On the afternoon of May 20, SIAS University hosted the “Start from the Heart: Love Yourself, Build Integrity, and Embrace Gratitude” Art Therapy Experience Event and the Fifth “Most Outstanding University Students” Award Ceremony at the Chinese Garden. The event aimed to further integrate mental health education with character development and personal growth.
As one of the key activities of the University’s 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month series in celebration of May 25, the event was jointly organized by the Psychological Health Education and Counseling Center, the Student Financial Aid Management Center, the Student Development Service Center, and the Public Art Education and Teaching Center under the Office of Student Affairs.
University leaders attended the event, which attracted nearly 1,000 faculty members and students.
University leaders emphasized that the deep integration of mental health education with integrity, gratitude education, and arts-based aesthetic education is not only a practical approach to fulfilling the fundamental mission of fostering virtue and cultivating talent, but also an effective means of supporting students’ holistic growth and development. Such efforts play a significant role in helping students develop a balanced and healthy mindset while cultivating strong moral character.
They encouraged all students to remain grateful, appreciate the support provided through national student assistance programs, embrace themselves with confidence throughout their academic journey, and stay true to their aspirations. Students were urged to maintain a positive and resilient outlook, striving to become a new generation of young people who are mentally and physically healthy, morally upright, socially responsible, and committed to contributing to the nation’s future.
During the award ceremony, university leaders presented awards to the recipients of the Fifth “Most Outstanding University Students” honor, recognizing their exceptional achievements in moral development, academic excellence, social engagement, and volunteer service. The awardees were encouraged to cherish the recognition, continue striving for excellence, and serve as role models who inspire their peers to pursue personal growth, positive values, and well-rounded development.
Representing the award recipients, Chen Kai from Qixian Residential College and Liu Chengyuan from Zhishan Residential College delivered speeches, sharing their personal growth experiences and conveying a message of confidence, perseverance, gratitude, and determination, reflecting the positive spirit and aspirations of today’s youth.
Following the ceremony, the Art Therapy Experience Program officially commenced. Designed as a closed-loop interactive experience, the event featured four functional zones: a registration area, a themed photo checkpoint area, an emotional expression display area, and a gift redemption area.
A variety of experiential activities were offered, including emotional mask creation, seal-rubbing and engraving, human silhouette artwork, emotion-themed paper cutting, group dance therapy, emotional mandala creation, and xylophone music therapy. Through artistic expression and mind-body engagement, participants were encouraged to relieve stress, regulate emotions, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate emotional well-being, fostering both personal reflection and psychological growth.
Throughout the event, faculty members and students actively participated in a series of immersive experiences. Through artistic creation, physical interaction, emotional expression, and personal reflection, participants were encouraged to relieve stress, regulate emotions, and enhance self-awareness. The warm and supportive atmosphere allowed attendees to experience the therapeutic power of art and the value of emotional care, while the event proceeded smoothly with enthusiastic participation.
The event effectively integrated environmental education, cultural enrichment, mental health education, financial aid education, and character development into a unified educational experience. By creating an immersive environment that supports the principles of holistic education and the cultivation of students in all dimensions, the program embodied the University’s commitment to the educational philosophy of fostering moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor development.
The initiative further strengthened students’ positive psychological qualities, deepened their sense of integrity and gratitude, and enhanced the University’s comprehensive and student-centered mental health education system. Through coordinated educational efforts, the program provided meaningful support for students’ well-rounded and healthy development.
