On April 11th, 2024, Erie Niagara AHEC launched a new 8-week High School pilot program
called Student Athletes with Academic Goals, better known as SWAG, at Niagara Falls High School. 26 Junior and Senior student athletes learned about careers in sports medicine, time management & balance, nutrition, CPR & first aid, opioid prevention education, mental health & healthy relationships, and the importance of body language in their adventures. These topics will prepare them for their prospective academic journey, athletic career, and current & future relationships.
These SWAG students completed interactive, hands-on experiences that reinforced their comprehension and application of these topics. Mental health word clouds, healthy trail mix, basic medical skills, harm reduction training, and improv increased their awareness of and involvement in their health and wellness.
Our SWAG students graduated from the program with a mini ceremony sponsored by the NYS Statewide Office on May 30th. With students’ help, we designed personalized SWAG sweatshirts, portfolios, and backpacks to remember our time spent together.
We extend gracious thanks to guest speakers Mary Grace Gaston, BA; Medicine of Tomorrow students; Mia Dickinson, MPH; Melissa Archer, PMHNP-BC, MSN, BSN; and Rachel Ersing, DC, Ed.S, MBA, MAOL, LMT for their generous contributions to SWAG!
Click through the slideshow below to see some highlights from SWAG!
