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	Photo by Rohanna Green
	The rock climbing wall is just one of the many attractions of this yearÿs Wellness Fest.
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"For students to be successful, there are many areas of their lives [that] they need to pay attention to," says Heather Anderson, Student Life Program Advisor.

This is the defining purpose behind PVCCÿs Annual Wellness calendar of events. Once a weekly occurrence, this year, the Wellness Fest runs for the entire month of April. This is a program designed to raise health awareness among students and faculty of PVCC.

Anderson, who has been involved in the wellness emphasis for the last five years, co-chairs the event with Athletic Director Ali Waelchli. The Wellness Fest also involves the help of part-time Student Life worker and PVCC student Catherine Hobbs and the Fitness Center, the athletics program, the counseling division and the administrative department.

The Wellness Fest includes various activities in the lines of games, speakers, and demonstrations, as well as blood screenings for blood pressure, skin cancer, blood glucose, vision, and HIV, which is a confidential screening. These are free services to promote health at its optimum for anyone who would like to participate.

The games, known as the GoodWell Games, consist of two teams, red and blue. The red team is captained by Roy Hunter of College Safety, and the blue team is captained by the PVCC Libraryÿs Information Goddess, Lisa Miller. The teams earn points for any of their memberÿs participation in Wellness Fest activities. Prizes will be given to the winning team on April 25 at the PVCC Talent and Variety Show.

The biggest event every year is the Wellness Fair, a full morning and partial afternoon of 40 vendors just south of the B building. Some of this yearÿs vendors include cosmetic lines, American Cancer Society and CostCo, along with PVCC clubs and associations.

Anderson points out that health is not only relegated to physical health but also encompasses spiritual, nutritional, environmental, social, emotional, intellectual, career and more. "Health is so broad based and multi-dimensional, and balance is essential to well-being," she says.

Personally, Anderson says that health is simply reflecting on where one is and what one can do better. She says it is important to be mindful of where balance is lacking in oneÿs life.

Her hope is that the Wellness Fest will raise awareness of what health really is.

Last updated: May 8, 2002
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