Western wins Golden Apple Award for faculty, staff wellness program

Western Washington University has won the annual Golden Apple Award because of the effectiveness of its Faculty and Staff Wellness Program.

The Golden Apple Award is presented annually at the Healthy Worksite Summit to recognize an outstanding worksite health promotion program in the state of Washington. The award was established in 1986 to recognize excellence in promoting physical fitness and health at the worksite and may be presented to a community, employer, employee, community agency, or an individual for their leadership in this area.

The Golden Apple Award is presented by the Healthy Worksite Summit Planning Committee, which consists of the American Heart Association and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, and the Association of Washington Cities.

Western’s Faculty and Staff Wellness Program, which is part of Western’s Human Resources Department and the Division of Business and Financial Affairs (BFA), offers faculty and staff a range of exercise and wellness programs. The program was recognized as the 2011 Golden Apple Award winner last month at the Healthy Worksite Summit.

Chyerl Wolfe-Lee, director of Western’s Human Resources Department, said the award-winning program affirms the university’s commitment to promoting good health among its employees. She also praised the work of Kaylee Nightingale, WWU Health Promotion specialist with the Faculty and Staff Wellness Program.

“We are honored to receive this award. Kaylee Nightingale has been instrumental in establishing a high-quality Wellness program. This award represents the BFA vision: to deliver best-in-class services to Western. We encourage employees to visit the Wellness website to see the award winning opportunities provided,” Wolfe-Lee said.

Previous winners of the Golden Apple Award include: BP West Coast Products, Fairchild Air Force Base, Georgia Pacific, Regence, Snohomish County, Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Washington State Department of Revenue, and Weyerhaeuser.