USF St. Petersburg earned the 2022 Healthy Campus Award for its ‘access to quality healthcare.’
Courtesy of Annalise Anderson | The Crow’s Nest
By Aubrey Carr
Student welfare at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg was pushed to the forefront with a health-focused award.
The 2022 Active Minds Healthy Campus Award celebrates U.S. colleges and universities for their “continued effort to provide access to quality healthcare and give equal priority and investment to mental health.”
Active Minds is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health amongst young people –– specifically through peer-to-peer interactions.
USF St. Petersburg is one of five schools to receive the award alongside Auburn University, Barstow Community College, Stevens Institute of Technology and Virginia Tech.
The award’s review panel chose USF St. Petersburg based on three key findings relating to the campus’s quality of healthcare services –– championing student voices, proactively addressing systemic injustices and providing quality, responsive and accessible clinical services.
The Wellness Center, student-led organizations and the positive handling of racial injustice during the COVID-19 pandemic were also recognized.
“USF’s St. Petersburg campus stands out for its passion about elevating student voices and contributing to a diverse and inclusive campus culture,” Alison Malmon, founder and executive director of Active Minds, said in a press release. “USF St. Petersburg is a model for prioritizing mental health for its students and in facilitating proactive resources on campus.”
After a brief disbandment due to COVID-19, USF St. Petersburg’s chapter of Active Minds was reawakened last semester.
Kyra Kalodimos, a sophomore psychology major and president of St. Petersburg’s chapter of Active Minds, believed the campus’s recognition was well-deserved.
“I think it’s astonishing how involved resources like the Wellness Center and Campus Recreation are. Drop-in mental health consultations, sunset yoga and educational events on well-being related topics fill up the campus’s calendar, and I’m so grateful to have such wonderful resources provided by dedicated students and professionals,” Kalodimos said in an interview with The Crow’s Nest.
“I feel that even in times when I might feel alone and lost, I always have someone to lean on on campus.”
Patricia Helton, regional vice chancellor of student success at USF’s St. Petersburg campus, agreed that the award was well-deserved.
“The health and safety of our students –– both physical and mental –– is our top priority,” Helton said. “Our team is truly passionate about their work, and I’m delighted to see their efforts recognized with this meaningful award.”
