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Perhaps the truest test of knowledge is successfully applying what one has learned and teaching others. Senior assignments at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville support that premise as students embark on initiatives that represent the culmination of their undergraduate experience.

Fittingly in fall 2020 amid the Coronavirus pandemic, public health students pursued projects that directly related to the health crisis, as well as benefitted local partners. Teams of seniors planned, implemented and evaluated health education programs in the community.

While dealing with an entirely online environment, student teams pursued such projects as “Serenity in Sixty,” a 60-minuter interactive webinar on stress management techniques for Edwardsville Public Library patrons, and “Spread Joy, not COVID-19,” an informational video campaign on safe travel habits that was shared on TikTok.

“What has been most impressive about these students is their flexibility, adaptability, determination and guts,” said Nicole Klein, PhD, professor and public health program director in the Department of Applied Health. “They were all unexpectedly forced to adapt to new conditions, including online learning, using online tools for collaboration, illnesses, financial insecurity and general COVID funk.”

Further underscoring students’ perseverance and successful project completion, Klein added, “We all knew someone with COVID at some point in the semester. But, these students continued to work together, asked for the help they needed, did the hard things, took care of the big and little tasks, and rolled it all into an unforgettable senior experience.”

Public health seniors Jasmyn Kloster, of Edwardsville, and Jessica Sauer, of Springfield, each provided exemplary leadership to their project groups throughout the semester.

Kloster led “Spread Joy, not COVID-19,” and collaborated with teammates Maddison Bierbaum, Kaylin Daggs, Cassidy Reynolds and Fion Yim.

“Studies have proven that college students who travel are more likely to spread COVID-19 compared to those who do not travel,” explained Kloster. “We wanted students to know the correct precautions to take before going home to visit family for the holidays.”

The project team based their video content off the “3 Ws of COVID,” which include washing your hands, watching your distance and wearing a mask. Three videos were created and sent to SIUE students, along with an evaluation link. Approximately 256 students watched the TikTok videos and participated in the evaluation.

Kloster aspires to work for a company that combines public health and social media, so strengthening leadership skills through this project will prove valuable.

“Whether it be for sexual health, nutrition, personal wellness or any other aspect of public health, I found that I enjoy combining social media with spreading knowledge,” said Kloster. “It has proven to be a quick and effective way for young people to learn.”

Sauer’s project, “Serenity in Sixty,” focused on providing the community with different ways to cope with the stresses caused by COVID-19. Her team members were Jordyn Flood, Damilola Oyeside, Morgan Reichert and Hannah Sieferman.

“The main goal of our project was to provide patrons of the Edwardsville Public Library with techniques to better manage stress and anxiety, especially amid COVID-19,” said Sauer. “Throughout the semester, we developed a program that contains many researched techniques.”

During an hour-long Zoom seminar, Sauer and teammates discussed the differences between stress and anxiety and provided library patrons with six ways to cope with stress during the pandemic. Additionally, project members practiced diaphragmatic breathing, meditation and music therapy with attendees.

Prior to her graduation in spring 2021, Sauer will provide community support through an internship with SIUE’s COVID Coordinator Michael Schultz. She will conduct contact tracing for SIUE. She will develop a script for contact tracing, interview students diagnosed with COVID-19 to trace those with whom they’ve been in contact, provide information on isolation and quarantine protocols, and refer traced contacts for possible testing.

“This will be a meaningful experience for me, because COVID is a life-changing health issue,” explained Sauer. “Through this internship, I will learn more about contact tracing, isolation and quarantine protocols, interviewing skills, and much more.”

Sauer aspires to earn a master’s in nursing, and incorporate nursing and public health in her future career.

“The future is bright for these public health students,” said Klein. “What employer or graduate school isn’t going to want a new graduate who found themselves in a less-than-ideal situation, took a deep breath and just did the work. All of our students have done that, and they did it well.”

Photo: SIUE public health seniors present on their senior assignments during a Zoom session.