The 870 students at the school, through the Tigers on the Prowl program, ran 21,888 miles during the school year, just 3,000 miles short of one trip around the equator.

The program was developed by Walter Rabb, a physical education teacher at the school, and involves providing opportunity and encouragement to students to stay active by running at some point during every school day. Rabb tracks progress with the students in PE class using a large map of the United States. First, the students progress toward the West Coast and then, on the return trip,make map point stops at teachers’ home towns and national parks.

Tigers on the Prowl, named after the school’s Tiger mascot, involves 100 percent of the student body. The goal is to help students become physically fit and to promote a love of running. Students go to the school’s track at least once every school day and teachers keep a count of laps for each child.

In addition to the physical advantages of taking part in the program, students also have the opportunity to earn rewards for passing distance milestones during the year. Students can earn keychains for passing the 10K, half marathon, marathon and second marathon marks. They also receive a Tiger on the Prowl T-shirt for reaching the marathon level and a TOTP Multi-Marathon Club hat at the two marathon mark.

The program, in its eighth year, has also become a community involvement project with support and participation from parents and businesses from throughout the town. During the year, special events are held, including spirit days and school pride days as well as “guest” programs where families are invited to run with the students.

Davidson Elementary is also pushing to get information about its program to Michelle Obama as a success story in her “Let’s Move” initiative to promote healthy activities for young people.

The program has thrived with sponsorship support from Artisan Custom Homes, Cashion’s, Mary Lib Richards and Julie Lopez and the McIntosh Law Firm.