Howard Payne University celebrated the upcoming spring season recently with a “Spring into Health Fair” for faculty, staff and students. The second annual fair featured health screenings, demonstrations, exhibits, games and a variety of giveaways.

“The purpose of the Health Fair is to assist our campus community in taking a proactive and holistic approach to health,” said Dr. Graham Hatcher, professor and chair of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science.

Campus personnel and vendors from the community set up booths that addressed health from seven perspectives: physical, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, emotional, environmental and social.

At the “social” booth, for example, students and faculty from HPU’s Department of Communication led attendees in impromptu speaking challenges designed to enhance communication skills.

“Many face-to-face conversations have been replaced with texting and social media,” said Dr. Julie Welker, chair of the Department of Communication.  “We wanted to help students regain confidence with interpersonal communication and conversational skills.”

Dr. Hatcher said that people often overlook many of the components that comprise one’s overall health and wellbeing.

“Humans are very complex beings,” he said. “It’s necessary to take a well-rounded approach as we care for ourselves.”

Vendors included the Brown County Extension Agency, Brown County Health Department, Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Chick-fil-A, Cook Children’s Hospital, Family Services Center, GNC, Public Health Preparedness, Sodexo, United Health Services and the WIC Program.

Pictured above: Students gather around a booth at HPU’s second annual “Spring into Health Fair.”  Below, HPU’s rock climbing instructor Leslie King, left, assists Dominic Packer, a freshman from Austin, with a hanging challenge.