Four University of Wisconsin Oshkosh students from the College of Nursing (CON) provided health care services during the Salvation Army-Fox Cities 2010 Christmas Assistance Program on Nov. 11 in Appleton.

Alycia Barret, Virginia Devins, Shayna Kafka and Diana Maasen hosted the Happy Holidays Health Fair from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 4635 W. College Ave., the former site of Circuit City. The services offered included free blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings and health education.

Participation in the Health Fair was part of the students’ class project for Family and Community Nursing, directed by clinical instructor Paula McNiel.

“The project helps students understand patterns of health risk and population-level interventions that contribute to the improved health of families and communities,” said Rosann Geiser, clinical placement coordinator and lecturer. “Students work together in groups to assess, diagnose, plan and implement specific population-focused health projects that meet identified needs of a defined community group.”

At the 2009 Happy Holidays Health Fair, the team of nursing students served 225 families, completed 175 cholesterol tests, distributed 250 books to children and handed out 200 apples to encourage healthy eating.