Knox County’s Crunch Out 2022 Program Celebration happened on Saturday at the Gallagher Center in Mount Vernon.

The United Way of Knox County celebrated the winners of the 2022 Program.
These students were recognized for outstanding effort and commitment to living healthy lives. 

  • Crunch Out is a Health Initiative coordinated by United Way of Knox County. This 6-week wellness activity program was offered to 4th graders throughout all the Knox County Schools. Nearly 580 students participated in the program between September and November.    
  • Since the pilot program in 2013, it is estimated that just over 5,000 children and their families have learned how to Crunch Out with 5-2-1-0!

What does 5-2-1-0 stand for?

  • 5: Eating fruits and vegetables at least 5 times a day
  • 2: Cutting screen time to 2 hours or less a day
  • 1: Participating in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day
  • 0: Restricting soda and sugar-sweetened sports and fruit drinks. Drink water and 3-4 servings/day of fat-free/skim or 1% milk.

580 essays were submitted! When making these choices, many kids reported feeling better physically and mentally. Some even indicated better relationships with their siblings!

Thanks to the physical education teachers who helped implement this program:

  • Heather Barbour, Brock Evans, and Kurt Roberts – Mount Vernon City Schools
  • Ann Henry – Danville Elementary
  • Ran Jones – East Knox Elementary
  • Marilyn Rutherford – Fredericktown Elementary
  • Brandon Dodrill – Centerburg Elementary

Thanks to the community partners that joined United Way to support the Crunch Out Program: Knox Community Hospital, the YMCA of Mount Vernon and the Get Healthy Knox County community coalition.

Students who completed daily Crunch Out journals received some fun prizes throughout the duration of the program. At the completion of the 6-week program, students were asked to write a “How I am Living Healthy” essay.

These students were recognized for outstanding effort and commitment to living healthy lives. 

  • Crunch Out Winners:
  • From Fredericktown Elementary –
    – Lachlan Flint from Mrs. Snyder’s Class
    – Adaire Levering-Smith from Mrs. Boone’s Class
    – Wynter Roush from Mr. Kruger’s Class
  • The Overall Fredericktown School Essay Winner is Nash Matheny from Mrs. Shrimplin’s Class
  • From Danville Elementary
    – Landon Breckler is Ms. T. Lyons’s Classroom winner
    – The overall Danville School Essay Winner is Ryleigh Harris from Mrs Newbold’s class
  • From East Knox Elementary
    – Roxie Griffin from Mrs. Wobbecke’s Classroom
    – Aloisio Ribirio from Mrs. Meade’s class
    – East Knox School Essay Winner is Elaina Koontz from Mr. McElroy’s class
  • From Centerburg Elementary
    – Katelynn Bell from Mrs. White’s classroom
    – Ellie Staats from Ms. Workmans’s class
    – and from Ms. Sammon’s room, the winner is Ella Cornett
    – Emma Chrysler is our winner from Mrs. Thompson’s class and is our Centerburg School winner (see below)
  • From Mount Vernon City Schools

– Wiggin Street Elementary
– Jack Jenkins from Ms. Wegmiller’s class
-Mrs. Sabo’s class had two winners this year, Isla Robinson and Delaney Newell! Delaney is the Wiggin Street school winner.

– Columbia Elementary
– Lilyonna Groah from Mrs. Thomas’s class
– The overall school winner at Columbia Elementary, representing Mrs. Barteau’s class is Emery Virostek

– Pleasant Street Elementary
– Wade Finley from Mrs. Jacklin’s class
– Ally Bonvillain from Mrs. DeBoard’s class
– The overall Pleasant Street school winner: Mia Calkins from Mr. Bonaudi’s class

– Twin Oak Elementary
– Kelsey McCallen from Mrs. Meier’s Class
– Kaylee Mullins from Mrs. Dallas’ class
– The Twin Oak overall school winner is Henley Caughlan from Mrs. Martin’s class

– East Elementary
– Jordyn Plumly from Mrs. Martin’s class
– The East Elementary School winner is Morgan Tocheff from Ms. Frackman’s class

– Dan Emmett Elementary
– The Dan Emmett school essay winner is Kyler Allen from Mrs. Farr’s classroom

The 2022 overall Knox County winners:

Delaney Newell from Wiggin Street Elementary School. She received a one-year YMCA membership!

Nash Matheny from Fredericktown Elementary School. He received a one-year Family Pass to Hiawatha Water Park and Pool


Emma Chrysler from Centerburg Elementary School. Her essay was a creative story about a dragon who learned to make healthy lifestyle choices. She received a gift card for a new bike!

Hear the audio of Emma reading her story here!

Thank you, United Way!