Several students gathered Monday evening in the MSC ballroom as Miss Prairie View, Miss Black and Gold, Miss 20 Twenty Pearls, Miss Lady of the Dove, and the class queens conducted a program that provided information about breast cancer. Supported by the slogan “Celebrating Life at Prairie View, While Preparing for Life Beyond It,” the program started with an invocation by Ericka Green, Miss Prairie View 2nd runner-up, and a welcome by freshman class queen Melody Williams. Facts, statistics, and exam information on breast cancer followed. Lindsey Slay, Miss Prairie View, stated that blacks suffer from a high risk of breast cancer, as she explained inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and its symptoms.
DeAnna Sanchez, Jessica Waiters, and Steffanie Monroe, all pageant queens of organizations presented information followed by a breast cancer overview and question and answer session by guest speaker Astra Zeneca
“I’m excited that very many young men came out…most don’t like to talk about this stuff,” Zeneca said.
The guest speaker’s knowledge of the subject was taken seriously as students asked questions concerning their health and awareness of breast cancer. Also, she took advantage of the opportunity to speak to the men in the audience by saying, “Men do get breast cancer too.” The question and answer session plunged into an in-depth conversation that was mostly filled with shocking facts, but was on knowledge young men need to know.
The program ended with a raffle drawing and students left with pamphlets, information packages, and pink ribbons pinned to their shirts.
Miss Prairie View said, “I hope that the students that came out tonight learned about the signs of breast cancer and how to really know their body. We are at the highest risk, and I hope people continue to spread the word.