Elon Students Win Grants for Mental Health Innovation

Elon University students are about to get some serious wellness upgrades, thanks to four winning proposals that just earned Andrew G. Bennett Student Wellness Innovation Grants for spring 2025.

The projects tackle a problem many college students know too well: feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or intimidated by traditional wellness spaces. But instead of waiting for someone else to fix it, these students stepped up with creative solutions that meet their peers exactly where they are.

Rachel Deegan is launching "Beginner Barbell & Core Confidence Clinics" to help students who want to try weightlifting but feel intimidated by gym culture. The trauma-informed program teaches proper form and injury prevention in a welcoming environment, proving that building physical strength can also boost mental health.

Tyler Mastrangelo's "Connect Elon" tackles campus isolation through engaging video content that helps students find their people and plug into university life. The series gives newcomers and introverts a low-pressure pathway to building the connections that make college feel like home.

For students who dread Sunday stress, Evelyn Hess created "Sunday Reset!" The weekly program offers mindfulness, movement, and evidence-based practices to help students pause, breathe, and prepare for the week ahead instead of spiraling into anxiety.

Law students at Elon will soon enjoy "Law & Paws," a yoga and puppy engagement event designed by five Inclusive Excellence Fellows. The program addresses the unique pressures of law school by combining guided stretching with furry stress relief.

Seven proposals competed for the grants this year, each reviewed by a committee that evaluated innovation, feasibility, and potential impact. Every winning project addresses at least one of six dimensions of wellbeing and aligns with HealthEU, the university's initiative to foster a culture of health.

The Ripple Effect

These aren't just nice events. They're student-designed solutions to real barriers that keep people from taking care of themselves. When someone who felt too nervous to enter a gym walks out of a barbell clinic confident and capable, that transformation spreads. When a stressed law student learns breathing techniques during puppy yoga, those skills travel into courtrooms and careers.

The projects recognize something powerful: wellness isn't one-size-fits-all, and sometimes the best innovations come from people who understand the struggle firsthand. By funding student voices and creative approaches, Elon is betting that the next generation knows exactly what it needs to thrive.

Four grants, hundreds of students served, and a campus culture shifting toward genuine care—that's progress you can feel.