Tuesday, February 02, 2010

PRCC Women’s Health Symposium brings in 200 women

    POPLARVILLE - More than 200 women took a few hours for themselves Saturday when they attended the fourth annual Women’s Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College.
    After a Health Fair and their choice of two break-out sessions, the women enjoyed a luncheon headlined by keynote speaker Jenny Nolen of Cullman, Ala.
    Nolen brought a healthy dose of humor to the symposium with remarks on How to be Up in a Down World, mixing stories of her childhood in Wesson with practical advice on staying positive during trying times.
    "We love to talk negatively about someone else," she said. "We as a society love to blame someone else, but we don’t want to look at ourselves. We need to be about the business of encouraging instead of trying to find out what’s wrong and talking about it. We need to be about focusing on right and celebrating it. And, by all means, we need to laugh."
    The Health Fair brought Emy Rhodes of Brooklyn and her sisters to the symposium.
    "We came for the screenings, but it’s so much more," Rhodes said.
    Her sister, Bea Lee of Wiggins, attended for the first time.
    "It’s been fantastic," she said. "The main reason I wanted to come was the blood test."
    PRCC students played a vital role in the success of the symposium, organizers said. Three groups of students provided assistance during the Health Fair.
    Level One nursing students did blood pressure checks, and medical laboratory technology students from the Forrest County Center did blood sugar and cholesterol tests.
    "We really couldn’t have done it without them," said nursing instructor Lindsay Loustalot, co-chair of the health, information and screening committee.
    Cosmetology students pampered the symposium participants with manicures.
    "They were delightful," Loustalot said. "They were lots of fun."
    While symposium participants were attending break-out sessions on a variety of health-related topics, PRCC’s River Navigators recruiting team was hard at work in Olivia Bender Cafeteria.
    The students helped clear the continental breakfast, set up the luncheon buffet lines and put the finishing touches on the tables with butter dishes, rolls, desserts, glasses of ice and water pitchers. As participants finished their meals, the students cleared away the plates.
    "Their help was invaluable," said Dr. Martha Lou Smith, chair of the food services committee. "They were very professional and exhibited wonderful attitudes the entire time."
    The symposium Art Walk showcased the talent of Trevor Hunt, PRCC classical guitar instructor, and the works of about a dozen area artists.
    Break-out session topics were Dealing with Difficult People by Janie Walters, Facts about Alzheimer’s Disease by Melora Jackson, Health Strategies for Women by Dr. Melissa Holland, Heart and Vascular Disease in Women by Dr. Ben Rester, Yoga for Women/Radiant Health and Beauty for All Ages by Tammy Brahan and First Aid for Your Automobile by PRCC automotives technology instructor Richard Byrd.
    Dr. Mark Malone, chair of the Winters School of Music at William Carey University and former choral director at PRCC, provided piano music during the luncheon.
    Grand sponsor for the symposium was the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation.
    Silver sponsors were Chain Electric Co., First National Bank of Picayune and Poplarville, Hancock Bank, Mississippi Power Foundation, Southern Bone and Joint Specialists and Wal-Mart Supercenter of Picayune. Bronze sponsors were BankPlus, Blossman Propane Gas and Appliance, Highland Community Hospital and Wesley Medical Center.
    Winners of the grand door prizes were Debra Peters of Poplarville, a two-night stay and dinner for two at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi; Deborah Morris of Sumrall, a Total Makeover...from Head to Toe from Belk Salon and Spa in Hattiesburg; Rosemary Cuevas of Bush, La., a one-night stay and buffet for two at Treasure Bay Casino in Biloxi; Delores McCardle of Lumberton, a one-night stay and dinner for two at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw; and Judy Harris of Hattiesburg, a concrete picnic table and benches from the PRCC brick masonry program.
    Photo captions:
    Cosmetology students Javmine Mathews of Hattiesburg, from left, and Lakisha Johnson of Columbia pamper Earline Trolinver of Carthage and Cynthia Winborn of Poplarville with manicures Saturday during the Women's Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College.
    PRCC Public Relations photo
    Jenny Nolen was guest speaker for the Women’s Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College.
    PRCC Public Relations photo
    Yoga instructor Tammy Brahan of Hattiesburg and volunteer Jackie Flora of Picayune demonstrate a position Saturday during a break_out session during the Women's Health Symposium at Pearl River Community College.