Professors Karen Kemper and Chinyelu Okafor received a grant from EXPORT for a $5.26 million collaborative project between Voorhees College and Clemson University funded by the National Institutes of Health Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities. One of the primary goals of the project is for faculty and students of both institutions to work together to help members of the Voorhees College community as well as people in the surrounding towns and counties take steps to protect their health. Researchers from both institutions are leading three studies, conducting annual regional meetings addressing issues of health disparities, and facilitating community action to promote health in small rural communities. Study #1 is led by Dr. Maureen Joseph and is investigating health behaviors of minority adults in the community. Study #2 is led by Dr. Katherine Cason and is investigating health behaviors of elementary school children. Study #3 is led by Dr. Karen Kemper and is investigating health behaviors of college students. Drs. Leroy Davis and Lynnette Gibson are conducting the regional training meetings and Dr. Chinyelu Okafor is leading the community outreach initiative.Another goal of the EXPORT project is to bring students of Voorhees and Clemson together to work on community initiatives that will better prepare them for careers in health related fields. In Spring 2004, several students from Voorhees College and Clemson University were identified to begin work on Study #3: the college student physical activity study. The first Clemson student was Chris Roeder who began work on the planning of the project for his internship. A second Clemson student, Erin Gruesbeck, worked on the message campaign during the summer. Several students from Voorhees College worked with Dr. Kemper and Ms. Gruesbeck over the summer to begin the communication plans for the study. Additional students involved in the studies included Erica Meyers, Jarsalynn Eichelberger, Jessica Thompson, Charita Scott, and Kristal Hutchinson. These students came to campus several times during the summer to work on health messages that will be placed around campus for five weeks. This group of students and faculty developed a campaign brand, several message slogans, and a group identity for the project.The students came up with the idea of calling themselves Tiger Team because both schools have Tigers as their mascot. Tiger Team includes all students, faculty and staff from Voorhees College and Clemson University who serve on this project. In the fall of 2004, more students joined Tiger Team. Students from Voorhees College were Jessica Thompson, Manda Jackson, Lynetta Gathers, Peter Mukwevho, Tiffany Peterson, and Dwanda Gamble. The Clemson University students who joined the team were Kristian Gordon, Kala Benson, Lawerence Black, Stephen Heape, and Will Newall. Together they assisted in the implementation of two phases of Research Study #3: the physical activity study and the cardiovascular risk assessment study. All students participated in research training. They completed an on-line Human Subject Protection training, consent form and participant enrollment training, pedometer training, anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist circumference) training and blood pressure training. Tiger Team members assisted in developing and distributing study promotional materials, enrolling study participants and collecting study data. In Spring 2006 several new students joined the team and completed the second year of cardiovascular risk assessment. These students included Desiree Bygrave, Gale Owens, Sharene Patterson, and Ayshia Wright from Voorhees College, as well as Grace Mukui, from Clemson University. In Fall 2006, Tiger Team will begin work on the 4th year of the EXPORT study. Their goal will be to assist in the education and motivation of Voorhees students to practice healthy lifestyles….for a healthy, wealthy, and wise future!
Walk 2K…Tiger
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Add 2000 steps to your day for a Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise future. Sponsored by Tiger Team….Roaring for your health. EXPORT grant.
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