Being fit and active are important to Reginald Reid.

The Kent man has five children of his own. The second-year principal oversees a student body of 455 strong at Meredith Hill Elementary on Auburn’s West Hill. The mentor and coach works with children at his church, Soul’d Out Christian Center, which worships out of Kent-Meridian High School.

“It’s cool to be in shape, even when you’re a kid,” Reid said. “You don’t want to wait until you’ve grown into an adult. It’s a lifestyle. It’s important.”

Looking to expand his knowledge and spread his message on being healthy and active, Reid applied for a national scholarship sponsored by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). To his surprise, he recently was announced as one of 50 winners nationwide.

More than 200 people applied for the Ash Hayes Scholarship, which provides educational resources and materials to those who possess a passion for working to eliminate the childhood obesity epidemic.

In his application, Reid wrote:

“As an elementary school principal, I see children all the time that have trouble walking or moving about comfortably. I hear children talk about not enjoying P.E. because it is too physically hard for them. I see children getting teased by members of their peer group. What I hope to do is to formalize my knowledge around physical health, nutrition and the overall operation of the human body so that I can help young people to begin to see at an early age the importance of taking care of their body as a lifelong commitment.”

ACE is a leader in the fitness industry, bridging the gap between fitness and the health care continuum. ACE protects society against ineffective fitness products, programs and trends through public education, scholarships and research. It also protects the public by setting certification and continuing education standards for fitness professionals.

Launched in September 2014, the scholarship supports professionals who educate and encourage youth toward leading healthier lives.

Dr. Asahel “Ash” E. Hayes, a 60-year veteran of the fitness industry and former executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, has dedicated his career to helping children develop a love of physical activity.