Sunnyside Unified School District middle school students receive weekly challenges to improve their nutrition and physical activity as part of a nearly $2 million research grant to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes over three years. Under the grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Carol M. White Physical Education Program, the YMCA of Southern Arizona, in partnership with the University of Arizona Nutritional Sciences Department and the Sunnyside Unified School District, are working in large part through student leaders to encourage physical activity, nutrition education and character development among students in sixth through eighth grades.

Students play Nutrition Jeopardy at lunch, hold fruit-tastings and participate in a blindfolded vegetable taste testing contest. The challenge is part of a district wide effort to boost physical activity and improve nutrition among Sunnyside Unified School District middle school students.

Each school has active Student Advisory Leadership Teams, (SALT) to provide student leadership.
One hundred fifty students from 5 Middle schools have attended leadership training at the Triangle Y Ranch Camp. SALT members learn nutrition lessons and physical activity lessons that they are able to take back to their classrooms and share with their peers.