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Wingspan campus news
By Jose Manuel Jaimes
A&E Writer
The Laramie County Community College’s
director of advising and career services Chrissy
Renfro’s passion for the Emerging Leaders
Program and her desire to publish inspired her
to write an article that was carried in Academic
Advising Today. Renfro, who also serves on
the National Academic Advising Association’s
Publications Advisory Board, wrote a piece,
“Emerging Leaders Program—Past, Present, and
Future,” that spoke of the exceptional success of
the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).
The article explained how the program set
out to expand diversity of representation in
the NACADA, an organization with more than
11,000 members. The mentor-mentee program
is in its fifth year and accepts 10 new program
members every year.
Accepting applications
in the spring,
the program is open
to those who are
interested in professional
adviser services
and pairs emerging
leaders with mentors
who have experience
in NACADA and academic
advising.
Renfro, an active
member of the
program, said she felt
By Ryan DeVries
Contributing Writer
A caring group of Laramie County Community
College students are working to erase the stigma surrounding
mental health issues.
A staggering statistic on the Active Minds’ website
revealed that 44 percent of college students felt so
depressed within the last year that it was difficult to
function. Because college can be stressful, Active Minds
aim to help students through difficult times. Jennifer
Miller, president of LCCC in Active Minds, explained that
there is no better time for an organization like Active
Minds because of the recent shootings in Aurora, Colo.,
and Newtown, Conn., which are both being attributed to
mental illness.
Active Minds is focusing on changing the stigma
of mental health not just around campus but also the
around the community. Changing this negative connotation
of mental illness will be the key to helping
troubled individuals who are prone to violence, Miller
said.
Why would someone want to be part of Active
Minds though? Any Active Minds member will tell you
it supports a good cause. The organization runs all of its
events to support others who may be having a hard time
whether they are struggling from severe depression or
simple test anxiety.
With nearly 20 members currently participating and
50 enrolled in Active Minds, the club is as big as it has
ever been on campus. Through past events like last
year’s Mud Run, a 5K run followed by a quarter mile of
mud-filled obstacles, the club is starting to be recognized.
Last year, renowned speakers made an appearance
at the organization’s biggest event to talk about
their battles with mental illness. Yet Miller explained that
fun events are a good way to get the word out about the
organization in the process of supporting a noble cause.
The Active Minds’ cause started 10 years ago when
Alison Malmon faced a tragic event. The University of
Pennsylvania student lost her only brother, Brian, to
suicide during her freshman year. The death came as a
surprise because he appeared to be a happy individual
throughout his life. Brian was diagnosed with schizoaffective
disorder nearly a year before his
death. Despite his diagnosis, he kept
his symptoms concealed from every-
the purpose of writing such an article was to
“fulfill my part in the program.” Renfro also said
she hoped to write more articles because what
inspired her to write the article was her desire
to publish.
Renfro’s mentor suggested she try expanding
her abilities with the NACADA’s outreach tools.
Renfro’s 13 years of experience at LCCC influenced
the article in the sense that she wanted to
represent community college advisers. Also, she
said she felt it was important to write the article
“to show LCCC advisers are leaders.”
Renfro’s involvement in the ELP advocates
advising at community colleges. The article was
met with positive feedback, and unlike Renfro’s
admission of nervousness for her previous
articles, she said the feeling of being nationally
published “feels fun.”
February 11, 2013
wingspan.lccc.wy.edu
Group aims to change issue stigma
Active Minds works to change how mental illness is viewed
Advising director published nationally
Article created out of passion for ELP program
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one in fear of the negative connotations associated with
mental illness.
Since the death of her brother, Malmon was looking
to affiliate with an organization on campus in order to
help others in need. No such organization existed, so
she founded her own, which came to be known as Active
Minds.
Since its beginning, Active Minds has become a
nationwide organization. With 391 chapters spanning
around the country, Active Minds has become quite
popular among students.
Some students might wonder why Active Minds is so
prevalent. “As a society we have a lot of mental health
issues, and all it takes is one voice to make a difference,”
Miller said.
Students can join by contacting the group’s adviser
Luanne Gearhart, psychology instructor, at lgearhar@
lccc.wy.edu or by phone at 432-1666. Students can also
meet with the group every Tuesday from 10–11 a.m. in
Arp building 168.