Posted on Tuesday, June 2, 2026
This spring, four Westminster College students shared their passions with Wilmington Area High School students through the district’s VIBE (Valuable, Inspiring, and Beyond-classroom Experiences) initiative, leading hands-on sessions focused on mindfulness, teamwork, beekeeping and animal care.
The Westminster students participated through Westminster’s Community Collaborative Leadership course and program, which brings students and community members together for seven weeks before launching into project-based leadership applications.
Created and led by Dr. Michael O’Donovan, Wilmington Area School District’s school psychologist and 2001 Westminster alumnus, VIBE encourages students to discover activities that promote emotional well-being through meaningful engagement and shared interests.
“VIBE encourages students to set social media aside and engage in meaningful activities that fortify emotional well-being, build perseverance and improve resilience,” O’Donovan said.
Senior marketing and professional sales major Joshua Furman ’26 of Jefferson, Ohio, presented “Mindful Meditation,” sharing how a daily yoga practice helped him navigate the transition to college. His session focused on recognizing stress and developing strategies to manage it. Students practiced the 4-4-4 breathing technique and participated in a journaling activity.
Through “Titan Tower,” junior business administration major Elijah Grayer of Monee, Ill., shared how leadership and teamwork have shaped his experiences in sports, work and the classroom. Students put those skills into practice through a collaborative tower-building exercise.
Senior environmental science major Avery Keenan ’26 of Cranberry, Pa., explored his passion for beekeeping in “VIBEing with the Bees,” discussing how spending time outdoors and caring for bees help him relax and stay calm. The session included a show-and-tell of beekeeping equipment, and students observed bees up close through a portable observation hive.
Senior environmental studies and business administration double major Talia Kreider Helman ’26 of Newell, W. Va., presented “Hop into Learning through Care,” explaining how caring for animals can improve emotional well-being, reduce stress and build empathy. Students also had the opportunity to interact with her Flemish Giant rabbit.
O’Donovan said he was thrilled with the collaboration and sees additional opportunities for Westminster College and Wilmington Area School District to work together in the future.
For more information about this experience, please contact Dr. Helen Boylan, professor of environmental science and faculty fellow for community engagement, at boylanhm@westminster.edu or 724-946-6293.
Pictured clockwise from top left are Elijah Grayer; Talia Kreider Helman; and Avery Keenan, left, with Dr. Michael O'Donovan, right. Not pictured is Joshua Furman.
