Kesha Beethe, Peru State College

Kesha Beethe, a junior sport management and exercise science major at Peru State, has focused on youth obesity in rural Nebraska. Kesha helped design the program for the college’s Children’s Health, Activity & Nutrition Community Engagement (CHANCE) Initiative, a partnership with the local elementary school focused on improving children’s health through nutrition and exercise. Kesha is looking beyond the ‘grass-roots’ involvement of volunteerism by examining the policies that influence nutrition and activity in rural areas. Kesha plans to remain in rural Nebraska to work with local governance for policy reform.