GRENADA — Phi Theta Kappa’s Alpha Mu Beta Chapter at the Holmes Community College Grenada Campus put heart health in the spotlight Sept. 28-Oct. 1 with a week of interactive activities, educational displays and a special seminar held in recognition of World Heart Day.
The week was part of the chapter’s 2026-2027 Honors in Action project, “Holmes is Where the Heart Is: Recipes for a Bright Future.” This year, chapter members are exploring the Honors in Action theme, “How can humans design a better future, and what barriers stand in the way?” Through their research, the students chose to focus on heart health, prevention and the barriers that can keep individuals from making healthy choices.
Throughout Heart Health Awareness Week, PTK members hosted activities in the Corey Forum lobby designed to make health education approachable and interactive for Holmes students and employees. The campaign centered on the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8: Eat Better, Be More Active, Quit Tobacco, Get Healthy Sleep, Manage Weight, Control Cholesterol, Manage Blood Sugar and Manage Blood Pressure. The chapter’s educational materials emphasized that heart health is important throughout the lifespan and encouraged participants to focus on progress and small, sustainable choices.
Students had opportunities to learn through games, demonstrations, giveaways and hands-on displays. As part of the tobacco education portion of the week, students had the opportunity to feel the difference between healthy lungs and lungs affected by smoking. The Grenada County Mississippi State University Extension Office provided educational resources that allowed participants to see an asthma trigger display also helped students better understand how environmental and lifestyle factors can affect respiratory and overall health.
The week concluded with a focus on knowing important health numbers, including cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Holmes Associate Degree Nursing students joined the project to provide blood pressure checks for students and employees while sharing practical information about proper blood pressure monitoring. The activity reinforced one of the campaign’s key messages: individuals can better manage their health when they understand the numbers and risk factors that affect them.
A highlight of the project was the “Holmes is Where the Heart Is: Recipes for a Bright Future” Heart Health Seminar, held Tuesday, Sept. 29, in the Corey Forum on World Heart Day.
PTK officer Katie Grace Ray welcomed attendees before fellow officer Charli Woods introduced a heart health bingo activity. Following the game, Reid Blaylock introduced guest presenter Sara Pollan, a biology instructor at the Holmes Grenada Campus.
Pollan guided participants through an interactive presentation covering how the heart works and practical ways to protect cardiovascular health. Her presentation took participants through all eight areas of Life’s Essential 8 and included examples of healthier food choices, ways to incorporate physical activity into everyday life, the effects of tobacco and secondhand smoke, healthy sleep habits, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. The presentation also encouraged participants to “know their numbers” and talk with a healthcare provider about their individual health and risk factors.
Rather than simply listening to a lecture, attendees were invited to participate throughout the evening. Heart Health Bingo, audience activities and a Kahoot game helped reinforce the information presented, with prizes awarded to the bingo winner and the top three Kahoot participants. Officer Sylar Vaughn concluded the student portion of the program with thank-yous and encouraged attendees to complete a project survey, followed by closing remarks from PTK advisor Bethany Miller.
The Heart Health Awareness Week allowed Alpha Mu Beta members to take the research component of Honors in Action beyond the classroom and turn it into service for the campus community. By combining research, partnerships and interactive education, the chapter sought to show that creating a healthier future does not always require dramatic changes. As the seminar materials reminded participants, small choices can make a big difference in a healthier you.
Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for two-year colleges and promotes scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship among its members.
Pictured are PTK Alpha Mu Beta officers Reid Blaylock, Katie Grace Ray, Charli Woods and Sylar Vaughn.