Wellness Initiatives Fund

Academic Year 2025-2026 Annual Report

Students at Take Back the Night March
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2025-2026 Summary

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the Wellness Initiatives Fund supported 16 projects with total awards of $5,240. Thanks to the continued generosity of our donors, students, faculty, and staff were able to implement innovative programs that promoted mental health, community connection, personal well-being, and healthy decision-making across campus.
From peer support groups and wellness education to mental health training and community-building initiatives, these programs reached hundreds of students and contributed to a healthier, more supportive campus environment. Recipients remain deeply appreciative of the opportunity to bring these meaningful projects to life. Highlights from this year’s funded initiatives are included below.

Living with Loss Peer Support Group

Established in 2019 through a partnership between Counseling Services and Campus Ministry, the Living with Loss Peer Support Group provides support for students navigating grief while balancing the demands of college life. During the 2025–2026 Academic Year, Associate Director of Counseling Services Laura Shea and Campus Minister for Community Engagement Brittany Lorgeree facilitated eleven meetings. Nine students participated throughout the year, with an average attendance of two to three students per session.

Participants reported that the group provided a safe and supportive space to openly discuss their grief experiences. Students found the book We Get It: Voices of Grieving College Students and Young Adults especially meaningful, as it offered relatable perspectives from peers who experienced loss during college. Looking ahead, organizers plan to explore new strategies to increase participation, including adjusting meeting times and locations, creating a Canvas page, and offering additional resources and programming focused on supporting those who are grieving.

The Wes Woodson Company – Moving Student Wellbeing Forward™

To help students navigate the transition into college and reinforce the importance of mental health, Active Minds welcomed nationally recognized mental health speaker and author Wes Woodson as part of his You Were Always Enough Tour. Held during the first week of the fall semester, the event drew approximately 40–45 students. Through his personal story of challenges and resilience, Woodson encouraged open conversations about mental health and shared resources to help students succeed. The program resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom expressed that it made them feel more comfortable discussing their own struggles and seeking support when needed.

Fresh Check Day

Fresh Check Day, a signature campus-wide mental health awareness and suicide prevention event, welcomed more than 200 students and featured the highest level of student organization participation to date. Representatives from campus offices and student organizations provided information and resources on topics including anxiety, depression, substance use, nutrition, and mental health support services. Interactive activities, crafts, massages, games, and visits from baby farm animals created an engaging atmosphere while promoting wellness. Fresh Check Day continues to be a valuable opportunity to connect students, particularly first-year students, with campus resources and organizations that help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Alcohol Safety and Harm Reduction

The Office of Health and Wellness hosted four Alcohol Safety and Harm Reduction pop-up events during the academic year, timed around high-risk periods including the first Brother Mike's/home football game, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break. Students received practical resources such as drink covers, alcohol poisoning safety cards, and Liquid I.V. packets, while learning about the College’s Amnesty Policy and available support services. Feedback indicated that students appreciated the non-judgmental, harm-reduction approach and felt supported by the resources provided.

Alcohol-Free Movie Night 

Easton Wings of Hope Preventing Youth Substance Abuse logo with butterfly

As part of Fall Welcome Week, the Office of Health and Wellness partnered with Easton Wings of Hope - a local coalition whose mission is to prevent youth substance use through education, awareness and policy change - to host an alcohol-free movie night featuring 21 Jump Street. 

Approximately 50 students attended and were provided with snacks, wellness resources, and information about substance use prevention.

The event offered a fun, community-focused alternative for students while promoting healthy choices.

Happiness & Communication: Giving Back to the Community

Students holding pumpkins

Students in Dr. Monique Myers’ Happiness course partnered with a local farm to collect and donate s to children participating in the Old Colony YMCA School Age Program, including those living in family shelters.

The project offered students a meaningful opportunity to serve others, offer happiness, and experience the positive impact of community engagement. In a letter of appreciation, the YMCA Director shared how the donation enriched the experiences of local children and contributed to a welcoming environment for families.

Family Community Resources Walk for Survivor Safety

The Take Back the Night Club and the Office of Health and Wellness organized a team of 13 students to participate in Family Community Resources’ Walk for Survivor Safety. Students heard powerful survivor stories, learned about local domestic violence services, and joined community members in raising awareness about domestic violence prevention and support.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Take Back the Night Club and the Office of Health and Wellness hosted educational and awareness-building programs, including the annual Take Back the Night March. Support from the Wellness Initiatives Fund helped sustain these important efforts, ensuring that sexual violence prevention, survivor advocacy, and education remain visible priorities within the campus community.

Meditation Practices with Gurdeep Bhogal

Associate Professor Monique Myers, Ph.D., once again welcomed meditation practitioner Gurdeep Bhogal to speak with students about mindfulness and meditation practices drawn from Eastern and Western traditions. Students learned practical breathing and mindfulness techniques to help manage daily stress and navigate high-pressure periods such as midterms and final exams. Follow-up reflections indicated that students found the experience calming, restorative, and highly beneficial.

From Chaos to Composure: 
How to Craft a Winning Mentality for Sport and Life

book cover mentality wins

Through a partnership among the Wellness Coalition, Athletics, and the KyleCares Foundation, sport psychology experts Dr. Jonathon Jenkins and Dr. Kim O’Brien provided training for coaches and student-athletes focused on mental health and performance.

Topics included emotional awareness, resilience, help-seeking behaviors, and strategies for supporting athlete well-being. Each athletic team, as well as various staff, received a copy of Mentality Wins: The Athlete’s Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life, extending the impact of the program beyond the training sessions.

Mental Health First Aid Certification

In collaboration with High Point Treatment Centers, the Wellness Coalition offered Mental Health First Aid training to faculty, staff, and students. Twenty-three participants completed this evidence-based, eight-hour certification program designed to help individuals recognize and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. This program provides skills for those trained to support someone in crisis until professional help arrives, covering topics like depression, anxiety, trauma, and psychosis. Participants highlighted the program’s practical skills, engaging format, and focus on difficult but important topics. As a result of this initiative, two Counseling Services staff members and the Wellness Coordinator became certified instructors, positioning the College to offer additional trainings in the years ahead.

Digital Media Ecologies and Personal Health

Campus Ministry launched the Brick Initiative to encourage healthier technology habits through intentional periods of digital disconnection. Bricks - small NFC-enabled devices placed throughout campus - allow users to temporarily restrict distracting apps and only regain access by physically returning to a designated location. Installed in residence halls and academic spaces, the initiative encouraged students and employees to be more present, spend less time on social media, and be more engaged with others and their surroundings. Continued participation suggests sustained interest and potential for future expansion.

Coffee with a Classmate

To strengthen connections among sophomores who may not feel they have found their network of friends yet, the Wellness Coalition and Student Government Association (SGA) launched Coffee with a Classmate, a new initiative designed to foster relationship-building and belonging. Participants were randomly paired with another sophomore student and provided with Dunkin’ for the year. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many sharing that the experience helped them meet new people and feel more connected to campus.

Sophomore Sunday: Halfway to Graduation Celebration

The inaugural Sophomore Sunday: Halfway to Graduation Celebration recognized members of the Class of 2028 as they reached the midpoint of their college experience. Approximately 100 students participated in games, social activities, wellness programming, and very popular shaved ice from the Kona Ice Truck designed to build community and provide a break from academic pressures before finals. Campus partners also shared resources focused on stress management, mental health, sleep, and academic success. The event successfully combined fun, connection, and wellness, laying the foundation for a new, meaningful campus tradition.

Make Your Own Finals Self-Care Package

gift bags for wellness kits with supplies

At the end of each semester, the Office of Health and Wellness hosted “Make Your Own Finals Self-Care Package” events to encourage students to prioritize wellness during exam periods. Approximately 100 students created personalized wellness kits containing healthy snacks, herbal tea, stress-relief items, affirmation cards, and other self-care resources.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with students expressing appreciation for both the practical resources and the reminder to prioritize their well-being during a stressful time of year.

With Gratitude

In closing, the Wellness Initiatives Fund continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Stonehill students. Through the generosity of our donors, hundreds of students participated in programs that promoted mental health, resilience, belonging, personal growth, and healthy decision-making. These investments strengthen not only individual well-being but also the overall health and vitality of the Stonehill community.

The Stonehill College community remains deeply grateful to Robin McQueen-Lynch '80, Bob Flynn '87, and other generous donors for their unwavering commitment to the health and wellness of our students.

 

New contributions to the Wellness Fund this year included 13 members of the Class of 1981, who made their gift in memory of Michael J. Umano '81 to honor his passion for health and wellness at their 45th Reunion. 

 

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The College is truly grateful for the generosity of those who are assisting us in our efforts to support the overall health and wellbeing of our students, which remains our top priority.

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