Saint Mary’s College students gathered Friday afternoon at Angela Athletic and Wellness Complex for the annual Fall Wellness Festival, “A Ghoul’s Guide to Good Health,” an event designed to encourage self-care, stress management and community engagement during midterm season.
The festival, hosted by the Saint Mary’s Health and Counseling Center, ran from noon to 3 p.m. and featured a variety of activities, giveaways and Halloween-themed booths from campus organizations. Attendees could receive flu shots, enjoy seasonal treats like caramel and chocolate covered apples and visit tables hosted by groups such as the Cycling Club, HOSA — Future Health Professionals, the Student Government Association, Center for Faith, Action and Ministry, the Mother Pauline Pantry, the Belles Against Violence Office and Saint Mary’s Affiliates of the American Chemical Society.
Maddie Maher, a nurse at the Health and Counseling Center, said the festival began during the pandemic as a way to encourage students to get flu shots. “It's evolved because it used to be literally just come in and get your flu shot. Over the past two years, we’ve expanded it to include some on-campus resources, just as a good refresher for people who may not have attended the activities fair or who just forgot that there were different resources available,” she said.
According to the Belles Wellness Program’s Instagram page, the first 275 students who preregistered for flu shots also received a prize, adding an incentive to stay healthy as colder weather approaches.
The Health and Counseling Center partnered with multiple student groups to make the event both educational and fun. Tables offered interactive games, stress relief tips, information about mental and physical health services and Halloween-themed prizes.
The festival’s timing is intentional, designed to offer students a chance to reset during midterms week. “I think this is essential because leading up to midterms is a very stressful time for students,” Isela Garcilazo, a counselor at the Health and Counseling Center, said. “So I think having this kind of tradition annually is very important to remind students how to cope with stress, how to manage stress, how to deal with all of the things going on in the world and how to balance those things.”
For many students, the event offered a reminder that wellness extends beyond academics. Freshman Deborah Torres said she appreciated how accessible the festival was and how it fit naturally into her schedule. “It is accessible because it is right inside our fitness center,” Torres said. “It also works with my busy schedule.”
Sophomore Hannah Walsh agreed, saying that the festival offered more than just physical health support. “Events like this are reminders that you are loved and cared for as a college student,” Walsh said. “It’s really easy to forget that, especially amid midterms and everything.”
As the festival continues to grow, the organizers hope it remains a staple of the fall semesters at Saint Mary’s. Maher said the event represents what the school strives to offer: a campus culture that prioritizes both health and belonging. “It’s really about creating a space where students can pause, take care of themselves and also have some fun,” Maher said.
The Health and Counseling Center plans to expand the event in the coming years, integrating more student organizations and health-related resources to further promote wellness.
