In the recent Colorado Innovation Challenge, Dr. Chrissy Chard, a Colorado School of Public Health faculty member and her colleague Kellie Walters advanced as finalists from about 80 other submissions around the state for their creation of SmartFit Girls. The competition called for Colorado entrepreneurs to submit their innovations that promote healthy lifestyles to the youth population. Their program, SmartFit Girls is a 10-week after-school program aims to empower middle school girls with positive body image, confidence, and self-efficacy.

Chard and Walters  and gave their final pitch and participated in a Q&A in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. They were awarded the $5,000 grand prize among the adult submissions, which they plan to use for future program expansion in Colorado and beyond.

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