There was celebratory atmosphere in and around the Pacific Union College dining commons on May 29. That’s not always what you expect at a health fair, but the “Look Good, Feel Great” fair organized by PUC Health Services found fun, hands-on ways to present very serious, life-changing information.
“The focus,” explained Sandra Sargent, director of Health Services, “is to give the college and community exposure to different approaches to health care. It’s not always one-size-fits-all.” The fun side of the event was purposeful, as well. “I like to find a party,” Sargent said. “We need something fun to draw people in.”
At the fair, students wandered among 40 indoor and outdoor booths with representatives of local and nationwide organizations, featuring everything from self-defense demonstrations to aromatherapy to a mangled car from a drunk driving wreck. Some students earned attendance credit, participated in prize drawings, or just explored the information and displays.
Barbara Pope, director of the Pregnancy Resource Center of Napa Valley, enthusiastically involved students in her interactive display, which included real-size, real-weight dolls of unborn babies. She appreciated the opportunity to be represented among the young community, and added, “It’s been a really good group of people.”
Student Garrett Speyer was impressed by the fair, calling it “really cool.” “The info is eye-opening,” he said. Others agreed that the fair was relevant to students and appreciated the free stuff, from toothbrushes to organic food samples.
Students weren’t just on the visitor side, either. Senior nursing student Zetta Gore helped organize the event as a nursing management project. Ten nursing students also participated at a booth. Jenn Callender was one of several students helping out by taking visitors’ blood pressure. She said quite a few people came through — “and quite a few with high blood pressure. It’s intimidating to tell faculty that they have high blood pressure!”
In the end, the fair fulfilled the goal of presenting key health information in a fun way. “We had a blast,” said Sargent. “Of all the [health] fairs we’ve had so far, this was the happiest I’ve been at.”
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