WVU nursing students coach Wii bowling at the Taylor County Senior Center on Friday. From left the students are Whitney Westerman, Shane Brost, Megan Donatelli, and Jessica Knox. Their pupil is regular senior centergoer, Patricia Waters. Wii bowling champ Manuella Estel (left) stands with her friend and fellow senior gamester, Patricia Waters. The two where among the first to participate in the event. WVU College of Nursing Instructor Susan Pinto (left) stands with students Megan Donatelli, Jessica Knox, Shane Brost, and Whitney Westerman when they made rounds Friday to initially set up the Wii and give instruction to Taylor County seniors.

West Virginia University College of Nursing Instructor Susan Pinto and her students: Shane Brost, Megan Donatelli, Jessica Knox, and Whitney Westerman brought the “we” in Wii to the Taylor County Senior Center on Friday, July 17, 2009. Pinto’s group is working on their rural rotation and secured a grant through the WVU Extension Office to purchase the Wii computer interactive exercise program for the center. On Friday, the group was having a great time bowling.

“I used to bowl when I was younger. This is different, of course, but a lot of fun. I usually play Bingo; I’m a regular,” stated Patricia Waters. Waters and bowling mate, Manuella Estel, got a kick out of the modern computer game.

“I won the first game!” Estel boasted. Her competitor didn’t much mind who won. The WVU students were doling out inspiration, enthusiasm, and direction. They didn’t seem to want to give up the remote control device in order to train their senior students. Everyone, including onlookers, were having a great time.

Pinto explained that the group she is now working with in Taylor County will soon be graduating. Next semester, she said, “We will have five to eight new nursing students involved in Hospice, the health department, or in the schools such as Anna Jarvis.

I will make sure we have students come over here to continue this program and make sure it continues. They may even start some bowling leagues,” Pinto smiled.

“Two Grafton-area groceries, Foodland and Shop-n-Save, were very generous in donating food for this event,” Brost said. The students and Pinto were very pleased and excited by the level of community support for their efforts.