New College launches program to promote healthy habits

Healthy Campus 2020 kicked off its campaign Sept. 25 with a fun event across from the Counseling and Wellness Center that provided free health screening as well as a chance to get familiar with the resources on campus.
The event was the first in a lineup of programs that coincide with the U.S. Department of Health’s Healthy Campus initiative. The initiative is focused on improving health habits on college campuses.
During the event students were encouraged to take a health survey to establish behavior baseline on campus. Robyn Manning-Samuels, health education coordinator at New College, plans a follow-up survey to monitor the success of the Healthy Campus initiative to engage the students in healthy decision-making. After completing the survey, students were given vouchers to enjoy tacos and Italian ice from the vendors at the event.
For the first time this year, students also had a chance to get biometric screening from the Health in Motion bus, a service sponsored by the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County. The bus offers free STD/STI screening on campus the last Wednesday of every month.
Alexis Thompson, a health educator with the Florida Department of Health, expressed that these services are paramount “because it is important to know your health and make healthy decisions.”
In addition to free health screening, students were able to get familiar with the Counseling and Wellness Center and the resources it provides in a casual environment. The CWC, student affairs office, and the Writing Center added to the fun with music, group workouts and their own resources.