High school students participate in health fair

Teagan Marquardt, left, and Grace Wise, both Angola High School seniors, test their grip strength with a handgrip dynamometer Thursday morning, April 19, in the Best Hall on the Trine University campus. Students from two area high schools participated in a health fair at Trine University on Tuesday, April 17, and Thursday, April 19.

The EXS 433 Health Promotions and EXS 452 Fitness Evaluation classes taught by Amanda Davis, assistant professor in the Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences, host the fair once each semester. Students in EXS 452 conduct tests including strength, balance, body fat, breathing, posture and blood pressure. Students in EXS 433 share posters on a project they have researched promoting steps toward a healthier lifestyle.

On April 17, 40 health students and two instructors from the Branch Area Career Center participated in the fair, while on April 19, 20 students and one instructor from the Angola High School Health Occupations Education class attended.

“Both school programs are focused on supporting students who are interested in continuing their education in a health field,” said Davis. “I feel this event is a great way to expose the high school students to a university setting and at the same time educate them on their own fitness level and inform them on important health topics of today.

“As for the benefits for the Trine students, I feel that it allows our students to be the experts, dress and present in a professional manner and ultimately show what they have learned. They have learned how to perform tests and interpret the data as well as research a health topic and promote a plan to improve society’s health.”