Winners of National "How I Get a Heap of Sleep" Contest Announced

When: January 28, 2003
Where: Shadd Elementary School, Washington, DC
Institute: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Shadd Elementary School students met Garfield the Cat when prizes were awarded to three "How I Get a Heap of Sleep" contest winners. The contest, which challenged children to describe what they do before bed to help them sleep, was part of the "Sleep Well. Do Well. Star Sleeper" Campaign to teach children and their parents about the importance of sleep. It was offered to children nationwide through online and classroom promotions, including a lesson plan sent to 44,000 second and third grade classrooms.

NHLBI Director Dr. Claude Lenfant and Dr. Carl E. Hunt, Director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at the NHLBI--joined by Garfield the Cat- awarded prizes to Danielle Wodka, age 7, of Illinois, and Amanda Davol of Massachusetts and Qian Wang of Kentucky, both age 8. Ninety Shadd Elementary School children joined in welcoming the youngsters to the Nation's Capital and their school. Also, six Shadd students were awarded Star Sleeper status for winning a local version of the contest.

Among the things the awardees said they did each night to help them get a good night's sleep was saying "a prayer for my parents, baby sister, and our President Bush" from Wodka; not watching TV from Davol; and finishing his homework early "because then I can get a relaxing evening" from Wang.

The Campaign is co-sponsored by Paws, Inc., the corporate entity behind Garfield the Cat.

Next steps:
Information about the Star Sleeper Campaign is available at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/starslp/index.htm.

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