Nebraska wins major award for health initiatives - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

The state of Nebraska received a major award for its program to make the state healthier.

Monday, Governor Dave Heineman announced that the state won the C. Everett Koop National Health Award.

Nebraska is the first state to win the award. It's for the state's wellness program called "wellness options."

The program's focus is to get state employees healthier through proper diet, exercising and education.

"There is no questions that it is throughout all of Nebraska, again as individuals and employers we recognize the value of doing this," Governor Dave Heineman said. 

"I think that's it's just part of our culture and I think it's ok to change the stuff in the vending machine. it's ok to have healthy stuff around it's ok for people to not bring in donuts every Friday and actually have healthy snacks, and it's about a culture change," Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer, said.

To win the Koop award, Nebraska officials had to show that state employees improved their health and reduced health care spending.