Issue date: 10/14/04 Section: News

The Suffolk University Counseling Center has been accepting proposals for the annual Suffolk Samaritan Awards. The Samaritan Awards are part of the center's Action for Depression Awareness, Prevention and Treatment, or ADAPT, program.

Each year the SCC receives applications from students, faculty and staff alike with ideas on how to help the Suffolk community deal with depression and the problems it creates.

Lynda Field, co-director of the ADAPT program, thinks the awards are a great extension of the SCC's services. "These awards offer the Suffolk community a chance to create a more caring community," she said.

Whether it provides students with coping skills or creates dialogue between international and native students. "It is a great program," Field continued.

According to Field, last year the center received 12 proposals from a total of 58 Suffolk community members. However, only four received grants. "Everyone of the proposals were great," she said.

Last year the SCC was able to provide money for four programs due to the financial generosity of the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University. Of the four winning proposals from last year, one was submitted by a group of art students and their professor.

The students created artwork based on research they conducted about depression and its effects.

Other notable award winners from last year included a program that addressed the psychological and counseling needs of certain cultural groups, the Harry Christmas performance and a program that helped create a dialogue between international students and native students.

The submissions that weren't selected received recognition at an award ceremony hosted by Suffolk President David Sargent.

This year the awards ceremony will be on Dec. 2.

A six-person panel made up of two students, two staff members and two faculty members will judge the proposals.

Judging will be based on criteria such as the proposal's originality, relation to the ADAPT program and relevant budget resources.

The programs must help students reduce stress and confusion while educating the Suffolk community about various coping skills and how to identify someone who is depressed.

The deadline for submitting proposals this year is set for Oct. 15.

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