After 14 years, the heart of Lone Star College-Montgomery’s “Healthier U Wellness Expo & Job Fair” is still beating strong, having raised $24,000 for student scholarships this month at the annual event.

“We’re grateful for our 50 sponsors and the many participants who, in spite of the economy, were able to make this year’s event a huge success,” said Mary Rush, division operations manager and Healthier U coordinator. “Because of their support, many students in health-related and other programs will have the opportunity to continue their education.”

Healthier U took place April 6-8. Forty-five non-profit and for-profit businesses and organizations were on display at the wellness expo, showing interactive demonstrations and providing health-related information. There were also 12 employers searching for candidates at the job fair.

In addition to the wellness expo and job fair, the event included a heart-healthy chili cook-off and sweets bake-off, a multimedia sale, a silent auction, a golf tournament and, for the first time, a blood drive, sponsored by the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, where 50 people donated blood.

Healthier U is an annual LSC-Montgomery event focused on raising scholarship funds that benefit students primarily in the college’s nursing, medical radiologic technology, physical therapist assistant, fire science technology, and emergency medical services programs.

The proceeds generated this year will allow the organization to begin a fourth $1,000 endowed scholarship that will be awarded to students in perpetuity. This is in addition to the approximately 25 to 35 $500 scholarships awarded by the organization each year and the three previously funded endowed scholarships of $1,000.

“Healthier U is a team effort, supported by faculty, staff, and the community,” said Rush. “Even the students are a huge part of this scholarship fundraiser. This year alone, more than 145 volunteered to help at the event.”

For more information about the Healthier U or to see pictures from the event, please visit www.LoneStar.edu/HealthierU.

LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call 936.273.7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.

With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for fall 2010, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.