Travis Justice came home from school one day last month to find his mother asking him to read an e-mail.

That e-mail confirmed that the Elkridge Elementary School fifth-grader had won the "NFL Take a Player to School" contest, which resulted in Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap taking Travis to school in a limousine, talking to his classmates and co-teaching his gym class.

"I thought I would have never won. I like thought I was going to faint. It was crazy," the 10-year-old Ravens fan said.

His disbelief continued on Nov. 10, the day Heap was scheduled to arrive at Travis' Elkridge home to take him to school.

"(Heap) showed up 30 minutes early and Travis was still brushing his teeth. I think it hit him (then)," Travis' mother, Amy Justice, said.

The "NFL Take a Player to School" contest is sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. The program is a part of the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign, an initiative that aims to get youth to exercise 60 minutes a day.

Thirty-four players across the country participated in the program, which included a $2,000 donation to each winning child's school to boost in-school and after-school physical fitness programs, as well as providing the equipment used for the gym class led by each player, according to an NFL press release.

Heap addresses students

During a school assembly Nov. 10, Heap addressed Elkridge Elementary students about the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits, as well as academic excellence. After his speech, the students began cheering his name and greeted him with high-fives as he ran through a throng of students.

Heap then went on to co-teach Travis' gym class, which included an obstacle course in which students ran around cones and through hoops before catching and throwing footballs with Heap.

"It's not that scary," Travis told his classmates, many of whom were shy about participating in the drill with Heap, as he demonstrated the course for them.

Teachers Cheryl Rager and Kathy Schilling also participated in the drill -- in their high heels.

"And we caught the ball," Schilling added.

Heap said he felt his visit was a success.

"Today went awesome. Travis had a lot of fun. The kids had a lot of fun," he said.

He added that with childhood obesity becoming an increasingly serious health issue among children, it is important to make kids aware of how to stay healthy through physical activity and proper diet.

"The earlier we can talk to the kids, the better off they'll be," he said.

The experience proved unforgettable for Travis.

"He's a nice guy," Travis said of Heap.

"This is a great day," he added. "I'll never forget this day."

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