The Health Promotion Society (HPS) hosted its annual Wildcat Wellness Fair on Tuesday and offered various health screenings, healthy food samples, refreshments, prizes and a lot of take-home items and information on a wide variety of topics.

This year’s fair took place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Great Lakes Room at the University Center. There were many exhibits put up by community organizations and businesses that offered information, provided tests and health screens, gift cards and other free giveaways that promote health in the Marquette community.

“Students should come and see what is offered in the community. Many students come in with preconceived notions of what health and healthy living is, but it’s much broader than they realize. At the fair, they can see all the organizations that help students with their current health and even their health after college,” management of health and fitness professor Matthew Kilgas said.

Any nonprofit organization can come present at the fair, Kilgas said.

“Anywhere from the Marquette Health Department talking about suicide prevention and HIV testing, the Marquette Food Co-Op, the clinical injury care clinic screening for injuries, to therapy dogs, the YMCA and many more.”

The HPS is an organization devoted to promoting health and wellness on NMU’s campus and surrounding community.

“This year’s Health Promotion Society is made up of 5 to 10 organized and committed students. They are a really dedicated group. They come to meetings every week and help organize and plan events. However, the actual Health Promotion Society is a much larger organization,” Kilgas said.

NMU Dining Services provided desserts, and many of the exhibits gave out healthy snacks and drinks. Along with free food, gift cards to Amazon, Meijer and Starbucks, lanyards, Frisbees, pens, bags and other knick knacks and prizes were also available at the event. The HPS has other upcoming events, such as “It’s On Us,” a talk about sexual assault.