Sources: Julie Gibbs, jag@k-state.edu, 785-532-6526;
and Dianna Schalles, diannas@k-state.edu, 785-532-5240

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

LAFENE HEALTH CENTER PRESENTS OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Lafene Health Center is recognizing two students for their volunteer service and leadership to Lafene-sponsored student organizations.

Rhett Jones, junior in technical theater production, Hutchinson, and Emily Boardman, McPherson, are recipients of the health center's Outstanding Student Leadership Award.

Jones is being recognized for his leadership in the Sexual Health Awareness Peer Educators, or SHAPE, program.

"Rhett has always shown a great enthusiasm for presenting sexual health information to help keep college students safe. His determination and loyalty to the program are what every adviser wants from his or her students," said Julie Gibbs, coordinator of the program and director of health promotion/nutrition counseling at Lafene.

Jones has been a member of Sexual Health Awareness Peer Educators for three semesters. He has given many presentations on and off campus, staffed numerous information tables, served as treasurer and president, and was instrumental in the success of the group's Battle of the Sexperts 2011.

"Rhett has been a pleasure to work with and has been a huge asset to SHAPE," Gibbs said.

Jones is a member of Delta Chi fraternity. He has assisted with K-State theater productions and works at Della Voce in downtown Manhattan.

Boardman, a May 2011 bachelor's candidate in public health nutrition, with a secondary major in gerontology, was active in Lafene's Sensible Nutrition And body image Choices, or SNAC, peer education program.

"Emily has gone above and beyond the typical duties of a peer educator and has enthusiastically taken on several leadership roles throughout her involvement in SNAC," said Dianna Schalles, the organization's adviser and a registered dietitian at Lafene.

Boardman was instrumental in introducing and implementing the Reflections Body Image Program, a program aimed at reducing risk factors for eating disorders, on the K-State campus. "She's been very dedicated to the success of the program over the past two years and I can't say enough about how wonderful she has been to work with," Schalles said.

Boardman was a co-leader for an eight-week summer program on eating disorders prevention in elementary-age girls; was treasurer of the organization her senior year; gave numerous nutrition presentations to campus and community groups; and was very active in Eating Disorders Awareness Week activities and other awareness events.

"Emily always displayed a positive attitude and a big smile, even in the midst of stressful college demands," Schalles said. "She is a very compassionate individual who truly wants to make a difference in the lives of others."

In addition to her involvement in Sensible Nutrition And body image Choices, Boardman's other leadership and service activities include volunteering at Mercy Regional Medical Center, being a member of the K-State Physician Assistants Club and Chi Omega sorority, and doing work-study with the College of Education.

Boardman is looking forward to a career as a physician assistant.