CLICK HERE for a video profile of ATLAS/ATHENA in Williamson County Schools.

     The ATLAS and ATHENA programs are helping Williamson County student-athletes resist the temptation of drugs and other barriers to their athletic and academic success.  Brentwood High School is serving as a model for the rest of Williamson County Schools, being the only school that has fully implemented the program so far.

     ATLAS stands for "Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids" and is geared toward boys.  ATHENA stands for "Athletes Targeting Healthy Eating and Nutrition Alternatives" and is geared toward girls.   They were developed at the Oregon Health and Science University in 1993.  Those involved with the programs say their core beliefs are crucial in this age of steroids and scandal. 

     "In the media there is so much attention being given to steroid abuse among athletes, there’s so much attention on being overweight, and emphasis on needing to eat healthier, and it covers all of this," says Williamson County Safe and Healthy Schools Coordinator Dianne O'Neil.  

     Teachers and coaches from every Williamson County high school came to an observation day at Brentwood High on October 11 to see how the school implemented the program.  They watched weightlifting classes and other fitness demonstrations which utilize the ATLAS and ATHENA principles.  The programs are research based, peer-led by students, and supervised by coaches.  They are implemented and used by sports teams or other physical education and wellness classes.  Williamson County Schools hopes these observation days motivate other schools to get on board.  More observation days are planned.  Those in charge of the programs also hope to develop a website dedicated to promoting ATLAS and ATHENA in the Williamson County community.  A fundraiser is also in the works to help with the cost of the programs.