MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Wesleyan University Director of Athletics Mike Whalen '83 will be honored by RADical Hope at the foundation's annual dinner on April 30 as this year's recipient of the Christopher W. Martin Award, which honors those whose spirit or kindness, courage, grit, and vulnerability inspires hope in others each day.
 
Over the past three years, RADical Hope (www.radicalhopefoundation.org) has partnered with Whalen and the Wesleyan University Department of Athletes to implement a skill-based wellness program for student-athletes. The foundation developed the program – RADical Health – in 2020 to support the mental, physical, and emotional health of young adults, with a focus on college students as they transition to this new chapter in their lives.
 
After three successful pilots at New York University, the University of Miami (Florida), and Fairfield University, Whalen was approached about bringing the program to Wesleyan's student-athletes. Under his leadership, the department executed RADical Health and provided invaluable feedback that informed content and implementation modifications that continue to enhance the overall program experience for young adults on campuses across the country.
 
Wesleyan's main program under the partnership with the RADical Hope Foundation is Take Flight. Now in its third year of existence, Take Flight is a skill-based wellness experience that builds connections and community among Wesleyan first-year student-athletes. Through engaging with peers, mentors, and a variety of resources, student-athletes develop skills that will be beneficial throughout college and beyond. Guided by student-athlete leaders, this 4-week experience welcomes the incoming class to Wesleyan Athletics' Culture of Caring, defined by a commitment to the holistic development of the student, athlete, and person.
 
Since partnering with RADical Hope, Whalen has advocated for the program which has led to five new NESCAC RADical Hope partners: Amherst, Middlebury, Trinity, Hamilton, and Connecticut College, with others preparing to launch this year. This conference approach has become a national model for program scaling as the foundation will support thousands of other students on over 50 campuses this spring. RADical Hope will also work with the National Football League teams/players and several community-based organizations.
 
On April 30^th, the foundation will honor Whalen with the Christopher W. Martin Award at their annual dinner in New York City for his leadership in supporting student-athlete wellness.