By Liam Reilly
@liampreilly852
Chances are that when walking around campus, it’ll be easy to spot a backpack with a green tag attached. This green tag reads “Springfield College Pride Cares: Peer-To-Peer Support.” Students that complete the Pride Care Initiative training don the green tag that serves as a symbol to let their fellow peers know that they reach out to them if they’re in need of someone to talk to.
Pride Cares held its most recent graduation for its eighth cohort. The 26 students who received the green tag are now ready to use their training to assist others that may be experiencing a mental health struggle. Some skills students learned include using non-judgmental language and empathetic listening, while acting in a caring manner.
Adam Feit became the faculty representative in 2023 and has been a part of six cohorts. In the classroom, Feit brings awareness and speaks to his colleagues about the evolving dynamics of what students are going through. Feit was one of the speakers at the ceremony.
“The biggest message I want people to leave with is to continue to do the work,” Feit said. “Now that you’ve got your green bag tag, continue to have that awareness and open yourself up. Whether you’re observing people in the student union, noticing something up with one of your teammates, or maybe you’ve noticed your classmates not engaging in class as they once were, this is the time to act. Celebrate and continue on, but keep the message moving forward because that’s what makes this program grow.”
Madison Lopez was one of the Fall 2025 Pride Cares graduates honored on Monday. Lopez is a sophomore sport management major and plays on the women’s basketball team. She shared what she found to be the biggest takeaway from Pride Cares.
“The importance of a simple conversation,” Lopez said. “You don’t realize how much asking how someone’s day is going can change their mindset. You have no idea of what anybody’s going through ever so just those simple little conversations go a long way and much farther than we all realize.”
Lopez wasn’t the only representative of the women’s basketball team, as head coach and assistant professor of physical education Naomi Graves was the keynote speaker. During her speech Graves highlighted how the work of students with the Pride Cares initiative mirrors the spirit, mind and body philosophy of Springfield College.
Having Graves as a speaker was impactful to Feit since the first ever cohort was with the Student Athlete Leadership team.
“What really resonated with me the most was this idea of being present and how we as stewards of the humanics philosophy and taking that pride in the leadership of service to others, really anchoring down to how we can provide that support,” Feit said. “A common theme in our training is taking a pause so we can be present with that person and provide as much support as possible.”
The next Pride Cares training is tentatively slated for either January or February. The application can be found on the Springfield College website by going to the Student Life tab, then Health and Wellness, then Health Promotion and finally clicking on Pride Cares at the bottom of the Health Promotion page.
“We’re always taking applications,” Feit said. “If you don’t get into the first cohort after you apply, hang on that waiting list. We were able to get people that have been on the waiting list for three or four semesters.”
Photo Courtesy of Springfield College