LAKE ASBURY – The media center at Lake Asbury Elementary was jam-packed full, and full of smiles.

The 50 kids who had been called into the room for a special event were there to see fellow sixth-grader Chase Carroll be interviewed by a local TV station. Carroll is the state ambassador for NFL’s Fuel Up Play 60 program, in which he teaches kids how to eat healthy in order to be active and exercise.

That’s what the interview was supposed to be about.

Supposedly.

Instead, the event – which included Jaguars mascot Jaxson de Ville, Jags cheerleaders The Roar, and the Wolfie mascot from Wolfson Children’s Hospital – turned out to be a surprise for all the kids involved.

Carroll, along with the students in attendance, were awarded a free trip to the NFL’s Pro Bowl and related activities in Orlando on Jan. 26.

It includes two buses, a hotel stay, and numerous activities for the ESPN Pro Bowl week in Orlando.

“I had no idea,” Carroll said. “I'm glad I didn’t know. It made the event even better that it was a surprise!”

Carroll became Florida’s ambassador for Fuel Up Play 60 after an extensive application and interview process. Fuel Up Play 60 is a bit different than Play 60. Fuel Up teaches sixth-graders how to eat healthy, so they can have the “fuel” to exercise, which is what “Play 60” is all about.

The NFL flew Carroll to Purdue University last year for a five-day forum to learn about how to educate kids on eating healthy. It was his involvement, as well as his active classmates, that led to the Pro Bowl trip.

“This has been one of the most fun experiences of my life,” he said. “I think this program is going to spread like wildfire.”

The Fuel Up Play 60 program here works in conjunction with the Florida Dairy Council.

“As a PE coach, my goal isn’t just to see the kids once a week and have them exercise,” said Shannon Pellegrini, the school’s physical education teacher. “My goal is to inspire them to exercise as they grow up and become adults.

“I always tell them that I didn't like physical activity in school, but now as an adult I do runs and I actually pay for it at the gym. “I think the Play 60 program inspires kids to be active.”

Carroll is ambassador for this school year.

“Because of his ambassadorship, along with Coach Pellegrini, that contributed to this Play 60 trip happening with Orlando,” said Sarah Lawson, Lake Asbury Elementary principal. “He has been a go-to person.”

Chase said he is happy for his classmates.

“They made this trip happen with their involvement,” he said. “They have been amazing. It’s going to be a great trip. NFL players will be there. It will be lots of fun. I can’t wait.”

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Email Christiaan DeFranco at chris@opcfla.com. Follow him on Twitter @cdefranco.