Copiah-Lincoln Community College, with the help of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, will be helping to promote health and wellness on campus and in the community.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield has given a $251, 310 grant to fund the Wolfpack Initiative Part 2. Co-Lin has named the initiative Power of the Pack: Wolfpack Wellness Initiative.

Co-Lin will use the money to provide more equipment for the student fitness center as well as build a fitness center for faculty and staff, provide a Wolfpack Wellness Program to help track wellness goals and outcomes.

The orientation class will begin having a module devoted to the importance of health and wellness as a lifestyle choice. Culinary arts instructor, Jody Hoff, will teach students how to cook healthy food in the dorm.

Part of the initiative includes a new health and wellness organization for students looking to become active in the new endeavor. The organization will help encourage physical activity among elementary students, host bike-a-thons and physical education days on campus for elementary students. The events will also utilize students in Co-Lin’s Medical Laboratory Technology and Associate Degree Nursing programs.

Oswalt Nature Trail will be updated. Nutritional information and healthy options for faculty and staff dining will be expanded. The college will also begin hosting a spring health fair.

“We’re happy to once again partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield,” Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles said.

Nettles said Blue Cross & Blue Shield previously gave them a grant in 2012 that helped begin health and wellness endeavors on a smaller scale. In the first grant, Co-Lin used the money to make a walking trail for Co-Lin and the community.

Nettles said those efforts began expanding and creating a positive health community. He spoke about the Student Government Association pushing the campus to become tobacco-free. With this grant, Nettles believes Co-Lin will be able to continue these efforts.

“It’s something I think we can all be proud of,” he said.

Sheila Grogan, executive director of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, said the grant is part of an ongoing effort to improve health at all levels.

“Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi has a dream of a healthy Mississippi,” she said. “We know Mississippians are happier when they’re healthy.”

The college also plans to expand the college’s Wellness Committee to include community representatives from King’s Daughters Medical Center, the Town of Wesson and Wesson Attendance Center.

For more information about the initiative visit colin.edu.