LEADERSHIP GATEWAY »
Lois Blackburn Women for Healthy Lifestyles Gateway

This Gateway is designed for young women who want to practice and promote healthy and active lifestyles as the foundation of their college lives. The Lois Blackburn Women for Healthy Lifestyles Gateway is designed to compliment core college requirements for fitness. Its contents and activities are designed for students who seek wellness (novices) as well as those who want to maintain it (intermediate and advanced). Group Gateway experiences are designed to provide exposure to all facets of the wellness spectrum.

Gateway members complete a wellness assessment and create an individualized life-vision map. They participate — and at times compete — in small group activities. Small groups also form and meet to discuss a member-selected reading requirement.  An all-hands healthy Thanksgiving dinner is prepared in Hunt Dining Hall by and for Gateway members. A semester-long steps competition runs between Gateway MBC101 groups as they track their steps on a virtual map. Creative energy comes together in a wellness commercial contest at the close of the semester.

Who may apply? All who wish to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle and also wish to help others attain this lifestyle are invited to apply.  Gateway membership is limited. Apply early.

Made without Gluten options available in Hunt Dining Hall.

Will I take classes as part of the community? In addition to your academic schedule you also will take two required courses:

• MBC 101: Orientation to College (1 credit)
• Fitness 100: (1 credit)
  • Here you will also get a personalized fitness and wellness assessment.

In which extra-curricular activities will I participate? You will participate in health awareness activities, such as planning and completing a very public and well-used communication center on the ground level of Hunt Dining Hall. You will take part in an orientation Wellness Walk as well as walking in the Women’s Health Virginia event.  You may also volunteer with the Women’s Health Initiative or other community outreach efforts.

Where will I live? You will live on campus in the residence halls where you will meet other students who have an active lifestyle priority. Commuter students are welcome, as well.

Join our Facebook group

Check out our brochure!

Meet the staff

	Mary VanNortwick, campus dietitian, certified wellness coach, and assistant director of dining services will be your community leader. Peer advisors who live the healthy lifestyle, faculty advisors who support our gateway, and faculty and staff in the Athletics and Wellness department will be your guides. mvannort@mbc.edu
	Germaine Awlime Year: Sophomore Major: Biology & Chemistry Minor: Spanish Career Goal: Medical school, Anesthesiology specialty Passion: I love to help people, accomplish all my goals and staying healthy. Wellness Pursuits: Counting my calories Staying focus and organize Doing Zumba every morning before class Only drinking water and eating fruits
	Siobhan Beza Year: Sophomore Major: Biology Minor: Coaching and Exercise Leadership, and Women’s Studies Career Goal: Athletic Trainer/Director at Women’s College Passions: Exercise Exploration, Environmental Preservation, and Gender/Sexual Equality Wellness Pursuits: One or more forms of exercise each and every day. Take time each day to sit back and breathe for just a few minutes. Deep breaths always seem to make everything better. Smile and laugh often … Never take things too seriously. To truly learned to love my body … to become much more confident in myself and the way I move through the world. Eat well! The better I eat the better I feel.
	Jasmine Greinke Year: Junior Major: Anthropology Career Goal: Graduate School, Professor of Anthropology Passion: Making/Fixing jewelry, Learning new languages & cultures Wellness Pursuits: Stretching more for relaxation and tension release
	Blake Herendeen Year: Sophomore Major: Business Minor: Education Career Goal: Kindergarten Teacher Passion: Working with others Wellness Pursuits: Lowering my calorie intake Drinking more water Using the stairs as often as possible
	Amanda Johnson Year: Sophomore Major: English Minors: Education & Coaching/Exercise Leadership Career Goal: High School English Teacher & Softball Coach Passion: Photography Wellness Pursuits: Be more active … to taking the stairs to bigger things like time in the gym. To eat well by adding colorful vegetables to my plate and limiting fried foods. When I am overwhelmed and need to express myself … write about my emotions, mainly through my blog.

Beyond the First Year. Continued work as wellness mentors on campus.  Assist the next freshman Lois Blackburn Women for Healthy Lifestyles Gateway community with programming.

To help you on your pathway to learn more about wellness at MBC, visit www.mbc.edu/wellness/. To find out what athletic opportunities available on campus, visit www.mbcathletics.com.