Kentucky governor visits campus to promote statewide health initiative

RELEASED: May 31, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and First Lady Glenna Fletcher, along with state and local officials, various health and wellness organizations, citizens of the Danville community, and Centre faculty and staff members met on Centre's campus for the Get Healthy Kentucky program sponsored by Ephraim McDowell Health in Danville. The event was held in the Vahlkamp Theatre located in Crounse Academic Center. Governor and Mrs. Fletcher were the featured speakers for the program, and free health screenings and informational booths were available for the public.

Get Healthy Kentucky is an initiative introduced by the Governor and Mrs. Fletcher in the spring of 2006 to help address the chronic diseases that plague the state. The initiative encourages all Kentuckians to develop a healthier lifestyle through physical activity, appropriate nutrition and tobacco cessation.

"Centre’s commitment to the intellectual and physical well-being of each of its students lies at the heart of Centre’s educational mission," said Centre President John Roush during the event. "We’re proud of this focus because we know that the young men and women who leave this campus will carry this with them as they make a difference throughout Kentucky, the region and the world."

Roush was presented an award by Governor and Mrs. Fletcher for the significant investment the College has made in raising health awareness on campus and in the surrounding community. Centre was commended on The College Centre, the recently renovated and expanded state-of-the-art athletic and recreation complex where students enhance their intellectual, social, spiritual and physical development. Also acknowledged was Centre's Parsons Student Health Center, which offers alcohol awareness counseling, women's health clinics, mental health counseling and other services to improve the health of Centre students and staff.

- end -

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.