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How Cal Poly Students are Managing Exam Stress

The residence halls become dim as public health student, Leila Morrow, is on the last stretch of studying. Thoughts slow as she tries to recall every term for the tests lined up the next day, but she can’t sit at her desk any longer. Needing a break, Morrow steps out of her residence hall for […]

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The residence halls become dim as public health student, Leila Morrow, is on the last stretch of studying. Thoughts slow as she tries to recall every term for the tests lined up the next day, but she can’t sit at her desk any longer. Needing a break, Morrow steps out of her residence hall for a breath of fresh air in the late night. She heads for a walk along the well-lit campus as a way to take her mind off the piling stress. 

Walking a long campus, trips to the Recreation Center, journaling and connecting with friends, students are scrambling to find ways to manage the recurring midterms and final exams approaching. 

Academic stress may be the single most dominant factor that affects the mental well-being of college students, according to a 2022 review published in Frontiers in Psychology. For many Cal Poly students, that stress peaks around midterms.

“It’s just so much information to obtain in such little time,” Ayumi Sandez, microbiology freshman said. “Once one midterm starts, the second midterm is already coming up and you’re just stressed for the rest of the quarter.”

However, Cal Poly students are not facing this alone–therapy dogs, yoga, meditation workshops and planting activities are just some of the ways the university is offering support.

“We wanted to reach a wider range of students and support them in their wellness in different ways that are not necessarily limited to the Recreation Center,” Ella Boladian, kinesiology senior and Wellness Student Assistant, said.

Starting off exam season, on Monday, Apr. 28, students gathered in Studio 2 at the recreation center for an evening of guided yoga, meditation and journaling, led by instructor Kate Berman. 

Students are guided through yin yoga movements and journaling prompts as a way to calm the nervous system from outside distractions.  

“There are so many demands placed on college students, from their coursework, their jobs, their professors, themselves and their parents,” Berman said, describing why students might have a highly activated nervous system

According to Berman, yin yoga activates the vagus nerve, a part of the parasympathetic nervous system that helps slow heart rate and calm the body. In other words, it’s a way to shift students out of fight-or-flight mode and lower stress hormones.

Often, students leave the class transformed, Berman said. 

“At the beginning, I tend to witness a little bit of restlessness and maybe discomfort,” Berman said. “Towards the end, I see people really leaving a state of, like, kind of more calm and just slow.”

Since rebuilding the Cal Poly Wellness program for its first fully scheduled quarter this Spring, this relief is the kind of outcome the wellness events are designed to foster, Ella Boladian, Wellness student assistant said. 

“That’s all we really want, is just to promote wellness and give students events that they would enjoy,” Boladian said.

After partaking in the guided yoga, meditation and journaling event, Boladian said she noticed people walk out of the studio happy and smiling–an indication of the event’s success

Just outside, students can find more support on the Health and Wellness Lawn, where therapy dogs are brought in at least twice a month.  On schedule for midterms, dogs visited the Sequoia Lawn on Thursday from noon to 2 p.m..

   Therapy Dog, Luna, comforting students on the health center lawn. Mustang News / Julia Nunez

During exam weeks is when the campus demands for therapy dogs are highest, according to Denise Fitzgerald, a volunteer with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Fitzgerald has been organizing visits to Cal Poly since 2008 and has seen firsthand the emotional relief these dogs provide – so much so that she recalled a student who, years later, recognized a therapy dog named Tucker at the park and credited him with helping her get through finals.

“There’s something about the human and dog bond,” Fitzgerald said. “Just being able to sit and pet a dog and sometimes just quietly, helps people just kind of forget about some of the stressful times that they may be going through.”

Beyond the organized support, students are finding their own ways to navigate midterms. This includes other types of physical activity and ways of coming together. 

“I like to take walks, especially night walks, or go to the Recreation Center,” public health freshman Leila Morrow said. “Other than that, I like to journal.” 

She also attends Panhellenic-organized study groups, which help her feel less alone during midterms, she said. This is something she hopes to see more of during exam weeks. 

“It’d be nice to see more community-driven study sessions. It’s kind of an intimidating thing to just get a group going in the first place, especially if it’s huge lecture halls,” Morrow said.

Jess Alvear, a political science and Spanish sophomore, balances two majors and a campus job–a combination that limits her time, adding to her stress.  

“I notice I’m either up late or squeezing in study time between classes. I think taking advantage of the short periods I have of free time during the day can kind of relieve my stress,” Alvear said. She spends this time staying connected, whether it’s calling home or spending time with friends, she said. 

“It just kind of helps me to relieve my stress a little bit if I share it with other people and we can kind of bond because I feel like it’s something everyone is going through,” Alvear said.

As midterms stretch on and students juggle jobs, the pressure continues, but so does the support. Whether it’s through a quiet yoga session, a call home or a few calming minutes with a therapy dog, students can find ways to reset.

For students like Leila Morrow, sometimes all it takes is fresh air and a walk in the calm night to reset and refocus before returning to a night of studying.



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2025 Daily News Fans Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year Poll

VIDEO: Action from Meet of Champions outdoor track and field, Day 1 The first day for the outdoor track Meet of Champions included two local champs: Westborough’s Daniel Velez (pole vault) and L-S’s Nico Begic (200). Who will break the tape? The 16 candidates for the 2025 Daily News Fans Boys Outdoor Track & Field […]

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Who will break the tape? The 16 candidates for the 2025 Daily News Fans Boys Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year know how to finish on top of the podium.

They are champions at the sate and national level, college commits on the track and in other sports and school record holders.

There are 14 schools represented on the list. Lincoln-Sudbury and Algonquin have multiple options.

Vote below:

The poll will remain open for a week until noon Friday, July 18.



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Trinity Catholic volleyball sending Lyla Huggins, Addyson Avery to SEC

Trinity Catholic volleyball players Lyla Huggins and Addyson Avery left Adidas Nationals with a top five finish and still weren’t satisfied. It’s natural for the FHSAA Class 2A state runners-up to feel that way. After all, competitiveness is something both will need when they join SEC powerhouse programs University of Florida and Mississippi State. Lyla […]

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Trinity Catholic volleyball players Lyla Huggins and Addyson Avery left Adidas Nationals with a top five finish and still weren’t satisfied.

It’s natural for the FHSAA Class 2A state runners-up to feel that way. After all, competitiveness is something both will need when they join SEC powerhouse programs University of Florida and Mississippi State.

Lyla Huggins, a lifelong Florida fan, wasted no time committing to the Gators after they were one of the first schools to reach out to her on June 15th, the first day colleges can contact rising juniors. To be exact, Huggins received an interest email from the Gators on June 15 at 12:05 a.m.

Receiving an email from Florida volleyball came after years of attending camps put on by the Gators. UF’s coaching staff, with no interest in a new libero at the time, spotted Huggins at an elite camp and changed their minds.

Two days after their first conversation, Huggins made the verbal commitment she had dreamed of since childhood.

“It’s always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl,” Huggins said. “I’ve always been to camps there since I was little, and I’ve always thought about going there. And I don’t know if it was an easy decision for me. I just prayed to God, and I made the decision with my family, and it kind of just fell into my path.”

Meanwhile, first-team all-county middle blocker Addyson Avery fielded more than 30 emails on June 15th. Mississippi State won Avery’s commitment over her father’s alma mater Northwestern, California Berkeley, Houston, Clemson and others.

In being set to go to Starkville, Miss., Avery follows in the footsteps of former Celtics volleyball standout McKenna Yates, a current member of the Bulldogs. The camaraderie started with Yates the minute she committed. Avery even borrowed a Mississippi State warm-up jersey for her commitment pictures.

“It was really nice when I asked her (Coach Julie Darty Dennis) questions about the campus and the program,” Avery said. “It was all the things I was really looking for in a call, because I wasn’t being super picky about anything… They were talking about the program, the team chemistry, the training, conditioning and nutrition. It was all stuff that sounded really amazing.”

Avery and Huggins have the next two seasons to help Trinity Catholic and their club team, Ocala Power United, reach new heights before they join their college teams. As pivotal members of last year’s Final Four team, they both understand what it takes to get back to the biggest stage in Florida high school volleyball.

Then, after graduation, they’ll see each other from the other side of the net for the first time in their athletic careers.

“We were talking about we’ll see you on the other side,” Huggins said. “Obviously we’re going to compete, but we’ll still have that friendship there. I’m really excited. I’d be super fun against one of my friends. So can’t wait for that.”

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Meet Trinity Catholic middle Addyson Avery in 60 seconds

Addyson Avery makes her Star Banner debut with five quick questions right after her first district championship with Trinity Catholic volleyball

The rising juniors are the first players from a talented roster that Trinity Catholic head volleyball coach Jeff Reavis projects to have at least seven future college players. And it’s that kind of expectation that has earned the Celtics a reputation as one of the best programs in the FHSAA’s 2A classification.

“I’d like to say that those expectations don’t change. I mean, from year to year, as you know, we have we’ve been talented, Reavis said. “To have a team that’s nationally ranked every year from the City of Ocala, you know, is pretty incredible. Top five, Top 10 in the state, regardless of class, you know, that’s something that’s an expectation that the kids understand and it doesn’t change.”



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Meet syracuse.com’s 2025 All-CNY large school boys outdoor track and field team

Syracuse, N.Y. — The 2025 All-Central New York large school boys outdoor track and field team features 20 athletes chosen by syracuse.com reporters. Fayetteville-Manlius’ Nikita Domashenko was named the large school boys outdoor track and field athlete of the year at syracuse.com’s 2025 All-Central New York High School Sports Awards at Liverpool High School. The […]

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Syracuse, N.Y. — The 2025 All-Central New York large school boys outdoor track and field team features 20 athletes chosen by syracuse.com reporters.

Fayetteville-Manlius’ Nikita Domashenko was named the large school boys outdoor track and field athlete of the year at syracuse.com’s 2025 All-Central New York High School Sports Awards at Liverpool High School.

The other finalists were Camron Ingram of Cicero-North Syracuse, Alexios Acevedo of Henninger and Jacob Marji of Oneida.

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Hartpence, Noble Represent St. John Fisher In Brazil

Women’s Volleyball | 7/10/2025 4:58:00 PM Story Links PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Women’s volleyball standouts Kiera Hartpence and Kaylene Noble recently represented St. John Fisher University on the international stage, competing on a United States Division III National Team that traveled to Brazil.  The pair of Cardinals, who earned spots on the team […]

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Women’s Volleyball | 7/10/2025 4:58:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Women’s volleyball standouts Kiera Hartpence and Kaylene Noble recently represented St. John Fisher University on the international stage, competing on a United States Division III National Team that traveled to Brazil. 

The pair of Cardinals, who earned spots on the team for their impressive performances throughout their collegiate careers, played in four matches during the trip. Their team included players from Salisbury University, Christopher Newport, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and other Division III programs. 

“My experience in Brazil is something I will never forget. I was honored to be asked for such an amazing opportunity to be a part of the DIII USA National Team. I met so many successful athletes and made great connections with them,” Hartpence, a rising senior libero, said. “Playing on the court was so much fun and was a very high level of volleyball. I was able to meet other volleyball players in Brazil, trade my old jerseys and t-shirts, and learned about Brazilian culture, which was a great learning opportunity. This experience was unforgettable, and I am so glad I got to be a part of it.”

“Playing on the USA DIII National Team in Brazil was an amazing opportunity with a high level of play, an amazing group of girls and memories to last a lifetime,” Noble, a rising junior outside hitter, said. “Our team had great chemistry on and off the court, but we also made great relationships with the girls on the opposing teams, no matter if we won or lost. “It was such a rewarding experience, and it was so much fun to represent our country while playing against such good competition with some of the best DIII players in the nation.”

The trip, organized by USA Sports Tours and Events, provided selected student-athletes with a comprehensive international experience, immersing them in competition, Brazilian culture, social outreach and team bonding. Hartpence and Noble’s team went 3-1 in its matches against Brazilian volleyball clubs Louveira, Centro Olympico, Ripper Volei and Marina Barra Clube. 

Off the court, Hartpence and Noble enjoyed visiting various tourist attractions in the country, including the Christ the Redeemer statue and the Lapa Steps in Rio de Janeiro. They also visited several markets and beaches. 

Hartpence, the 2023 Empire 8 Conference Libero of the Year, has amassed 1,213 career digs, 294 assists and 117 service aces through her first three collegiate seasons. The three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District nominee studies management. 

One of the top offensive threats in the region, Noble, the E8 Rookie and Player of the Year as a freshman in 2023, slammed nearly 700 kills in her first two seasons as a Cardinal. The nursing major earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors for the first time in her collegiate career in 2024. 

The Cardinals won their fifth Empire 8 Conference title under head coach Kelly Greapentrog in 2024. They made the program’s sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and ended the season 21-9 overall. 



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Game on: Beach Volleyball Lands in Canary Wharf – 10.07.25

Canary Wharf’s Union Square is now home to a full-sized beach volleyball court, live for one month Hosted by charity Action for Kids (AFK), the court offers a special summer experience, while raising funds to support young people with disabilities Beach Volleyball will run from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 10th August  Beach volleyball is […]

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  • Canary Wharf’s Union Square is now home to a full-sized beach volleyball court, live for one month
  • Hosted by charity Action for Kids (AFK), the court offers a special summer experience, while raising funds to support young people with disabilities
  • Beach Volleyball will run from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 10th August

 Beach volleyball is back at Canary Wharf this summer, hosted by leading child disability charity AFK, transforming Union Square into a sandy oasis. Featuring a full-sized beach volleyball court and a sitting court, adapted for those with physical impairments, available on select dates. This summer experience brings sport, sunshine and community spirit right into the middle of the city.  

Open to all from Thursday 10th July to Sunday 10th August, people can take part in pay-to-play sessions where they can sharpen their skills or try a brand-new sport while supporting a vital cause for young people with disabilities. Courts can be booked for £15pp with a minimum of four players per court. 

Those working in and around the neighbourhood can take full advantage of the courts with private hire ‘Beach and Brunch’ and ‘Beach and Late Lunch’ team building sessions in partnership with family run bakery Signorelli. For those looking to break up the workday or simply boost team morale, these sessions offer a fun, energising and tasty way for colleagues to connect outside the office – no volleyball experience required.  

This year will also see the return of the Beach Volleyball Championships on Thursday 31st July, where corporate teams from across the Wharf will compete for the prestigious title of Canary Wharf Champions. 

Canary Wharf is packed with places to explore and boasts a full programme of summer activities. Until the end of October, Open Water Swimming returns to the crystal clear waters of Eden Dock, the Wharf’s waterside haven. New to the neighbourhood this summer is stand-up paddleboarding and origami kayaking with sessions also hosted in the waters of Eden Dock – giving paddlers the perfect opportunity to admire the floating forests and aquatic habitats in full bloom. 

A blockbuster season awaits in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square Park as it has again transformed into a free to attend open air cinema. It’s Summer Screens are showing a huge range of films, hosting a Mario Kart Championship and featuring live broadcasts of the season’s unmissable sporting events until Saturday 27th September.  

Culture lovers can look forward to a packed Alfresco Arts schedule of theatre performances, family activities and pop-up lunchtime classical music concerts. Meanwhile the Wharf’s innovative Short Story Stations offer a quick read to relax, with free one, three and five minute long stories. 

Visitors can also enjoy free activities across the Wharf like a 9-hole minigolf courseby Craig & Karl, colourful ping pong tables, the ‘Raise Your Art Rate’art trail, and 16.5 acres of open spaces perfect for wandering, relaxing and soaking up the sun. 

Those looking to refuel after a busy day of activities have plenty of choice with over 80 cafes, bars and restaurants. These include the Wharf’s latest new restaurant, Barbarella – Big Mamma Group’s 70s-style hotspot, conveniently located right next to Eden Dock. Other nearby spots include British nose-to-tail dining by the team behind Fallow at Roe, plant-based restaurant mallow, and Kricket for dishes inspired by the flavours of India. 

Canary Wharf’s Action for Kids Beach Volleyball is now open until Sunday 10th August. For more information and to book a court, visit  

https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/afk-beach-volleyball-25/ 

Notes to Editors

About Canary Wharf Group (‘CWG’)

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is the developer of the largest urban regeneration project in Europe. CWG develops, manages and currently owns interests in approximately 9 million square feet of mixed-use space and over 1,100 Build to Rent apartments. Canary Wharf’s retail offering is ranked the UK’s number one shopping destination by Green Street.  

CWG is committed to turning sustainability ambition into impactful action. Examples include purchasing 100% electricity from renewable sources since 2012, our partnership with the Eden Project creating a place for nature and people and working to deliver our Science-Based Targets.

CWG has created a 24/7 city where people can live, work and thrive and enjoy all the benefits that Canary Wharf provides: great transport links, access to 16.5 acres of green spaces and waterside living; and a wide range of amenities including an award-winning arts and events programme. Canary Wharf’s retail and leisure offer includes over 80 bars, cafes and restaurants and more than 320 shops, including 8 grocery stores, pharmacies and health clubs all within 15 minutes’ walk. CWG recorded its highest annual footfall of more than 72 million to its retail malls in 2024. 

Website: www.canarywharf.com  www.group.canarywharf.com

LinkedIn: @CanaryWharfGroup 

Instagram: @canarywharflondon

X: @CanaryWharfGrp @Level39CW

About Action for Kids (AFK): 

AFK’s mission is to create opportunities for children and young people who are disabled or neurodiverse, to increase their independence, reach their individual potential and remove the barriers they face. We focus on a young person’s potential and their aspirations, not the obstacles they encounter. Everyone deserves to do the things they love and dream about their future – being disabled or neurodivergent is just part of what makes you, YOU! Through specialised mobility equipment and personalised employment support, young people can access the world around them, build confidence, and fulfil their potential.  

 





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World Aquatics Championships: Singapore women’s water polo team suffers heavy defeat to Australia

The first day of the World Aquatics Championships saw Team Singapore opening their women’s water polo campaign. But against Paris Olympics runner-up Australia, the hosts fell to a heavy 34-2 defeat. Team Singapore, who finished last during their maiden appearance at last year’s championships, will face New Zealand on Sunday evening. They are behind Australia, […]

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The first day of the World Aquatics Championships saw Team Singapore opening their women’s water polo campaign. But against Paris Olympics runner-up Australia, the hosts fell to a heavy 34-2 defeat. Team Singapore, who finished last during their maiden appearance at last year’s championships, will face New Zealand on Sunday evening. They are behind Australia, Italy and New Zealand in Group A. Nadine Yeam reports.



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