The Student Health Center has an interesting program for students who want to help inform people about HIV and AIDS .

The health center’s HIV/AIDS Peer Educators Program is designed to inform students and organizations about HIV and AIDS prevention.

Students volunteer their time and energy to give presentations on request. The volunteers go out in pairs to give the presentations, which last from 45 minutes to an hour.

Heather Petersen, a senior majoring in English and secondary education, has been a HIV/AIDS Peer Educator for one year.

“This program is important because most people at ISU are sexually active and don’t protect themselves adequately. I joined the program because I wanted to inform others of this deadly disease,” Petersen said.

Students volunteering for the program bring many different perspectives and experiences to the group.

“Everyone in the program talks from their perspective,” Petersen said.

Mary Engstrom, supervisor of health education, said, “The presentations are fun, informative and interactive.”

The program is in its fifth year. Students who want to be volunteers go through an extensive week of training.

After that week, Engstrom said, the student has to commit to one year of presentations which involve three presentations a semester.

There is a charge of five dollars for volunteers in the program. The money is subsidized by the health center to cover the cost of materials.

Volunteers who successfully complete the training receive an American Red Cross HIV/AIDS instructor license that is endorsed by the health center.

The HIV/AIDS Peer Educators have given presentations to local schools, organizations and residence halls.

“I learned so much from the training that it was definitely worth the time,” Petersen said.

Engstrom said, “Students are welcome to apply, but it is a very strenuous week of training.”

Training began September 2nd, but interested students can still contact Engstrom at the Student Health Center at 294-7968.