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EVERYBODY TRYING TO GET HOME AND ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND. IT IS MENTAL HEALTH WEEK AT THE COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY, AND STUDENTS GOT A SPECIAL VISITOR TO HELP THEM DE-STRESS. STELLA, THE CAMPUS THERAPY DOG, SPENT AN EVENING WITH STUDENTS. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S CONOR SCHMIDT SHOWS US HOW FOUR PAWS ARE MAKING A BIG IMPACT ON CAMPUS. FOR STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE OF SAINT MARY. STRESS IS PART OF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE. BUT DURING MENTAL HEALTH WEEK, PAWS WITH STELLA IS HELPING STUDENTS SLOW DOWN. WE’RE JUST HAVING AN EVENT, LETTING THE STUDENTS JUST HANG OUT WITH THE DOG AFTER HOURS AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DE-STRESS A LITTLE BIT. STELLA IS A SEVEN YEAR OLD GOLDENDOODLE AND THE OFFICIAL CAMPUS THERAPY DOG. EVERY WEDNESDAY, STUDENTS CAN FIND HER IN THE COMMONS FOR SNUGGLES WITH STELLA. BUT EVENTS LIKE THIS GIVE THEM EVEN MORE TIME TO CONNECT. A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING BEING AWAY FROM HOME. THE STRESS OF SCHOOL, TESTING, THINGS LIKE THAT. FOR SOME STUDENTS, STELLA’S IMPACT IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. LAST YEAR, MY DOG PASSED AWAY AND I HAD HIM FOR TEN YEARS, AND I WAS LIKE, LOOKING FOR COMFORT AND LIKE, SHE REALLY HELPED ME THROUGH IT BECAUSE, LIKE, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE LIKE ANOTHER LIKE BUDDY. OTHERS SAY SHE’S BECOME A PART OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINE. I’M IN MY SENIOR YEAR, SO LIKE, I’M UNDER TEN TIMES THE OF STRESS. SO SEEING STELLA ALMOST EVERY DAY IS LIKE A JOY TO MY LIFE. SHE’LL, LIKE, CLIMB ON TOP OF ME AND, LIKE, SET HER HEAD ON MY CHEST. IT’S LIKE THE CUTEST THING EVER. SO SHE IS KIND OF. WE’RE LIKE HER SISTER. SO YES. AND DURING A WEEK FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH, SOMETIMES THE BEST THERAPIST DOESN’T SAY A WORD. SO THIS IS LIKE HER THING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO HOLD HANDS. AND WE LIKE, SHE’LL HOLD YOUR HAND AND JUST HOLD YOUR HAND ALL DAY LONG.
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Stella the therapy dog offers a ‘mental pause’ at College of Saint Mary
Students say the campus therapy dog brings comfort, connection and stress relief during Mental Health Week
Students at the College of Saint Mary got some extra support during Mental Health Week, the four-legged kind. Stella, the campus therapy dog, visited the Hixson-Lied Center for a special event called “Mental Pause with Stella,” giving students a chance to step away from homework and de-stress.Kristi Girard, coordinator of accessibility services and Stella’s owner, said the goal is to create a relaxed space for students.“This is wellness week here at College of Saint Mary,” Gerard said. “We’re just having an event, letting the students just hang out with the dog after hours and, you know, kind of de-stress a little bit.”Stella, a 7-year-old goldendoodle, became a regular presence on campus this fall after students quickly fell in love with her during a finals week visit last year. She is now a certified therapy dog and hosts weekly “Snuggles with Stella” sessions in the commons.Girard said Stella often helps open the door to bigger conversations.“Students are experiencing being away from home, the stress of school, testing things like that,” she said. “She kind of gives them a chance to take a break. I’m going to go see the dog. And then the words just kind of flow.”For student Gracie Hargis, Stella’s impact is personal.“Last year, my dog passed away; she really helped me through it,” Hargis said. “She has that connection with everyone here, and it just makes everybody’s day better.”During a week focused on mental health, Stella’s message is simple: sometimes, a paw to hold is enough.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Students at the College of Saint Mary got some extra support during Mental Health Week, the four-legged kind. Stella, the campus therapy dog, visited the Hixson-Lied Center for a special event called “Mental Pause with Stella,” giving students a chance to step away from homework and de-stress.
Kristi Girard, coordinator of accessibility services and Stella’s owner, said the goal is to create a relaxed space for students.
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“This is wellness week here at College of Saint Mary,” Gerard said. “We’re just having an event, letting the students just hang out with the dog after hours and, you know, kind of de-stress a little bit.”
Stella, a 7-year-old goldendoodle, became a regular presence on campus this fall after students quickly fell in love with her during a finals week visit last year. She is now a certified therapy dog and hosts weekly “Snuggles with Stella” sessions in the commons.
Girard said Stella often helps open the door to bigger conversations.
“Students are experiencing being away from home, the stress of school, testing things like that,” she said. “She kind of gives them a chance to take a break. I’m going to go see the dog. And then the words just kind of flow.”
For student Gracie Hargis, Stella’s impact is personal.
“Last year, my dog passed away; she really helped me through it,” Hargis said. “She has that connection with everyone here, and it just makes everybody’s day better.”
During a week focused on mental health, Stella’s message is simple: sometimes, a paw to hold is enough.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
