Penn College News

College Awarded $1,000 Grant for Students’ Sexual-Health Awareness

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

A $1,000 grant has been awarded to Pennsylvania College of Technology to enhance students' sexual-health awareness during the 2014-15 academic year.

As one of 20 institutions to receive funding from the Female Health Co., Penn College will use the money for an information campaign about the company's FC2 female condom, including supplies and educational materials.

The money will also fund Sex Ed Boot Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 27, an annual event that promotes safe and respectful relationships through discussion of intimacy, health, contraception and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.



The Boot Camp, featuring authors Joni Frater and Esther Lastique, debuted in the Fall 2011 semester and has continued during the start of each successive academic year, a time recognized as crucial for students exploring issues that affect their well-being.

“Sexual-health awareness is a crucial component of life. The countries with the lowest rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections deal with sex openly and honestly,” College Health Services director Carl L. Shaner said. “Educating teens about these issues is important, and we need to continue to educate students. Providing information on sex, healthy relationships, birth control and abstinence does not trigger a student to have interest in sex … they have heard about sex before coming to college. We are here to give them the facts and to help them make informed decisions.”

The fall sexual-health campaign will be incorporated into ongoing opportunities that target students where they congregate: dining halls, health fairs, peer-education events, etc.

Collaborating with College Health Services on grant-funded programming are a number of campus offices – Residence Life, Athletics, Counseling Services, Academic Affairs, First Year Experience and Student Activities – as well as the community-based AIDS Resource.

For information about Penn College, which is observing its Centennial throughout 2014, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

For more information about grant-funding opportunities, faculty and staff may contact the Grants and Contracts Office at ext. 7580 or through its Web portal.