellness and Fitness Center or call Pam Hall at 913-288-7368. Hall can also be contacted by email at [email protected].

KCKCC No. 1 for 15th year at Pitt State Jazz Festival

Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Band members cited by outstanding musicianship and soloist recognition included (from left Jon Tobaben, Charles Glover, Rayvon Haggerty, Karriem Sayles, Levi Holgersen and Director Jim Mair. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins

To say that adjudicators at the Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival liked performances by the Kansas City Kansas Community College Jazz Band and two combos may be an understatement.

“Smokin’ band and killer charts!” wrote one adjudicator.

“Terrific work! Nice ensemble work and great solos. Well done,” wrote another

Bill Hartman, formerly of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, wrote “Great program, well played. Congratulations!”

The comments came as the KCKCC Jazz Band and combos 1 and 2 received No. 1 ratings at the Pittsburg State Jazz Festival for the 15th consecutive year.

Ten of the KCKCC musicians were cited for outstanding musicianship and soloist recognition.

They were Karriem Sayles of Wyandotte, piano; Richard Tucker, Sumner Academy, alto; Cole Mertz, Basehor-Linwood, trombone; Nelson Hanson, Lansing, vibes and drums; P.J. Churn, SM West, flute; Jon Tobaben, SM South, trumpet and voice; Levi Holgersen, McPherson, bass; Kenneth Watson, Knob Knoster, drums and voice; and Charles Glover of Olathe North and Rayvon Haggerty of Topeka High, both tenor saxophones.

In addition to performing, the KCKCC band was guest at a concert performed by the Bob Mintzer big band from Los Angeles.