Psychology major earns Griswold-Zepp Award for mental health awareness and support project
Sophomore Sydney Hinnant was awarded a Griswold-Zepp award from the college for a mental health awareness and support project. The Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) at McDaniel oversees the Griswold-Zepp Award, which can total up to $3,000 for proposed volunteer experiences of McDaniel students, addressing the needs of local, regional, national, or worldwide communities.
Sydney Hinnant
Sydney Hinnant, a sophomore Psychology major from Clinton, Maryland, was awarded a Griswold-Zepp award from McDaniel College for a mental health awareness and support project.
Working in partnership with McDaniel’s Active Minds student organization, which is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, Hinnant created pop-up mental health spaces on campus, designed for students to destress and relax, as well as organized various events for students, including a meditation talk, yoga, making stress balls, animal therapy, and a question-and-answer session with the Wellness Center. Additional funds were used to purchase various supplies and materials, such as sound machines and salt lights.
Hinnant’s goal for the project was “to help students feel more comfortable in sharing their mental health struggles and to support students with resources beyond, and in addition to, McDaniel’s Wellness Center.”
The Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO) at McDaniel oversees the Griswold-Zepp Award, which can total up to $3,000 for proposed volunteer experiences of McDaniel students, addressing the needs of local, regional, national, or worldwide communities.
The first Griswold-Zepp Award was given in 1991 and was established to honor Earl Griswold and Ira Zepp, long-time faculty advisors for Student Opportunities Service (SOS)/Hinge, community service and volunteerism groups on campus in the 1960-70s. The award selection process focuses on projects most strongly exemplifying the true spirit of volunteerism and community service.
