Two Hinds Community College teachers were asked to unexpectedly break schedule Wednesday afternoon.

The two were asked to report to the college’s multipurpose building without any explanation as surprise honorees during the Vicksburg-Warren Campus’ Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar.

“It was a complete surprise. I didn’t have a clue,” said Sylvia Lamb, a 14-year breast cancer survivor and biomedical science teacher for Hinds’ career and technical education.

Eloise Ford, a 9-year breast cancer survivor and a health science CTE teacher, agreed the honor was a complete surprise that worked perfectly because they both had less students than normal.

“I was so outdone,” Ford said. “I am just elated. Breast cancer is everything everyone here said, but one thing that breast cancer really does is bring love; it really brings people together.”

Light pink balloons floated skyward from the campus after the seminar as a testament to that love.

The college held the seminar after the Associated Student Government created a community service project raising money for breast cancer research by selling bouquets of suckers and realized they had the opportunity to honor some of Hinds’ own.

“When we found out there were people to honor here on our campus, it just made it so much more personal,” Marissa Williams, ASG president, said. “We wanted them to feel like they are not fighting alone, that someone is fighting with them.”

The 23 members of ASG have worked for almost a month to arrange for speakers, promotional and the reception, she said.

In addition to two members of its faculty, Hinds honored Claudia Taylor, a 13-year breast cancer survivor, and Tamriel W. McBride, a 6-year survivor, from Vicksburg Family Development Service during the presentation, which also aimed to honor survivors in Warren County. The survivors and speakers stressed the importance of receiving annual checkups and performing self exams, as one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We’re here to change those odds,” Justin McDaniel, ASG parliamentarian, said during the seminar’s introduction. “We’re here to provide you with information to recognize and prevent the symptoms of breast cancer.”

Even if you are attending regular screenings, Carolyn Butler of Believers of Faith Cancer Organization emphasized the importance of being self-aware.

“We all know our own bodies. Whatever is out of the norm for yourself, get it checked out by a doctor,” she said during her Breast Cancer 101 presentation. “As the saying goes, better safe than sorry.”