BEMIDJI, Minn. (Feb. 22, 2011) — As part of its Safe Spring Break campaign, Lifestyle Educators at Bemidji State University will be sponsoring a presentation by motivational speaker Sarah Panzau on Thursday, March 3.

Panzau, a two-time junior-college All-America in volleyball, will present “Sarah Panzau is Living Proof” at 7 p.m. in Hagg-Sauer 100 on the Bemidji State campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.

On Aug. 23, 2003, Panzau made the decision to drive while intoxicated with a blood-alcohol level of nearly four times the legal limit. She missed a highway exit and rolled her car four times, suffering serious injury — including the loss of most of her left arm — requiring more than 40 surgeries to repair. Her presentation describes the physical and emotional pain of a life forever changed by her poor decisions.

Bemidji State’s Safe Spring Break campaign focuses on encouraging students to make safe spring break plans as alternatives to the typical party-oriented vacations. The campaign encourages participation in Pay It Forward tours or perform other community service projects, or to simply make safe choices during their spring break.

The presentation is sponsored by Big North Distributing of Bemidji.

Lifestyle Educators is also sponsoring a March 1 karaoke event as part of Safe Spring Break. Students participating in the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., can sign a pledge to keep themselves and their friends safe over spring break, and by doing so are entered to win a variety of door prizes. The event is co-sponsored by Ntertainment, Relay for Life, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, Ground Round, Tutto Bene, Keith’s Pizza and Country Kitchen.

For more information, contact Jay Passa, health education coordinator at Bemidji State University, at (218) 755-2080.

ON THE WEB
• Sarah Panzau: http://www.sarahsjourney.com