Prevention and survival were major themes in yesterday's activities commemorating World AIDS Day, which included a heart-felt speech from an AIDS survivor.

"My assignment is to save a nation," said Carolyn Jenkins-Pineda, a 21-year survivor of AIDS.

Jenkins-Pineda addressed the AIDS issue to about a hundred Penn State students in Schwab Auditorium humorously and casually, sharing her personal experiences with God and AIDS to educate her audience of the reality of AIDS.

Jenkins-Pineda's husband, Alexander Pineda, also spoke about his experiences being the spouse of an AIDS victim and how spirituality has led him to the ultimate "promise."

"Whatever you show love to, it comes to life," he said.

Together they spoke of what it takes to live successfully with each other and AIDS. "You have to have something at the end of your tunnel for motivation," Jenkins-Pineda said. "If you don't create your own light, you're going down."

Katrina Pierre, who helped organize the speech, said Jenkins-Pineda was a huge success and really helped the students understand how she is able to cope with a terminal illness like AIDS.

Earlier activities, organized by the Global AIDS Initiative, attempted to spread even more awareness about the AIDS epidemic on campus.

A line of dozens of red shoes -- which symbolized AIDS victims -- led the way into HUB Alumni Hall, where the bulk of activities took place.

Almost 40 displays by various groups, such as Project Haiti, the Khmer Students Society and others, reinforced the day's theme of "AIDS Around the World."

"It's definitely a problem in the world today. Anything to raise awareness is amazing," said Jeannine Kane (sophomore-civil engineering), who was browsing the displays.

Nate Martin (junior-history), who spent a month and a half in Kenya on a charity mission, said that the situation there was "sobering" and that there were many ways to help.

"In America we have so much and can do so much," said Martin, who sold some of his photos from Kenya to benefit both AIDS education in Kenya and orphans in Rwanda.

Spring Cooper (graduate-biobehavioral health) said there were many resources that her organization, the AIDS Project, provides, including food, medications, testing and legal help to those who might not be able to afford it.

Ambrose Appiah (senior-biobehavioral health and African American studies) said that figures show 1 in 500 college students has AIDS.

"I did the math, and 84 students at Penn State could have [AIDS], and they might not even know about it," she said.