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By David Simpson 

������ has won recognition from the awards program, which honors organizations that emphasize the well-being of their employees.�� 

“I am so pleased and excited to learn about the national award received by ������ as one of Virginia’s Healthiest Employers for 2022,” said September Sanderlin, vice president for human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion. “This award, based on employee wellness programs, reflects ������’s commitment of fostering healthy habits for our employees and our surrounding community.” 

������ is listed sixth among employers in Virginia that have 1,500-4,999 workers. Bolstering the University’s case for inclusion was the Monarch Wellness Trail program, created by ������’s in 2021 in response to gym closings during the COVID-19 pandemic.�� 

Conceived by HR’s Kim Butler, Brenda Johnson and JaRenae Whitehead and approved by Sanderlin, the program includes three marked trails on the main campus: 

• Stadium Wellness Trail: Starts at Lot 8 and goes around S.B. Ballard Stadium (0.6 mile).��  

• Academic Wellness Trail: Starts at 49th Street and Hampton Boulevard (1.5 miles).�� 

• Campus Tour Wellness Trail: Starts at Bluestone and 49th Street, near the ERT bike repair station (0.85 mile).��  

The handsome signs along the routes sprang from a $2,000 grant awarded to Human Resources by Town-N-Gown, Butler said.  

From fall 2021 to fall 2022, the trail program included twice-monthly group walks, three times each day. The trails remain open to faculty, staff, students and local residents.  

On a blue-sky, 65-degree day early this month, Elaine Ross walked the stadium trail.�� 

“I love it,” said Ross, coordinator for graduate recruitment, who works in Rollins Hall. “I usually try to take one or two walks a day, just to get away from my desk.” 

In making its case to be a Healthiest Employer, the University also highlighted its other efforts to help employees thrive during the pandemic. Those endeavors included telework, videoconferencing, public health emergency leave, and free COVID-19 testing, vaccines and masks.��

The only other higher-ed institution on the 2022 list, the University of Virginia, ranked No. 7 among organizations employing 5,000 or more.�� 

Award applicants were evaluated across six categories: Culture and Leadership, Foundational Components, Strategic Planning, Communication and Marketing, Programming and Interventions, and Reporting and Analytics. Completed assessments were ranked with the proprietary Healthiest Employers® Index, a 1-100 rubric for wellness programming. The survey is scored and powered by Springbuk, a health intelligence platform.    

Since 2009, Springbuk has administered the Healthiest Employers® Awards Program across the country to honor employers who strive to improve their worksite health and wellness programs. Learn more at and .��