DATE: March 21, 2008

CONTACT: Katherine Cason, (864) 656-0539
kcason@clemson.edu

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741
spalmer@clemson.edu

Clemson University DVD wins Telly awards

CLEMSON – “Lucy’s Tasty Treasures,” a Clemson University food and nutrition DVD for school children, recently won two bronze Telly Awards for outstanding film and video in the health and wellness category and for outstanding promotional piece in the health and fitness category.

The program was developed by Katherine Cason, professor and state program leader for food safety and nutrition, to help combat the obesity epidemic. It follows Cason’s daughter, Melissa, who plays Lucy in the show, on a treasure hunt to locate and learn about healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, dairy and whole grains. Other actors include Emory and Georgia Childress, Rosio Antunez, Mary Lewis and Clemson University students and faculty: Sergio Nieto Montenegro, Rachel Harris, Marta Gamboa, Mercedes Rossi and Yenory Hernandez

The Telly Awards honor local, regional and cable television commercials and programs, as well as video and film productions and work created for the Web. The 29th Annual Telly Awards received more than 14,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents.

A new program that takes a farm-to-table approach to promote healthful eating and physical activity is being offered to elementary schools this year through DVDs, family newsletters, student activity books and photo-novellas. 

The curriculum is being used in 30 percent of South Carolina schools, with orders from approximately 100 teachers in nine other states. It also is used by Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program educators in more than 260 schools and by the non-profit Zest Quest children’s health initiative in 14 schools. Additional information, recipes, games, a blog,and order form for the DVDs are at www.clemson.edu/lucystastytreasures/.

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