Howard Payne University recently held its fifth annual Wellness Fair, which included health screenings, demonstrations, exhibits, games and a variety of giveaways for HPU students, faculty and staff.

The fair opened with Dr. Diana Ellis, HPU first lady, singing the national anthem and sophomore music education major Taylor Davis leading the HPU alma mater. Dr. Bill Ellis, HPU president, briefly spoke to attendees about the values of healthy living.

A new event at this year’s Wellness Fair was the Pineapple Shuttle organized by Stanley Roffe, assistant tennis coach and part-time graduate employee in the Faculty/Staff Wellness Program. The winning team consisted of Ricky Cavitt, adjunct faculty member, Department of Kinesiology; Lynn Humeniuk, associate professor of criminal justice and sociology and director of the criminal justice program; Tim Skaggs, adjunct faculty member, Department of Kinesiology; and Dan Humeniuk, assistant professor of social work and chair of the Department of Social Work and Sociology.

Teresa Cavitt, M.Ed. ’17, instructor of kinesiology and Faculty/Staff Wellness Program director, organized the event. Other activities at the event included Knocker Ball®, testing throwing speed, and lowering stress by interacting with puppies from the Corrine T. Smith Animal Center. Event giveaways included a bicycle and a longboard.

“The HPU Wellness Fair is always an excellent opportunity to interact with professionals from all the dimensions of wellness, access your own health choices and possibly begin the process of adopting a healthier lifestyle,” said Teresa Cavitt. “Additionally, it was an enjoyable way for the campus to interact and celebrate community on a nice spring day.”

Applications are still being accepted for the fall 2018 semester at Howard Payne University (www.hputx.edu/apply). HPU offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships for students from Brown County and surrounding counties. For more information about HPU, contact HPU’s Office of Admission at 325-649-8020 or by e-mail at enroll@hputx.edu.