University Offers Wellness for All Seasons
Every season offers opportunities for wellness, and The University of Scranton's Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW) provides yearround resources with that in mind.
In June, the Employee Wellness Kickoff to Summer inspired attendance by more than 240 employees, according to Dina Angeloni, Program Coordinator Center for Health Education and Wellness/Employee Wellness Program. She mentioned a few upcoming events that University employees can add to their fall calendars.
"In the fall, our Weekly Wellness Classes return with Mindfulness Meditation, multiple yoga offerings and Walk for Wellness. The annual flu shot clinic is set for Friday, Oct. 3 (more details to come). We’re also excited to offer special series on nutrition and women’s health, along with programs led by Wellness Fair participants, which is all part of showcasing our new space in Weiss Hall," said Angeloni.
"We have a great mix of wellness events lined up throughout the year. This summer included Light Weights and Abs and Lunchtime Yoga.
Angeloni spoke with Royal News about the successful summer event on June 10.
"One thing that really stood out this year was the overwhelming positive feedback we received about staff and faculty appreciating time to connect with colleagues and focus on their well-being during the workday. The number of thank-yous and kind messages we received was truly heartwarming.
It was clear that employees genuinely appreciated the event, and that made all the hard work feel more than worth it. We’re always open to new ideas too, so if anyone has suggestions for the future, we’d love to hear them! Email chew@scranton.edu"
Angeloni offered an overview of the event, by the numbers:
"This year’s event was a great success, with over 240 employees in attendance. We hosted 15 wellness information tables, including a diverse mix of campus departments and community partners like the Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Penn State Extension and ShopRite Pharmacy.
There were more than a dozen activities throughout the day, from free blood pressure screenings and chair yoga to the Royal Mile Walk, lawn games, and over 50 raffle prize drawings. With such a wide range of offerings, it truly felt like there was something for everyone."
Q: Each year, the number of vendors seems to increase, along with the variety of interactive activities and prizes. How do your team and the other event sponsors keep it fresh?
"We keep things fresh by listening to feedback, following wellness trends, and encouraging community participants to offer interactive experiences, not just handing out brochures. This year, we introduced a raffle system where attendees earned tickets by visiting wellness information tables, which boosted participation and engagement. We also focused on representing the eight dimensions of wellness to create a more well-rounded experience. We carefully selected a mix of new and returning vendors to make sure there was something meaningful for everyone."
Q: What are some of the new and time-honored offerings that generated comments?
"Absolutely! One consistent piece of feedback we receive is how much participants value the opportunity to connect with colleagues in a relaxed, welcoming environment that supports all aspects of well-being. This year’s Wellness Fair, held indoors due to rain, was especially well received. Attendees appreciated the spacious layout, air conditioning, engaging raffle prizes and the delicious lunch at the Fresh Food Company. The event featured a diverse range of campus and community partners, offering resources that supported the full spectrum of the eight dimensions of wellness.
Highlights included Registered Dietitians with olive oil sampling with dietary education (physical wellness), aging and Alzheimer’s information (intellectual and emotional wellness), volunteer opportunities from Center for Service and Social Justice (spiritual wellness), ENI and Swift MD (occupational wellness), to name a few.
Attendees also enjoyed browsing local health and wellness resources, receiving garden seeds (environmental wellness), and of course, a visit to the Manning’s ice cream truck, a favorite aspect of the day. Overall, the Kickoff to Summer event was praised as an engaging, informative and energizing way to promote holistic well-being while kicking off the summer season."
Q: Anything you'd like to share that we haven't asked about?
"Just how grateful we are for the incredible support from our colleagues and campus partners. Events like this only come together because of the collaboration happening behind the scenes. A special thank you to the Jesuit Center, Staff Senate and Human Resources for helping to sponsor lunch."
The Wellness Fair included: Office of Sustainability; Bike Scranton; Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ); Staff Senate; Center for Health Education and Wellness (CHEW); Wellness Committee; NexGen EAP / ENI-Total Wellbeing Solutions; SWIFT MD / Human Resources; Hospice of the Sacred Heart; Northeast Regional Cancer Institute; Alzheimer’s Association; Aramark - Katerina Nye, Registered Dietitian; Shoprite Pharmacy, Nurse and Dietician; Penn State Extension - Master Gardeners and Food, Families and Communities Educator.
