Sources: Julie Gibbs, 785-532-6526, jag3933@k-state.edu;
and Dianna Schalles, 785-532-5240, diannas@k-state.edu
News tip/hometown connection: Cimarron, Manhattan and Valley Center, Kan.; and Collinsville, Okla.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Healthy recognition: Four students earn outstanding student leadership awards from Lafene Health Center
MANHATTAN -- Voluntary service and leadership have earned four Kansas State University students the Outstanding Student Leadership Award from the university's Lafene Health Center.
The students earned the award for their participation in student organizations sponsored by the health center. Recipients are Wilfred Hommertzheim, senior in computer science, Cimarron; Mary Hunt, bachelor's candidate in family studies and human nutrition, Manhattan; Kevin Kirkland, bachelor's candidate in kinesiology, Valley Center; and Mollie Colpitt, bachelor's candidate in public health nutrition and dietetics, Collinsville, Okla.
Hommertzheim was honored for his leadership on the Student Health Advisory Committee. He was president of the Healthy Decisions group that merged with the Student Health Advisory Committee in 2011. He then became co-president of the committee and worked to ensure the merger went smoothly.
"Will is one of those students you wish would stay around forever because of his numerous good qualities. He is a strong leader and a great believer in the committee's mission," said Julie Gibbs, director of health promotions/nutrition counseling at Lafene Health Center and adviser to the Student Health Advisory Committee.
Hunt was honored for her participation in the Sexual Health Awareness Peer Education -- or SHAPE -- program, where she served as vice president this school year. She has made more than 15 presentations to campus groups and has assisted with program events like the Battle of the Sexperts and Sex Ed Boot Camp. Hunt will seek at master's degree in community health promotion at the University of Arkansas, where she has received a graduate assistantship position.
"Mary has been an outstanding role model not only for the organization, but also for her peers on campus," said Gibbs, who is adviser to the Sexual Health Awareness Peer Education Program. "She is committed to educating her peers and striving to increase awareness of sexual health issues for college students."
Kirkland was recognized for his participation on the Student Health Advisory Committee. He was president of the committee from 2010-2011 and co-president for the 2011-2012 school year. He assisted with the 2011 focus group conversations with K-State students on how to enhance Lafene Health Center's services. He also represented the committee in financial discussions with the Student Governing Association on the health center's funding needs.
"Kevin has an enthusiastic attitude that rubs off onto others. He has been a very effective president and we hate to see him go," Gibbs said.
Colpitt was recognized for her leadership in the Sensible Nutrition And body image Choice -- or SNAC -- Peer Education program. She served as co-coordinator of the group's Eating Disorders Awareness Week, helping to improve campus participation in a variety of events offered during the week. She also was instrumental in spearheading the program's partnership with Delta Delta Delta sorority that expanded initiatives to increase campus awareness of body image and disordered eating issues. This included a fall denim drive for Fat Talk Free Week that collected more than 500 pairs of jeans for a denim-recycling program that makes sustainable insulation for Habitat for Humanity. Colpitt also was a certified peer leader for the Reflections Body Image Program. She plans to pursue a career as a registered dietitian and hopes to eventually establish a private practice specializing in nutrition counseling for those impacted by eating disorders.
"Mollie has gone above and beyond the typical duties of a peer educator and has taken on several leadership roles throughout her involvement in SNAC," said Dianna Schalles, a registered dietitian at Lafene Health Center and adviser to the Sensible Nutrition And body Image Choice. "She has been very dedicated to the success of SNAC's mission. I have truly appreciated her initiative and her passion for helping fellow students improve nutrition and body image choices."
