PRCC symposium gives women information, pampering

Submitted by braswell on January 30, 2012 – 1:22pm

POPLARVILLE – A woman fairy tale is her own to write, speaker Kelly Swanson told participants at the Pearl River Community College Women Health Symposium.Swanson spoke Saturday, Jan. 28, to about 350 women who packed Crosby Hall on the Poplarville campus for the sixth annual symposium.The symposium also featured a presentation by Deanna Favre, an art walk, free health screenings and information booths and a panel of four doctors who answered questions about women health.They were very good, down to our level, said Elaine Reesor of Lumberton, who attended with friends.Swanson, an author who lives in North Carolina, told the audience she comes from a long line of women who did what was expected of them.Your world could be falling apart but as long as your shoes and purse matched, you were fine, she said. But life doesnt neatly match a list of expectations, she said.You are not the readers of your fairy tale, Swanson said. Youre the authors. So pick up that pen and write a new chapter.PRCC started the Women Health Symposium in 2007 to bring information, basic health tests and some pampering to women in South Missisisppi.The more we can concentrate and work on our health is great, PRCC President Dr. William Lewis said. But without the knowledge, we cant do it. We hope the program we bring to you today will bring energy to your life, will bring health to your life and help you prosper.Favre, chief executive officer of the Favre4Hope Foundation and wife of former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, shared her life story, including coping with her husband addiction to pain killers, the sudden deaths of her father-in-law and her brother and her own battle with breast cancer.More than anything, cancer taught me not to take life for granted, she said. It is in our own difficult times that Brett and I have found hope in helping others.Deanna Favre, who attended PRCC on a basketball scholarship, has become an advocate for breast cancer patients and research. The Favre4Hope Foundation has donated more than $5 million to selected charities.In life we cannot always choose the changes that come our way, she said. But we can choose our responses. For you this day I pray your journey will mean something.Dr. Richard deShazo, known as Dr. Rick on the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Southern Remedy radio show, moderated the panel discussion. Others taking part were Dr. Allyn Bond of University Medical Center and Southern Remedy; Dr. Virginia Crawford, health care services director at the University of Southern Mississippi; and Dr. Melissa Holland of Hattiesburg Clinic.Im loving it, said Alicia Logan of Hattiesburg, who also attended last year symposium. It very informative.Grand sponsor for the symposium was the Lower Pearl River Valley Foundation. Silver sponsors were First National Bank of Picayune and Poplarville, Hancock Bank and Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home. Bronze sponsors were BankPlus, Hattiesburg Clinic, Highland Community Hospital, Southern Bone and Joint Specialists, The First Bank, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Picayune and Wesley Medical Center.In addition to PRCC nursing, medical laboratory technology and cosmetology students, health screenings were offered through Camellia Home Health and Hospice, Forrest General Home Care and Hospice, Hattiesburg Clinic, Highland Community Hospital, Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Pearl River School District speech and language pathology, Poplarville Family Chiropractic Clinic and Wesley Medical Center.Each woman received a Pearl Ball necklace and a workout bag emblazoned with the PRCC logo as gifts.Jennie Smith of Poplarville won the grand prize – a Day of Beauty spa package from Belk department store in Hattiesburg. Winners of the other top prizes were Sarah Malley of Poplarville, Royalty Spa Package from Healing Touch Day Spa in Hattiesburg; Mary Kurka of Poplarville, portable gas grill from Willmut Gas in Hattiesburg; Barbara Hamilton of Hattiesburg, concrete picnic table and benches made by PRCC masonry students; and DeAnna Gutzwiller of Lumberton, two Adirondack chairs made by PRCC construction management students.Approximately 150 door prizes donated by area businesses were awarded. Donors included Ace Hardware, Apple LTD,Auto Zone, Back Door Bookstore, BankPlus, Bella Hair Salon, Blue Cricket Design, Bonnie Hodge, Byron Wells of Wells Insurance, Cale Healthy Way, Chinese Inn, Deb Pizza and Pasta, Fabulous You, Hancock Bank, Linda Nowell, Logan Long Leaf Farm and Garden, Mike Auto Supply, Pizza Hut, Pearl River County Hospital, PRCC Alumni Foundation, PRCC Athletic Department, PRCC Bookstore, PRCC Department of Fine Arts and Communication, PRCC Office of Financial Aid, PRCC Office of Recruitment and Orientation, PRCC Wellness Center, Quick Lube, Radio Shack, Relax and Renew Massage Studio, Robicheaux Specialty Candy, Silverado Restaurant, Subway, The Other Side, Total Fitness 24, Transitions Salon and Day Spa, Way Out West and Whitney Miller, Master Chef, all of Poplarville;Also, B and G Gifts, Chesterfield Restaurant, Chili Restaurant, Corner Market, Grand Theater, Hair Worx, Hattiesburg Coca_Cola Bottling Co. Healing Touch School of Massage and Spa, Jamie Hair and Tanning, Jody Bakery and Caterie, Kay Martin Larson, Krispy Kreme, Newk, Olive Garden, Palm Beach, PRCC Dental Hygiene Technology, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Robert St. John, Rocket City Diner, Simple Spaces Professional Organizing, Smoothie King, Southeastern Construction, Tabella Restaurant, The Abby, Sweet Peppers, Toyota of Hattiesburg, USM Alumni Association, and Woodstone Monument and Sign Co., all of Hattiesburg;Also, Johns Drug Store, Open Range, Patricia Fowler, Precision Vision, Ramey, The Wildflower Florist and Todd Schwebel State Farm, all of Purvis; Highland Community Hospital and Melinda Fine Gifts and More, both of Picayune; Flathau Gourmet Cookies and Lewis Printing and Office Supplies, both of Petal; Cuevas Fish House and Ramey, both of Lumberton; Black Creek Canoe Rental of Brooklyn, GP Cellulose of New Augusta, Jack Fish House of Carriere, Martha Lou Smith of Wiggins, Sun Coast Business Supply of Gulfport and Treasure Bay of Biloxi.

Each community college president is asked to bring two (2) wrapped door prizes, minimum value of $50 each. We will have a station set up at the conference for you to drop off the door prizes.

Each community college is asked to provide name tags for their Board members, administration, and staff attending the conference.