A drawing of seventh grader Brielle Prock’s smoothie bar vision for Denair Middle School landed the small town student not only a $3,000 grant to implement the project, but a three-day trip over 2,000 miles away to Michigan for the Domino’s Transformation Experience.
“Over the summer I went to a [NFL Play 60] summit in Chicago and we got to make our own smoothies and that inspired me. I wanted to bring it to my school,” said Prock. “Our breakfast wasn’t that healthy and smoothies are a little bit healthier and tastier than other foods.
“I think kids will enjoy that,” continued Prock.
With an underlying goal to inspire, empower and motivate “creative, curious and brave student entrepreneurs who wish to make changes in school and community health and wellness,” Adventure Capital partnered with Domino’s for the Domino’s Transformation Experience. Prock was one of eight students countrywide who attended the three-day event, as well as one who was awarded a $3,000 grant to implement her project.
DMS Principal Travis Manley said he and food services director Billy Reid have already discussed how to roll out the smoothie bar once the money is received.
“I was excited when I found out that I had been selected because I don’t really win contests. This is the first contest I won,” said Prock. “In the entire nation, I was one of the eight that was selected.”
During her trip to Michigan, Prock said that she talked to different Domino’s executives, who told her about their ideas, struggles and lessons, and participated in several activities with the other contest winners. She said her favorite part was visiting the Domino’s test kitchen where she made her own pizza topped with sausage, bacon, salami, feta cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and olives.
“I got to make another pizza once before with Domino’s in 2013 because my dad was on the dairy management board,” said Prock, “but this was a whole different experience. I got to take the pizza out of the oven and cut it.”
This is not the first time the Denair seventh grader has made headlines this year. In June, Prock was selected as one of three students in California to serve as the State Ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60, a nationwide health and wellness program created in partnership with the National Dairy Council and National Football League.
Fuel Up to Play 60 helps create healthier school environments in over 73,000 schools nationwide. Through the program, students receive encouragement or recognition through a number of awards, including a trip to the Super Bowl, NFL merchandise and NFL player appearances.
“Fuel Up to Play 60 gives students like me an opportunity to support making healthy food choices and get active at school for 60 minutes a day, and to help other kids do the same,” said Prock in June.
