Pictured above: Students Courtney Schroder and Karissa Dykstra pose with Professor Kelly Parsley and President Cech
On October 30, Carroll College will be awarded the Skin Smart Campus Platinum Award by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention during the Council’s fall conference in Washington, DC. The award recognizes Carroll’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of our students by providing a safe, healthy learning and living environment on and off campus. Carroll pledges to keep indoor tanning devices off of our campus and out of our affiliated buildings. We also promote skin cancer prevention and sun safety education.
Carroll students Courtney Schroeder and Karissa Dykstra worked hard on the initiative this fall, ensuring Carroll achieved the various criteria for the award. They have offered sunscreen and skin cancer prevention information at recent football games and are displaying posters around campus, educating students and faculty about the importance of yearly skin checks and sun safe behavior. They recently completed a web page focused on sun safety education and skin cancer prevention and will oversee the installation of two sunscreen dispensers gifted to Carroll by the National Council.
Courtney commented that, “We are ensuring the well-being of Carroll’s students by providing education to live a safe and healthy lifestyle. Skin health is an area often times missed across college campuses.” Karissa added that, “pledging to keep indoor tanning devices off our campus is just another way to keep all students safe. Ultimately, we want to see Carroll support annual skin checks, educational events, and other prevention measures.”
The National Council extends a very special thanks to Annette Walstad who oversaw the signing of the Memo of Understanding when she was Interim Vice President of Student Life. Her diligence in serving as a liaison with Carroll’s administration was fundamental to Carroll achieving the Gold Award in April 2019, paving the way for Platinum this fall.
The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative is sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer which concluded that there is a strong association between increased risk of skin cancer and indoor tanning use. We applaud the efforts of all involved and thank the Carroll College community for their strong commitment to this important issue.