Lone Star College-Montgomery is seeking booth exhibitors and sponsors for Healthier U, a community-wide wellness expo, job fair, and golf tournament that provides scholarships for students while promoting healthier living in the community.

The event takes place April 3-6, and proceeds supply scholarships for students primarily in the nursing, radiologic technology, physical therapist assistant, fire science technology, and emergency medical technician programs.

Lone Star College-Montgomery is seeking businesses to participate in the annual Healthier U Wellness Expo is scheduled for April 3-6. Sponsoring a booth at this event allows businesses to promote their services while raising scholarship funds for healthcare students like these.

“The financial and time commitments involved in beginning a professional healthcare program can seem overwhelming to students,” said Katie Halbert, Healthier U event coordinator. “The scholarship funds raised from booth sponsors go a long way in helping our students pursue their dreams.”

According to Halbert, more than $28,000 was raised last year, enough to provide $500 scholarships for 56 students. One of the scholarship recipients was Lisa Carnes, a vocational nurse transitioning to the associate degree nursing program.

“Being a nursing student can be very challenging, as well as costly,” said Carnes, who graduated in 2012. “Without this scholarship, I would not have been able to finish school and obtain my degree.”

Any business that offers a health-related service to the community (medical- or fitness-related, emotional well-being, or even financial health) is invited to showcase their products and services and/or screen employee candidates at the Wellness Expo and Job Fair on Thursday, April 4. Popular booth ideas include displays, educational or interactive games, healthcare screenings, videos, informal consultations, and giveaways.

“Healthier U is a lively and pleasant venue where sponsors can network with others, gain potential clients, and promote their services,” said Halbert. “Sponsorship is a win-win situation for both the local businesses and our students.”

The booth sponsorship levels for Healthier U 2013 are: Platinum ($1,500); Gold ($1,000); Silver ($500); and Bronze ($250), with increasing benefits at each level. All levels include a table(s) and skirting, materials transportation and booth set-up assistance, refreshments, and of course, publicity before, during, and after the event.

Additionally, golf team registration for the Healthier U Maverick Open is still available, along with specific golf tournament sponsorships. Registration for a team of four for the tournament only is $325; a scholarship-only sponsor is $250; and a hole sponsorship is $500. The golf tournament will be held at River Plantation Country Club in Conroe on Friday, April 4.

Healthier U 2013 begins on Wednesday, April 3, with a heart-healthy cook-off and sweets bake-off, a gently used multimedia sale, and a silent auction. The multimedia sale and silent auction continue through Thursday, April 4.

On Thursday, April 4, the wellness expo and job fair take place. At noon on Thursday, an awards ceremony will recognize the Healthier U scholarship recipients for 2012, as well as the Platinum- and Gold-level sponsors.

The golf tournament takes place on Friday, April 5, and a Fun Run concludes the event on Saturday, April 6.

With the exception of the golf tournament, most activities take place on campus, in and around the atrium of the Health Science Center (Building B), from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. All events are open to the community.

For more information about sponsoring a booth at Healthier U 2013, contact Katie Halbert at (936) 273-7012 or khalbert@lonestar.edu; visit www.LoneStar.edu/HealthierU; or find Healthier U on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LSCM.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 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, five centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.