SYRACUSE — Paige Wright will graduate in a few months from Wawasee High School, wants to be a nurse and will possibly attend Goshen College. She has taken all of the health classes offered at the high school.

So when it was decided Wawasee would host a health fair and students will have the opportunity to work with medical professionals from IU Health Goshen, she knew it would be a good opportunity to get hands-on experience.

Wright will be one of approximately 35 Wawasee students involved in some way at a community health fair scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, in the high school cafeteria the same evening of the Goshen-Wawasee boys basketball game. She has already helped with organizing the fair and during the fair will help at the booth providing information on nutrition and portion control.

Students from the principles of biomedical sciences and human body systems classes will be involved in the health fair, noted Sarah Holsopple, WHS science teacher. The biomedical sciences class is for students in grades nine through 12, while human body systems is a second level class for grades 10 to 12.

Holsopple said IU Health Goshen has done several community health fairs but specifically working with high school teachers and students is something different. In the past Wawasee had attempted to send students to the hospital in Goshen for learning experiences, but had encountered difficulties in doing so. But then the idea developed of the high school hosting a health fair and students working with professionals in the medical field.

Both classes mentioned above are Project Lead the Way classes where project based, hands-on learning is heavily emphasized. Holsopple said the health fair will be good hands-on learning for the students. “It will also be promoting good health for the public,” she added, noting the emphasis is on preventing health problems and a few tests will be offered at a much lower than normal cost.

A couple of hospital staff members will come to the high school prior to the day of the health fair to train students on what is expected. Students will fill different roles such as greeting and helping people, helping with games, helping with screenings or at booths and being paired with professionals.

At the health fair there will be various screenings such as for diabetes risk assessment, blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and more. Cholesterol ($15), A1C ($10) and echocardiogram screening ($25) will be offered at a reduced cost. Booths will be set up with information available on nutrition, healthy snacks, tobacco cessation and more. Games will be available for children too.

Registration is not required. Call (574) 364-2496 for more information.