Tyler Channel, left, and nursing student Lacy Erickson do a 15-minute walk during the final day of the “Yes We Can” program held at the Sawyer Elementary gymnasium. The six-week long program, led by Northern Michigan University senior nursing students, educated children ages 10 to 13 on a variety of topics including health, nutrition and self esteem. (Journal photo by Julia Woehrer)

K.I. SAWYER — Northern Michigan University nursing students educated children about health, nutrition, exercise and education throughout a six-week long program called “Yes We Can” at the Sawyer Elementary gymnasium recently. The free program was led by 10 senior nursing students every Wednesday for 12 children ages 10 to 13 who attend Sawyer Elementary and Gilbert Elementary. Nursing students Rachel Wilson and Missy Cusumano came up with the idea while taking a community health class with nursing professor Eileen Smit at NMU and working at the W at K.I. Sawyer. They went on to write a grant proposal to acquire funds for the program and were awarded about $1,900 from the Michigan Campus Compact grant. The program got underway with the help of Smit and nursing professor Mary Ellen Powers. Although some of the children may have been wary of going to a “class” after their normal school hours, they showed a lot of enthusiasm.