Thirty-two Nebraska schools received awards in April for their efforts to improve the school environment to support healthy eating and physical activity.

Health and education leaders gathered at the Nebraska Action for Healthy Kids Summit in Lincoln to recognize work that schools are doing to improve the health of students.

"It's reassuring to see the remarkable collective efforts by teachers, school administrators, nurses, students and families to address the problems of poor nutrition and inactivity by improving the school environment," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the State of Nebraska. "Students in the 32 recognized schools are being empowered for academic and lifelong success by having healthy school environments that support healthy behaviors."

A healthy school environment integrates healthy eating and physical activity across school operations and encompasses quality physical education, nutrition education, physical activity opportunities, nutrition standards for food sold and served in school, community outreach programs, active school wellness councils and more.

Nebraska Action for Healthy Kids is a nonprofit organization addressing the epidemic of overweight, sedentary and undernourished youth by improving nutrition and increasing physical activity in schools.

The group presents gold, silver and bronze Action Awards based on each schools comprehensive wellness application. To date, only three schools have received the Gold level distinction.

The award winners:

Silver Awards

Ansley: Ansley Public School
Ashland: Ashland-Greenwood Elementary School
Crete: Crete Middle School
Firth: Norris Elementary School
Hartington: Hartington Public Schools
Lincoln: Campbell Elementary School

Loup City: Loup City Public Schools
Macy: Umo "ho" Nation Public School
North Platte: Jefferson Elementary School
Omaha: R.M. Marrs Magnet Center
Omaha: St. Bernard Catholic School
Omaha: Swanson Elementary School
Omaha: Western Hills Magnet
St. Libory: Central City Middle School
Walthill: Walthill Public School

Bronze Awards

Ashland: Ashland-Greenwood Middle School
Curtis: Medicine Valley Public Schools
Diller: Diller-Odell Elementary School
Firth: Norris Middle School
Harrisburg: Banner County School
McCook: Central Elementary School
Lincoln: Goodrich Middle School
McCook: McCook Elementary
McCook: McCook Jr. High School
McCook: McCook Sr. High School
Omaha: Catlin Magnet Arts Center
Omaha: McMillan Magnet Center
Omaha: St. Philip Neri School
Omaha: Trinity Christian School
Pleasanton: Pleasanton High School
Wahoo: Wahoo Public School
Wilcox: Wilcox-Hildreth School