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Icons of Change International Awards 2025

Dr. Ben Mueller
Founder, The Basic Ten: The Simple Way to Go from Couch Potato to Fit
Author of Attain Peak Running Through Cross-training, The Operating Manual for Great Health, 30 Minutes to Peak Thinking, Attain Peak Referee Fitness, and The Basic Ten
Lecturer, National and Regional Health, Education, and Athletics Conferences
Instructor, United States Soccer Federation Referee Program
Mathematics Content Creator, Barnes & Noble Education
Recipient, DeKalb County Youth Drug Prevention Award (2010, 2013)
National All-American Athlete, National Congress of State Games
Educational Doctorate, Concordia University Chicago

SDG Focus: Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being
Champion of Accessible Fitness, Mental Wellness, and Whole-Person Development

From the quiet streets of Sheboygan, Wisconsin to national platforms of sport, education, and wellness, Dr. Ben Mueller’s life exemplifies the transformative power of personal health and the deep connection between physical fitness, mental resilience, and lifelong learning.

Rooted in the belief that health is foundational to every human endeavor, Dr. Mueller has spent over two decades building bridges between the worlds of athletics, education, and personal development. His work reflects the heart of Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being—empowering individuals and communities to achieve optimal health through movement, mindset, and meaning.

As the creator of The Basic Ten program, a simple, time-efficient fitness method designed for busy professionals, Dr. Mueller has helped thousands of people reclaim their physical well-being in as little as 15 minutes a day. This innovative model—grounded in both academic research and real-world practicality—has redefined how office workers, educators, and parents integrate health into their daily lives.

Dr. Mueller’s advocacy for well-being extends far beyond fitness. A passionate educator, he became one of the youngest college professors in the nation at age 24, teaching developmental mathematics to students facing high levels of anxiety. His groundbreaking doctoral research on the effects of physical activity on student anxiety has provided educators with new tools for supporting learners’ mental health. His instructional math videos, created in partnership with Barnes & Noble Education, have reached millions, making academic success more accessible and less intimidating for learners worldwide.

Equally impactful is Dr. Mueller’s work in youth and community health. He has delivered hundreds of keynote speeches and lectures at marathons, coaching clinics, school conferences, and national youth programs, always emphasizing that health is not a luxury—it is a right and a responsibility. For his contributions to drug prevention and youth wellness, he received the DeKalb County Youth Drug Prevention Award in both 2010 and 2013.

An elite athlete in his own right, Dr. Mueller is a national gold medalist in running and swimming, having won at the USA Masters Games, the State Games of America, and the Badger State Games. He was selected as the flag bearer for Illinois in the 2022 State Games of America and named a National All-American Athlete by the National Congress of State Games—honors that recognize not just competitive excellence, but a lifelong commitment to health and perseverance.

In his role as a U.S. Soccer Federation referee instructor, Dr. Mueller has trained thousands of officials, emphasizing physical readiness, ethical decision-making, and mental discipline. His commitment to the athletic community continues through prolific writing, including hundreds of published articles and five widely read books that offer strategies for peak performance, balanced living, and resilient thinking.

Now working on two new books—one a collection of essays on life purpose, and the other a series of defining personal stories—Dr. Mueller remains steadfast in his mission: to make wellness and self-improvement not just accessible, but deeply personal and sustainable.

In honoring Dr. Ben Mueller, the Icons of Change International Awards 2025 recognizes an extraordinary leader whose life’s work reaffirms a timeless truth: health is not just physical—it is emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Through his tireless efforts to uplift others—whether through teaching, writing, coaching, or competing—Dr. Mueller has inspired a generation to believe in their own capacity for change.

The Icons of Change International Award 2025 proudly honors Dr. Ben Mueller as a Champion of Accessible Fitness, Mental Wellness, and Whole-Person Development, in recognition of his powerful contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being. His work continues to spark change, not only in classrooms and communities, but in every individual who dares to take the first step toward a healthier, more empowered life.

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