Sack the Stigma: Ram’s Be Well Dinner advocates for student-athlete mental health

Mica Magday, Managing Editor • October 10, 2025

The Ram’s Be Well Dinner hosted nearly 200 student-athletes this past Wednesday, Oct. 8 — breaking the stigma around mental health by pairing the athletes with counselors from the Texas Wesleyan Community Counseling Center. This event created a comfortable and welcoming environment for the athletes to understand the resources available to them over pasta and sweet tea.

Student athletes grab pasta, roasted vegetables, breadsticks, cookies and more that were catered for them.

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Students begin settling down in their seats and eating their dinner before the program is kicked off by MC Verno Wright, the president of the alumni association.

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Two counselors act out how a student’s first counseling session would go if they were to book an appointment. The skit helped students become comfortable with the idea of meeting with a counselor by showing them exactly what they can expect.

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“I hope students remember that there are many support resources on campus. I hope thy walked away knowing it’s ok to ask for help, that their mental health matters, and that they are so much more than their sport.” – Coach Jill Gerloff

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Students begin conversing with the counselors at their tables to learn more about their services and any advice they can offer.

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“This was an amazing event with great vibes and energy all around. As I mentioned yesterday, I strongly believe that our students are the heart of our university and we want to take good care of them. We hope they felt our warm caring energy during this wellness event.” – Dr. Violeta Kadieva

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“There were some great conversations happening, but just seeing [the student athletes] be able to relax and just enjoy a nice evening always makes my heart happy.” – Coach Gerloff

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“The strongest students practice their mental health.” – Mike Bishop

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The volleyball team smiles brightly at the front of the Martin University Center ballroom.

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Several departments worked together to make this event possible, including the School of Business, the Counseling Department, Student Affairs and the Athletics Department. Coach Jill Gerloff, one of the head coordinators of the event, extends her gratitude to all the coaches, teams and departments who came together to support during student-athlete mental health week.

Student-athlete mental health week was coined by the parents of Tyler Hilinski, who founded Hilinski’s Hope after their son took his life at 21-years-old after losing his battle with mental health struggles. This year, Texas Wesleyan was just one of over 180 universities that hosted events promoting the significance of mental health this week.

“This week was created to remind student-athletes that it’s ok to ask for help, and that they matter,” Gerloff said. “In the hopes that no other parent, team, or school faces the same loss [the Hilinskis] did.”

Mental Health

About the Contributor

Mica Magday, Managing Editor

Mica Magday is a multimedia journalist from Arlington, Texas, and a senior at Texas Wesleyan University majoring in mass communication with a minor in studio arts. In the summer of 2025, she interned with The Well News, a D.C. based publication, where she worked as a writer and graphic designer. She also has had work published on the Texas Standard, NPR and aired on KERA. A quick way to her heart is through conversations about food, travel, thrifting and fashion. Mica cherishes time with her Filipino family and community and is passionate about uncovering the profound stories of everyday people in her area through journalism.

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Sack the Stigma: Ram’s Be Well Dinner advocates for student-athlete mental health

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