The first program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic,
triathlon courses offered to selected elementary, middle and high school P.E.
programs in Howard County, Md.
TriColumbia, the Mid-Atlantic’s premier endurance event production
company, today announced a partnership with the Howard County Public
School System (HCPSS) to implement elementary, middle and high school
triathlon instruction during physical education courses in an effort to
educate students on the experience and lifestyle benefits of triathlon.
The partnership was formalized with an official signing on September 28
at
Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia, Md.
The first program of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic, TriColumbia will
collaborate with physical education instructors to pilot a triathlon
(swim, bike, run) program for fourth grade students at Hammond and
Talbott Springs elementary schools, sixth grade students at Burleigh
Manor and Wilde Lake middle schools, and ninth grade students at Glenelg
and Long Reach high schools. HCPSS will provide instructional
assistance in swimming, cycling and running, as well as necessary
equipment and transportation.
“The HCPSS partnership with TriColumbia provides a new opportunity for
our students to be active in a fun and exciting way,” said Mary Schiller
of the HCPSS Partnerships Office. “Students will learn that the sport
of triathlon welcomes athletes of all abilities; that it is as much
about embracing a healthy lifestyle and having a can-do attitude as it
is about the finish line.”
“Our goal is for students to develop the skills, knowledge and
confidence to carry on when they leave Howard County Public Schools,”
said Jackie French, Instructional Facilitator of Physical Education for
HCPS. “This unique program further contributes to that goal by providing
a foundation for youth to build an active lifestyle that will last a
lifetime.”

Each program will be designed appropriately for the students’ ages and
fitness levels, and modifications will be made as needed to ensure that
all students, including those with disabilities, are able to participate
successfully. TriColumbia will also sponsor 25 scholarships for
age-appropriate triathlons, to be awarded by P.E. instructors to
students at each participating school.
“Having the opportunity to work with the Howard County Public School
System to educate students on the benefits of healthy lifestyles through
triathlon is a tremendous honor for TriColumbia,” said Robert Vigorito,
President and founder of TriColumbia. “It has always been a dream of
mine to give back to the community and to educate our youth and I would
like to thank HCPSS as well as our sponsors for making this possible.”
Sponsors of the pilot program include Howard County General Hospital,
The Horizon Foundation and McDonalds Family Restaurants of Greater
Baltimore. (Source: TriColumbia
http://www.tricolumbia.org/)
Thanks to TriColumbia and your corporate sponsors!
We are excited to be working with you!