Falcon Elementary School of Technology wellness co-leaders Brenda Waldron and Dawn Takas were honored at El Paso County Colorado School District 49’s "Fantastic 49" presentation after the school received an America's Healthiest School Award from the Alliance for Healthier Generation.

The award recognized Falcon Elementary in categories that included staff wellness and tobacco-free schools; District 49 health and wellness specialist Charlene Stegman said it was a national recognition and the only school in District 49 to apply and be awarded. "This is a huge accomplishment for them," Stegman said in a recorded statement played at the event.

Stegman, who presented the nomination on video, told the Board that the pair led multiple staff- and student-focused initiatives in the 2024–25 school year, including Walking Wednesdays, regular staff breakfasts, a staff "Zen Den," the Healthy Hawks student program and anti-vaping education. She said Falcon helped update tobacco signage districtwide and brought SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) students from Patriot High School to present anti-vaping lessons to fifth graders. Stegman said Falcon also received a highest-participation award at the district wellness summit and the Golden Shoe Award for top participation.

Brenda Waldron and Dawn Takas described the Zen Den’s amenities and invited colleagues to use it, saying, "We have neck massagers. We have, heating pads. We have snacks. We have hot cocoa and tea. We have a wall that you can write on." They told the board the award took extra time beyond their co-leader duties and that the recognition reflected staff and student wellness work throughout the year.

Charlene Stegman identified the school year when they first took the wellness co-leader roles as 2024–25. She said Falcon was the only District 49 school to apply for the national award and the only school in Colorado Springs to be awarded in that cycle.

District staff and the honorees emphasized that the wellness work combined student programs and staff supports rather than being limited to a single activity. The presentation on the award was part of a recognition segment at the start of the Board of Education meeting; no policy action or vote was taken on the award itself.