Wellness Wednesday – Shining the light on wellness

Fifteen local professionals, including UNMC’s Lori Clapper, received the Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) William M. Kizer ‘Light of Wellness’ Award at banquet last Thursday night at Omaha’s Lauritzen Gardens.

Through drastic changes in diet and exercise habits, Clapper, an accountant in the College of Medicine’s Dean’s Office, has lost nearly 100 pounds since July 2007.

Carol Frizzell, a nutrition care worker at The Nebaska Medical Center, also received a Healthy Behavior Award from WELCOM at the event.

The Light of Wellness Award — which has been handed out for seven years — was created to recognize the founder and inspiration for worksite wellness in America, Omaha native and business leader William M. Kizer.

Kizer founded WELCOM in 1982 and the Wellness Councils of America, the national non-profit organization, in 1987. He is chairman emeritus of Central States Indemnity.

Nominees have to meet criteria in five categories including social, physical, intellectual, spiritual and emotional health.

Lori Clapper, second from right, with her daughter, Renee Swigart, husband Skeet Clapper, and son Josh Swigart, at WELCOM’s seventh annual William M. Kizer ‘Light of Wellness’ Award Banquet last Thursday.

“In order to be nominated for the award, these individuals had to demonstrate that they were leading healthy lifestyles and acting as role models for others,” said Howie Halperin, executive director of WELCOM. “They are the models of what Bill Kizer envisioned for worksite wellness and the positive impact it can have on individuals and the success of their companies.”

Omahan John Atkinson was the keynote speaker for the event. Atkinson is battling stage IV lung cancer, even though he was never a smoker. Atkinson won the U.S. Golf Digest Challenge with his compelling story and wound up golfing with celebrities such as NBC’s Matt Lauer, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and pop star Justin Timberlake at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, the site of this year’s U.S. Open

Also at the dinner, Nat Ponticello of The Nebraska Medical Center and Amy Matthews of Creighton University Medical Center were honored for their leadership within their companies for promoting wellness and making it an important part of their strategic direction.