MINDSET Nursing Students Lead Community Engagement Efforts at Tigers Slam Dunk Prostate Cancer Event

Students from the University of Memphis Loewenberg College of Nursing (LCON) demonstrated their commitment to community health and service during the Tigers Slam Dunk Prostate Cancer event on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Walton Family Basketball Center.

Members of Men Invested in Nursing Development, Support, Education, and Training (MINDSET), alongside fellow graduating nursing students, helped coordinate LCON's participation in the event, putting their nursing knowledge and skills into action while supporting prostate cancer awareness and early detection.

MINDSET is a student organization within LCON dedicated to mentorship, academic success, professional development and community engagement. Through initiatives like this, members gain valuable opportunities to develop leadership skills, build meaningful connections and make a positive impact beyond the classroom.

Held in partnership with the Prostate Education Awareness Council, Bayer and other community organizations, the event brought together healthcare professionals, community partners and University of Memphis students. MINDSET members and fellow nursing students assisted with event setup, provided blood pressure checks and distributed giveaways to participants.

Nearly 100 men received early prostate cancer screenings, with all participants invited to attend the first Memphis men's basketball practice of the season.

"One of the things that makes Memphis Nursing special is seeing our students take the initiative to serve others while representing our College," said Dr. Jeremy Whittaker, Associate Dean of Student Success. "Organizations like MINDSET play an important role in developing student leaders and creating opportunities for meaningful community engagement. We are proud of the collaboration between our students, University organizations and community partners, and we look forward to building on these relationships through future initiatives that promote health, education and service."

The event highlighted the value of student-led engagement and the important role organizations like MINDSET play in connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences. Through these efforts, LCON continues to foster a culture of leadership, service and collaboration while preparing the next generation of nursing professionals.