PRESS RELEASE: GHP, Sovita Credit Union & State Representatives honor teachers and students

***Photos available at end of release. Photo credit: Genesee Health Plan***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021

Shannon Ciszek, Communications Coordinator, Genesee Health Plan, 810.232.7740, sciszek@countyhealthplans.org

Genesee Health Plan, Sovita Credit Union and State Representatives honor teachers and students

GHP, Sovita Credit Union and National Center for African American Health Consciousness receive legislative tribute for Health Heritage Essay Contest

FLINT – The Genesee Health Plan (GHP) recognized teachers and students who participated in the Sixth Annual Health Heritage Essay Contest, sponsored by Sovita Credit Union, with contest partner, National Center for African American Health Consciousness, during a private ceremony on Friday, November 12. State Representative Tim Sneller and Michael Moon, Constituent Services Director for State Representative Mike Mueller, honored winners within their house districts.

Each year, students from across Genesee County reflect on their family health histories and how it will impact their current and future health.  Connections between family, community and health are highlighted through the Health Heritage Essay Contest which also helps to spark conversations between the student and their family, providing an intergenerational experience for all participants.

GHP, Sovita Credit Union, and the National Center for African American Health Consciousness were also honored with a legislative tribute, acknowledging work done with the contest and recognizing the month of February as Family Health Heritage Month. State Representative Tim Sneller and Michael Moon, Constituent Services Director for State Representative Mike Mueller, presented the legislative tribute, signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrest II and all Genesee County State Representatives.

“This is another way Genesee Health Plan reaches those in our community,” said Tim Sneller, State Representative 50^th House District. “The health plan does more than provide health care coverage to our community, it continues to partner with other organizations to help make a difference, and in this case, they help inspire the future of our community by providing this contest for participants to understand how important their health is.” “It was an honor to present these organizations with a tribute to recognize the outstanding work being done.”

“We are grateful for partnerships with Sovita Credit Union and the National Center for African American Health Consciousness and thank them for their continued support,” said Jim Milanowski, GHP President and CEO. “We see participation increase each year as a result of our joint efforts and we also thank the teachers, parents and guardians who encourage their students to participate.”

“This contest encourages conversations with students and their family about health which is more important now than ever,” said Mike Mueller, State Representative 51^st House District. “Congratulations to all students and teachers who participated, we are proud of the work you have done.”

This year, 115 students participated in the contests, a new record.

The contest winners were:

Elementary

• First place: Landon Pieper, Goodrich Area Schools
• Second place: Colt Maynard, Goodrich Area Schools

Middle school

• First place: Rithvik Venisetty, Grand Blanc East Middle School
• Second place: Aniya Adamczyk, Davison Middle School

High school

• First place: Amanda Benchley, Grand Blanc High School
• Second place (tied): Anna Martinez, and Madison Lee, Grand Blanc High School

The teacher winners are:

• Lyniece McNair-Levi, teacher at Grand Blanc High School, with participation from 67 students, including six scholarship submissions.
• Mary Ann Haar, teacher at Goodrich Area Schools, with participation from 13 students.

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Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is Genesee County’s plan for better health which began with the vision to have a community where each person has equal and affordable opportunity to live a healthy life. GHP is a nonprofit health care organization that was launched in 2001 to provide health care coverage and life-saving services to the uninsured residents of Genesee County. The plan has provided more than 90,000 county residents with doctor’s visits, cancer screenings, prescription drugs, X-rays and many more life-saving services since 2001. Learn more about GHP at geneseehealthplan.org or call 844.232.7740.