by Ishia Saltibus
Students, faculty and staff benefited from the annual Aggie Health Fair on a healthier lifestyle, hosted by the Student Wellness Center on Sept. 7 in the McCasland ballroom located in the McMahon Centennial Complex. The free health event provided students, faculty and staff with preventive health education and screening services.
According to the Director of the Student Wellness Center Denice Shegog, the staff is dedicated to educating students about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
“This is our second year hosting the Aggie Health Fair and recognizing the importance of educating students on healthful living is one of the goals of the Student Wellness Center,” Shegog said.
Over 20 health organizations and associations provided nutritional, health, fitness and wellness information.
Various tests and screenings for blood sugar, high blood pressure, cholesterol, HIV and vision were available at no charge. Free flu shots were also available to all Cameron students, faculty and staff with a valid ID.
In addition, other booths provided information on pet therapy, yoga and tobacco cessation. Massage therapists provided 15-minute therapeutic massages at no charge and Sodexo Food Services provided samples of healthy food.
Shegog explained that regular testing and screenings offered by these health care providers help with the early detection of disease.
“We are happy to offer this opportunity to students to learn about a variety of health and wellness programs,” Shegog said. “These programs promote early diagnosis and treatment of disease, and help maximize the community’s health care resources.”
Apart from offering students information on healthy living, the first 300 Cameron students received gift bags and were eligible for prize drawing, which included an iPad, two iPod Shuffles with a $25 iTunes card for each, two bicycles and a Kindle.
Junior Health and Physical Education major Sean Alexander Batiste attended the event with his friends. He expressed his satisfaction with the health fair.
“It is a good thing to have the health fair,” Batiste said. “You get plenty of health information which could be very useful and you also get to sample healthy snacks and food.”
The 30-day pedometer challenge was new to the health fair this year. The challenge, in an effort is to encourage a healthy lifestyle on campus, provided a free solar pedometer and ear buds to all participants.
“We are initiating a new wellness challenge this year,” Shegog said. “The 30-day pedometer competition. The challenge will comprise of two categories: CU students and CU faculty/staff where the person with the most steps for the month will be rewarded with a prize full of health and fitness items.”
Shegog also said, despite the great turnout of students, faculty and staff at this year’s Aggie Health fair, she encourages students to stop by the Student Wellness Center on the first floor of North Shepler if they have any questions.