Kodiaks Athletics

Make-Some-Noise-2019-1.jpg The Lethbridge College Kodiaks are joining programs from across the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) to Make Some Noise for Mental Health this week. The campaign is designed to encourage empathy, understanding and open-mindedness while promoting resources and support available on campus for those who need it.

“We want to increase the conversation around mental health and erase the stigmas associated with asking for help,” says Todd Caughlin, manager of Kodiaks Athletics, Residence and Rec Services. “Our Kodiaks student-athletes are great ambassadors for the Make Some Noise campaign as we stress to them the importance of taking care of their mental health as they balance academic, athletic and life commitments. That’s the message they’ll be spreading at our home games this week.”

Taking care of your mental health can come in many different forms. Women’s volleyball player Sianna Cherweniuk (fifth year, General Studies, Calgary) shared her story with the ACAC. Cherweniuk’s younger sister, Emmalee, was killed in a car crash following her rookie season with the Kodiaks in 2017. Sianna accessed on-campus Shepell Counselling supports to help her process the situation and credits that help with allowing her to return to the classroom and to the court.

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Kodiaks student-athlete Sianna Cherweniuk.

"They provided me with all that I needed to be able to thrive as a student and to help me get back to work," says Cherweniuk. "They also helped give me confidence to play volleyball again.”

Cherweniuk added that it’s important for people to support each other at all times. “Awareness of what people have gone through will benefit mental health perception. You never know what others are going through or why they're struggling."

The Kodiaks will host a Make Some Noise for Mental Health pep rally at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday in Lethbridge College’s Centre Core.

The Kodiaks will have giveaways, games and prizes in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium as they host Ambrose College in volleyball on Thursday at 6 p.m. and in basketball on Saturday at 6 p.m.