It was a beautifully sunny albeit chilly morning when I arrived on campus. Night students do not often see the campus at 9 a.m. As I ascended the stone stair path that leads from the parking lot to the Lares student center, I sensed raw energy and harried students. But I did not have time to absorb this scene which was set against the backdrop of a stunningly bright suburban canvas, as I had a purpose for being on campus so early in the morning. It was the day of the annual Health Promotion Fair, and I was presenting.
On March 27, Penn State Abington held its annual Health Promotion Fair. Each year, the popular event is organized by the campus’ resident nurse, Michele Scott, who explained that the purpose of the health fair is to expose students to a wealth of health advice in an interactive way.
The health fair took place in two large well-appointed and festively decorated rooms. While the first room buzzed with activity accompanied by youthful music provided by a live DJ, the second room offered a more relaxed atmosphere complete with soft lighting, hushed voices and a designated massage area.
Information tables were bedecked with posters, demonstration specimens and pamphlets. Presenters provided attendees with “giveaways” including toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, condoms, star massagers, pens and pencils. Our campus chef prepared crudité and healthy protein trays to accompany samples of hummus. That delightful and delicious dip is currently being packaged and sold in the cafeteria.
This year’s affair attracted more than 160 students. As curious guests crossed the threshold of the main room, they were greeted with healthy snacks, bottled water and 14 contributing vendors. Eleven of the contributors were students from Penn State Abington’s RN to BSN program. Each year, Dr. Elizabeth Reedy’s Nursing 475 students create poster presentations on topics including healthy eating and nutrition, diabetes, self-defense, sleep health, breast and testicular self-exams, smoking cessation, hand hygiene, emergency preparedness and AED demos, concussions, depression and anxiety, and stress management.
In order to provide students with a more comprehensive health awareness experience, Michele Scott invited other important members of the Montgomery County community to participate.
Student contributors were joined by the Montgomery County Health Department, whose volunteers discussed dermal defense offering a free dermal scan. They also provided information concerning safer sex practices.
Other participants included Altersgate, which used “drunk goggles” to demonstrate the dangers of driving while intoxicated; Laurel House, which contributed information concerning domestic violence and dating safety; and The Won Institute, which provided information about acupuncture and aroma therapy. Additionally, Won Institute volunteers gifted students with massages during the fair.
Penn State Abington campus police were in attendance as well. Scott pointed out that although we see police around campus, we don’t often get an opportunity to have conversations with them in an unofficial capacity.
As a member of Reedy’s Nursing 475 class, I had the honor of contributing the Health Eating and Nutrition poster at this year’s event. Interacting with many of the students who attended the fair, I sensed genuine enthusiasm. Students seemed eager to interact with the various presenters. I detected the same raw energy inside that I had felt outside when I arrived on campus at 9 a.m. The Health Fair was a success.
At 2 p.m. I packed up my cardboard poster and descended the stone stair path back to the parking lot. I left campus with the hope that all the contributors were able to arm students with information to help them make even the smallest measure of improvement in their journeys through college and through life.
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