HPU NURSING AND PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS PROMOTE WELLNESS AT 'YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY'

At the Nu‘uanu YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day, HPU nursing and public health students provided hands-on health education and screenings to over 100 children and their parents as part of a collaborative community outreach effort. HPU’s booths offered families a place to engage in wellness activities, ask questions, and receive care. The event was a meaningful extension of HPU’s commitment to community partnership and experiential learning, bringing future healthcare professionals into direct contact with the diverse populations they will one day serve.

The idea for HPU’s participation originated with Assistant Professor of Public Health and program co-chair Derek Cegelka, Ph.D., MPH, CHES, who also serves on the Nu‘uanu YMCA’s board of managers. With support from Associate Professor of Nursing Karen Rawls, Ph.D., MSN/ED, RN, and HPU Dean of the School of Nursing Edna Magpantay-Monroe, Ed.D., APRN, CMDCP, students from both disciplines organized interactive tables that promoted health and wellness through education, outreach, and service.

HPU’s nursing foundations students participated as part of a community health awareness fair held during the event. The fair offered students the chance to apply core clinical skills such as assessment and vital signs, while also strengthening their soft skills and confidence in applying nursing practice standards. Feedback from participants reflected a deep appreciation for the services provided by the HPU students.

“This was a rewarding event on many levels,” said Magpantay-Monroe. “To see our students interacting with the community, from the very young to the very old, affirms the importance of taking learning beyond the lab, beyond simulation, and into real-world experience. We had people coming back repeatedly for blood pressure screenings. They trusted us. That matters.”

Magpantay-Monroe also shared the personal significance of the moment, encountering one of HPU’s recent nursing graduates now working as a registered nurse in a nearby hospital. “It was wonderful to see our students and faculty shine in the eyes of the community and the YMCA board. With the Nu‘uanu YMCA located so close to our campus, this felt like a natural and important way to care for our community.”

At the public health booth, the student-led Public Health Student Association (PHSA) created a spin-the-wheel exercise game for children, designed to get them moving and learning at the same time. Each spin landed on a fun challenge, from jumping jacks, push-ups, squats, or even a “shake your tailfeather” dance for the youngest participants! Small prizes helped keep the momentum going, and student volunteers used the opportunity to talk with parents about the importance of regular physical activity for children.

“Participating in this event was such a fun and rewarding experience,” said Kylie Brennan, a spring 2025 public health graduate and PHSA treasurer. “It gave us the chance to apply our classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, developing communication skills, connecting with families, and inspiring healthy habits in children.”

PHSA President Gabby Mendiola, a junior, added, “The Healthy Kids Day event was very fulfilling. The kids themselves were all super excited to play different games, eat some good food, and win some fun prizes that all promoted health and wellness! Overall, the event was very fulfilling, and I look forward to participating again in the future!”

The HPU nursing students focused on community health through a clinical lens—offering free blood pressure screenings and discussing prevention strategies for stroke, diabetes, and hypertension. It was an opportunity for students to practice patient education in a setting that felt more casual, conversational, and deeply personal.

“My experience at the YMCA introduced me to an aspect of nursing I hadn’t encountered before,” said Level 1 nursing student Kiana Wiley. “It was exciting to be able to be working directly with the community in a non-clinical setting. Having the opportunity to engage with families and practice patient education in a more relaxed, conversational way, was new for me and I'm thankful to have experienced that. I got to see firsthand how patient education can impact individuals, and overall, it was especially rewarding to see kids and families develop curiosity and interest in their health.”

Several students reflected on how the event reframed their understanding of community-based care. “We were able to promote awareness and empower individuals to take their health seriously, encouraging proactive care rather than reactive treatment,” said Anicia Diaz, also a Level 1 nursing student at HPU.

For Johnnie Dodge, the experience underscored the importance of early education. “I showed a video about diabetes to two children whose mother wanted them to understand the signs and symptoms. That moment reminded me how valuable the information we provide really is. This event made me realize the importance of patient education and how valuable the information we give to others is. It is important to remember that everyone we encounter may not understand why regularly checking blood pressure is important. As future nurses, it is our responsibility to clearly explain and educate our patients about the importance of blood pressure so that they can effectively improve their health and wellbeing.”

HPU nursing student Sea’ana Gentry, a Level 1 student, noted that while many community members were eager to learn their blood pressure status, others seemed hesitant—perhaps anticipating an unfavorable result. “It made me realize how important it is to come prepared with easy-to-understand handouts. We had materials on stroke and diabetes, but in the future I’d like to bring even more resources to help people walk away with clear takeaways.”

From games and giveaways to screenings and one-on-one conversations, the collaboration between HPU and the YMCA provided a space for HPU students to put their knowledge into action while building trust with the community. It was, as Dean Magpantay-Monroe put it, the first event in some time where both nursing and public health students came together to represent the University—a proud moment for all involved.

“We’re grateful to the YMCA for hosting such an impactful event,” said Cegelka. “It gave our students a platform to engage with the community in a meaningful way and to see firsthand the value of public health and nursing collaboration. The event allowed us to bring kids over to the table but also educate the parents about the importance of movement with children.”

To learn more about the HPU School of Nursing and the HPU public health programs, go to www.hpu.edu/nursing.