RADical Hope Spotlights Dickinson College
Dickinson College partnered with RADical Hope in the Fall of 2025 to proactively tackle some of the strains engrained in the college experience for its 165 first-year student-athletes. The partnership aimed to create a critical support system for its newest student-athletes who faced a transition to university life which brings a whirlwind of new academic standards, demanding training schedules, and social pressures that can be overwhelming.
Celine Cunningham, Dickinson’s athletic director, saw an opportunity to support first-year student-athletes’ well-being and development while providing an enhanced athletic community and culture.
“For our first-year student-athletes, RADical Health is about more than skills – it’s about connection,” said Cunningham.“It helps them build community, find support, and develop the tools they need to navigate challenges during their time at Dickinson and well after they graduate. We want our students to feel supported from the very start, both on and off the field.”
The Dickinson cohort was led by 34 trained peer facilitators who were all upperclassmen student-athletes at the college.
At the end of the four-week program, when asked to rate how impactful the entire RADical Health program was on a scale of 1-5, Dickinson participants and guides rated the impactfulness of their experience an average of 4.01 out of 5.
“I thought that RADical Health was an amazing opportunity for first-year students to have the chance to speak about and learn how to address topics that they will face for the rest of their collegiate careers.”
– RADical Health Guide and Dickinson student-athlete
Ninety percent of Dickinson participants and guides would recommend RADical Health to a peer. Over 88 percent of participants and guides reported feeling more connected to their community after RADical Health.
“My overall takeaway is that resilience grows through community, reflection, and care— for ourselves and for others. RADical Health reminded me that even small moments of connection can make a lasting impact and help us face challenges with greater strength and understanding.”
– RADical Health Guide and Dickinson student-athlete
The success of the RADical Health program at Dickinson was supported by Cunningham, Dave Webster, the men’s lacrosse head coach and Kim Massimore, Senior Woman Administrator/Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach. This November, Webster won the USILA Division III Coach of the Year.
“The small-group format encouraged real conversations that went beyond surface-level topics. It helped me realize how many people share similar struggles and hopes, which made me feel more connected and supported within my community.”
– RADical Health Guide and Dickinson student-athlete