HEALTH-O-RAMA 3 YSU students get funds from fair

Health-O-Rama is celebrating its 25th year.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR HEALTH WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three Youngstown State University students in health related fields each received $2,000 scholarships from Health-O-Rama.
Health-O-Rama, kicking off its 25th year of running an annual health fair, most of them at Southern Park Mall, has accumulated $86,988 in its scholarship fund. The earnings from the fund provide the scholarships to YSU students, who are chosen by the YSU Foundation.
Honored students: This year's scholarship recipients are:
U Lisa Sicafuse, who is studying food and nutrition and is interning at Jameson Memorial Hospital in New Castle, Pa. She is scheduled to graduate in August.
U Jamie L. Hawn, a junior in the nursing program.
U James D. White, a senior in dietetics.
Dr. John Yemma, dean of YSU's Bitonte College of Health & amp; Human Services, praised Health-O-Rama for its scholarship effort.
"Scholarships make students' goals easier to achieve. A lot of students have trouble paying their tuition, but because of organizations like Health-O-Rama, I have never seen a student leave college for that reason," Yemma said.
Funds for the scholarship fund are raised during the annual health fair, which began in 1976 as a one-day event at Westminister Presbyterian Church in Boardman. It was part of the church's outreach mission, and it has been held all but one year since then, when the mall was under renovation. The first event attracted 40 agencies and offered information and services to 250 people.
Has grown: Health-O-Rama has grown to a two-day event featuring more than 90 health-care agencies and attracting more than 70,000 visitors.
The scholarship fund has been in existence for 10 years and provided money to 11 YSU students.
Health-O-Rama presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of Forum Health, Humility of Mary Health Partners and Southern Park Mall for their support. Also, special recognition was given to Florence Marstellar for 25 years of service to Health-O-Rama.