Students score big in contest

Jared Fogle, Subway's national spokesman, paid a visit last week to two local schools to surprise the grand-prize winners of a recent monthlong Subway Fresh Fit Video and Poster Competition.

Logan DiTullio, a ninth-grade student at James Island Charter High School, and Osbaldo Duarte, a third-grader at St. Andrew's School of Math and Science, each received an awards package that included a $1,000 Subway card and $1,000 fitness grant for their schools for their entries.

Almost 400 students in the Lowcountry submitted posters and videos depicting how they stay healthy and fit. The program was designed to help educate students, increase local awareness about the nation's childhood obesity problem and provide positive incentives for kids to form healthier diet and exercise habits.

The Fresh Fit program is personal for Fogle, who was obese as a child. During his visit, he took time to talk to students about his own struggle with weight and about eating healthful foods in moderation. He has been successful in maintaining a weight of 190 for almost 11 years after a peak weight of 425 at age 20.

Fogle pinpoints the beginning of his weight gain to when he was in the third grade, blaming overeating and a lack of exercise on playing video games.

"For me, it meant I had instant access to play whenever I wanted to, and that wasn't a good thing for me," he said.

Runners-up in the contest each received a $100 Subway card. They are Brandon DiTullio, an 11th-grader at James Island Charter High; Hannah McDermett, an 11th-grader at Wando High School; Maddie Granger, a fifth-grader at Harborview Elementary School; and a group of fifth-graders, Mayra Lomeli-Garcia, Joshua Bailey, DaeQwan Haynes, Destiny Roberts and Victoria Wrighten, who attend North Charleston Elementary School.

Reach Shannon Brigham at 958-7393 or sbrigham@postandcourier.com.