LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A local school has been named among the top schools in the North Coast region and a finalist in the annual Governor's Fitness Challenge, which works to encourage young people to be more physically active.

Lower Lake Elementary School is in the competition to win a fitness center if it comes out ahead in the challenge, which runs through the end of May.

As of Tuesday, April 26, the school was leading the North Coast region with 83,946 active days recorded, officials said. An active day is one in which a student is active for at least 30 minutes.

The school's next closest competitor in its region was Harvest Middle in Napa, which had 59,480 active days.

Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Jake Steinfeld said the council will award three $100,000 Live Positively Fitness Centers to California schools that participate in the 2011 Governor’s Fitness Challenge, and make a special effort to promote physical activity for students during the month of May – California’s Fitness Month.

“When it comes to fitness, I’m a big believer in giving schools the tools,” he said. “We started the Governor’s Challenge this year offering three fitness centers as our grand prizes. Now, thanks to Coca-Cola’s Live Positively Initiative, we’re able to double that to 6.”

Steinfeld thanked the company for stepping up “at a time when our state government is being forced to slash budgets.”

He said he hopes the new fitness centers will be an incentive for all California children to be active during the month of May, a month in which most schools implement state mandated academic testing.

“When kids are active they feel better about themselves, they have more confidence and they do better in school,” Steinfeld said. “That’s a big reason why we started the Governor’s Challenge, because academics and fitness go hand in hand.”

One Northern, Central, and Southern California school will each be selected to receive a Live Positively Fitness Center award.

Officials said winning schools will be selected from a group of finalists based on participation in the 2011 Governor’s Challenge and based on essays describing what each school has done to help its students “live positively” by promoting physical activity during the month of May.

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, a longtime proponent of physical activity, was the leader in establishing May as California Fitness Month when he was in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate.

Torlakson said he is taking on a leadership role with the Governor’s Fitness Challenge because of the proven benefits of physical activity.

“Research shows that physically active students are in better health, have greater confidence and self-esteem and perform better academically,” said Torlakson. “I encourage all California students to take the Governor’s Fitness Challenge and engage in an active, healthy lifestyle.”

The other top 10 Northern California schools ranked by region include the following.

Bay Area: FAME Public Charter, Fremont, 134,061 active days; Ruskin Elementary, San Jose, 132,419 active days; Sunset Ridge Elementary, Pacifica, 132,419 active days; Holbrook Elementary, Concord, 82,757 active days.

Gold Country: Waterford Middle, Waterford, 77,986 active days; Osborn Elementary, Turlock, 75,980 active days; Great Valley Academy, Modesto, active days 74,486; and Tuolumne Elementary, Modesto, 69,485 active days.

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