Cooke and Rutherford Elementary Win Top Honors at 2025 Sullivan 180 Healthier Generation Awards

LIBERTY, N.Y. — Sullivan 180 celebrated local schools’ efforts to promote health and wellness Wednesday night at the Empowering a Healthier Generation Awards, held at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

George L. Cooke Elementary School in Monticello received the first-place award of $75,000 in the Healthier Generation Competition. Kenneth L. Rutherford Elementary, also in Monticello, won the second-place award of $50,000.

Judge’s Choice Awards went to Eldred Junior-Senior High School, which received $5,000, and Rockland Middle/High School, formerly Livingston Manor, which was awarded $10,000.

The event also honored Dr. Robert Dufour, superintendent of Sullivan BOCES, as he prepares to retire.

Additional $500 Turtle Awards recognized schools and staff leading wellness initiatives across several categories:

Connection to Nature: Cooke Elementary and Rockland Middle/High School

Mental Health: Fallsburg Junior-Senior High School and Rutherford Elementary

Nutrition: Liberty Elementary and Rockland Central School District

Physical Activity: Sullivan BOCES and Sullivan West Elementary

Special honors included Grant Project of the Year and Committee of the Year for Liberty Elementary, Advisor of the Year for Kelly Pratschler of Eldred JSHS, and new Champion for Wellness awards to individuals and groups across several districts, including Monticello student Celeste D’Andrea.

“What we are seeing now is so much more than programs and projects, it’s transformation,” said Meaghan Mullally-Gorr, Sullivan 180’s director of health and wellness. “This work is not only changing policies and practices, but also creating real, lasting change for students, families, and by extension the entire Sullivan County community.”

Schools shared highlights of their projects, which included outdoor classrooms, composting, expanded physical activity, healthy food access, and social-emotional learning initiatives.

“This is an ongoing effort, slow and steady, not unlike the turtle winning the race,” said Sandra Gerry, founding chair of Sullivan 180. “Celebrations such as this evening remind us of the progress we are making, together, on behalf of our children and their future.”

Turtle Awards were funded by local businesses and organizations, including Hudson Valley Credit Union, M & T Bank, Sullivan County Democrat, and 98.3 WSUL Heart-A-Thon, along with donations from the Hudson Valley Gives campaign.

The Empowering a Healthier Generation initiative is a partnership between Sullivan 180 and Sullivan County public schools. The program aims to foster a grassroots movement to improve health and wellness for students, families, and the broader community.

For more information, visit sullivan180.org.