RWU’s Wellness Street Fair Wins NASPA Program of the Year Award

December 11, 2024By Jordan J. Phelan '19

Students engage with campus resources and wellness activities during the Roger Wellness Student Street Fair in October.

BRISTOL, R.I. -The Roger Wellness Student Street Fair at Roger Williams University has been named the Rhode Island Program of the Year by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators(NASPA). The award, presented on Nov. 19 at the NASPA regional conference, highlights programs that demonstrate innovation, creativity, and a meaningful impact on student development and institutional culture.

What began as a way to centralize support for student well-being has become a much-anticipated campus tradition. Coordinated by Cristelle Garnier, Director of Student Health Promotion & Wellness Education, and the Health and Wellness Educators(HAWEs), the annual Street Fair provides students with a welcoming space to explore a wide range of wellness resources available on campus. This year's event brought together more than 20 campus departments and organizations, each offering interactive activities aimed to educate and engage the RWU community on topics ranging from mental health to community building.

"This event was tremendously successful and has now become an exciting campus tradition. This year the number of groups participating has increased by 25 percent and the buzz can already be felt on campus," Garnier said. "The impact of the Roger Wellness Street Fair extends well beyond the event as students infuse their newly gained knowledge of the 10 Dimensions of Wellnessinto their everyday lives. It is exciting when a program like this quickly becomes a part of the campus culture."

The fair's success is due in no small part to the efforts of HAWEs Sophia Gatto, Meghan Harvey, and Lio Lynn, who worked closely with Garnier to create an enriching and inclusive event. The Roger Wellness Student Street Fair is a powerful example of RWU's vibrant and enriching student life offered as part of our undergraduate and graduate experience.