PTA students provide chair massages to military members at St. Joseph Freedom Fest

Sept. 17, 2026-Second-year Physical Therapist Assistant students at Missouri Western State University used their skills to give back to the local men and women who serve in the armed forces. The students volunteered to provide chair massages to servicemen and servicewomen during the first Freedom Fest at the St. Joseph Civic Arena on Sept. 13.

The event sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, City of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Community Alliance offered food, games, resources and giveaways to 900 members of the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard and the 35th Infantry Division of the Missouri Army National Guard.

The MoWest PTA students performed massages for 57 people totaling 9.5 hours of massages.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.