Step by step, Rowan community gathers for 9th annual Suicide Prevention Walk

“It’s about remembering folks, but also celebrating the progress we’re making.”

Those words, shared by keynote speaker Shane Karolyi, captured the spirit of Rowan University’s ninth annual Suicide Prevention Walk, held on April 18 under clear skies and warm sunshine. The event brought together students, faculty, staff and community members for a morning dedicated to connection, reflection and continued commitment to mental health awareness.

More than 230 people participated in the walk, which began at Rowan’s Student Center Expansion. Attendees strolled down Meditation Walk, through Engineering Woods, wound around campus, past Holly Pointe Commons and back to the Student Center’s patio. After completing the walk, participants gathered to enjoy a post‑event treat while relaxing in the shade.

The event raised more than $5,500, with funds supporting suicide prevention and mental health awareness projects on campus and throughout the community. The walk was organized by Lindsay Johnson, Ed.D., assistant director for well‑being, and Brittany Auleta, assistant director for well‑being programming and communication, with support from The Center for Well‑Being.

The Profs for a Purpose Suicide Prevention Walk is held annually to reduce stigma surrounding mental illness, support survivors of suicide loss and raise awareness of mental health resources available within Rowan and the broader community. Resource tables featuring on‑campus and community partners were available during the event, reinforcing the message that help and support are always close by. Those included: SOAR, SERV, Active Minds and Acenda.

This year’s keynote speaker, Karolyi, has been closely connected to the walk since its earliest days. He was among the first supporters of the event when it began nine years ago and previously served as a keynote speaker four years ago. His continued involvement reflects both personal and professional commitment. Personally, the walk holds deep meaning for him due to the loss of a family member to suicide. Professionally, Karolyi has done much to support many Rowan students through hard times.

In his keynote, Karolyi drew inspiration from American author David Foster Wallace, who died by suicide in 2008. After sharing Wallace’s famous quote comparing victims of suicide to people trapped in a burning high-rise, Karolyi explained how that concept has guided his thinking on the subject.

“What exactly are the flames that are engulfing so many? And how can we, you and I, help extinguish them? Is it telling others that we love them? Absolutely. Is it reminding others that they are fearfully and wonderfully made? Of course. Is it pulling a student aside and telling them that we're so glad that they're here? Always. These, I believe, can be lifesaving moments,” he said.

Day to day, Karolyi serves the University as lead project manager for Rowan’s Division of Marketing & Communication but previously spent seven years working in Residential Learning & University Housing, where he supported thousands of students. Throughout his time at Rowan, he has participated in initiatives that have a direct (or dotted) line to suicide prevention and awareness, including his work to secure a grant supporting Green Dot training on campus, chairing the inaugural Title IX Student Summit and previously serving on the sexual violence prevention committee.

Karolyi didn’t just talk the talk—he walked the walk. His fundraising team, Standing With Students, finished in second place, narrowly trailing Mental Health Warriors, which secured first place after a last‑minute donation pushed their total over $1,200.

Proceeds from the walk help fund mini‑grants supporting projects aligned with the event’s mission, including suicide prevention education, mental well‑being initiatives and efforts to foster belonging and connection. Past projects have included an on-campus gender‑affirming wardrobe closet, research on student mental well‑being, classroom mindfulness tools and alcohol and drug education programs.

One of this year’s speakers, Melissa Cosgrove, outreach specialist in Rowan’s College of Science & Mathematics, shared how a mini‑grant awarded to her fundraising team last year supported the STEAM Academy, a pre‑college summer program for middle and high school students. With grant funding, the program brought in a licensed mental health counselor to lead workshops focused on coping strategies and resilience, while also preparing students for the transition to college.

Organizers also announced plans for the walk’s 10th anniversary, scheduled for April 17, 2027, with a goal of raising $10,000 to further support suicide prevention and mental health initiatives.

As participants walked together, the event reinforced a central message: progress happens when people show up for one another, one step at a time.

Rowan students in need of support or experiencing a mental health crisis are urged to call the Wellness Center at 856-256-4333 and follow the prompts to speak with the on-call counselor, or to call Rowan Police at 856-256-4911 and ask to speak to the counselor on-call. Anyone seeking immediate, non-emergency support may also call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.