With an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Masters in Physical Education from Oklahoma State University, this fit lady teaches many classes in fitness. Teaching Concepts of Physical Health, Personal and Community Health, Nutrition, Weight Lifting, and Body Conditioning, Forest also makes a point to teach a PCC employees’ wellness class. Her enjoyment in the process comes when people understand their health at all ages – from young kids to college students and on to older adults.
Because Forest’s job requires contact with all employees, the community college feels like a family to her, and that part of the job is one aspect which she enjoys greatly. Also, after working here since the 1984 Olympics, she has been a strong supporter of students involved in athletics -- attending games, scorekeeping, and officiating when needed. Much of this involvement stems from her own coaching earlier at Bethany College with volleyball, basketball, and softball. Between her work with employees and students, Forest keeps busy.
Forest is an advocate of humor in the workplace and having humor in life in general. Each year, her "alter ego" Charmin, the reigning Miss Nerd America, makes at least one appearance at a school function. She appears as a judge and honored guest at the college Mr. Cinderfella Pageant and has been known also to show up at Halloween and sometimes even in class.
With such an emphasis on health, it isn’t surprising that this woman also volunteers in a load of activities which focus on wellness. She has helped with Walk Kansas. Year after year, she is one of the coordinators for Relay for Life. She has been on the Pratt No-Smoking Coalition. She’s umpired, officiated, and kept score for hundreds of Pratt Recreation events and for youth sports. Also, she gives many presentations yearly for different organizations and schools. Finally, her involvement in Pratt’s volunteer scene extends to helping at health fairs, being part of the Southwest Elementary carnival, and serving with the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
If you don’t see her at one of these events, or at the college, you might catch her running, walking, swimming, biking, lifting, or any fun kind of sports. The Olympic spirit of fair competition and active fitness is alive and very-much present in this strong and caring Olympic athlete.
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