With the opening of the Lake Health Mentor Wellness Campus, a new era has begun

By Mimi Vanderhaven

The ribbon-cutting at the new Lake Health Mentor Wellness Campus on the grounds of Mentor High School last month is ushering in a new era for local residents—and opening doors for students, athletes and school employees.

“We are excited about this partnership,” says Mentor Schools Superintendent Bill Porter. “The opportunities presented to us through this collaboration are further evidence of how working together benefits everyone concerned.”

The $30 million campus includes medical offices, two pools, a spa, an indoor track and a wide range of fitness amenities.

“Voters rezoned the property two years ago to allow the project to go forward,” says Kristen Kirby, director of community relations for the school system, noting they donated land for the project.

The campus creates three main benefits to Mentor Schools.

1. Employees and their families will have access to incentives for participating in wellness programs that include risk assessment, wellness plan creation and progress monitoring.
2. The Mentor Middle and High School Cardinals swim teams now practice at the six-lane competition pool. Says Bill, “In the past, our 80-plus swimmers were bussed to the Spire Institute in Geneva to practice. Now we are able to eliminate all of that time spent on the road and give our student athletes more time to focus on their sport and academics. The state-of-the-art facility will play host to smaller home meets starting next season.”
3. Students interested in the medical field can apply for internships. “This spring semester, we have two students involved in internships,” says Bill. “Open to juniors and seniors, the hands-on, real-world internships pair students with Lake Health personnel in a variety of environments. They keep up their regular class schedule, and head over to the campus several days per week. Students undergo an application and interview process to become an intern. By fall, we will expand the program to five or six students and continue to build from there.”

Look for these monthly stories to cover topics at every level of the schools throughout the school year. The Mentor School system educates 7,660 students from pre-K to 12th grade in eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school and one school for students with autism. For updates, visit MentorSchools.net.