The University of Tennessee introduced a new club that prides itself on prioritizing health for students while balancing academics — UTK Wellness Society.
Students need to focus on their overall health as the transition to college comes with several challenges and can potentially introduce mental health issues.
According to a 2023 national survey by the American College Health Association, almost 80% of students had high or moderate stress levels in the past 30 days.
Ali Scileppi, a sophomore studying kinesiology, is the founder and president of the program.
“I’m incredibly passionate about helping students find a healthy balance between academics and personal well-being, and I saw this as an opportunity to make a real impact,” Scileppi said. “I wanted to create a space with more resources and support for students, especially during the tough transition into college life.”
Her passion for finding harmony between college and classes derived from personal challenges during her freshman year.
“That experience is what drives me to build something meaningful here,” Scileppi said. “I truly believe this club will give students the support, structure and community they need to feel more grounded and balanced throughout their college journey.”
This club serves as a supportive space where students can take time for themselves, connect with others and take care of their mental and physical health.
Mia Trotta is a sophomore studying marketing and is the vice president of marketing for the club.
“Personally, I decided to become a part of this club because working out and nutrition are a major part of my lifestyle,” Trotta said. “In the past year, I have really focused on my diet and a well-rounded workout. Being able to promote my well-being while enjoying the company of my best friends and other members of our community really interested me.”
As UT has several clubs that prioritize overall wellness, UTK Wellness Society offers something special since they are a national program — the club has more access to large networks of resources and support.
“We receive guidance and materials directly from the national board, including wellness toolkits, event templates, sponsorship resources and branding support,” Scileppi said. “This gives us the ability to create high-quality programming and offer students consistent, impactful opportunities for personal growth. The Wellness Society also connects us with chapters across the country, which opens the door for collaboration, idea sharing and staying inspired by what’s working at other schools.”
The UTK Wellness Society was formed in February 2025. Scileppi and Trotta were determined to make this club official as they went to several meetings with the Student Engagement Center and recruited members to make up their executive board.
“In mid-March, we opened executive positions applications and now have an internal board of seven girls and an external board of over 30 girls. One of these positions includes a position Ali specifically created called ‘sorority ambassadors,’” Trotta said. “They are responsible for spreading the word about our club and events within their chapter. We are working on creating a fraternal consultant team right now, in hopes of spreading the word to IFC members.”
The IFC members’ responsibility is to promote the club and events within their chapter. The club is also in the process of creating a fraternal consultant team.
As this club was just initiated, it has already made a meaningful contribution on campus. According to Trotta, the club’s GroupMe has over 750 members and their Instagram has 1,000 followers.
“We are just so excited to get started with events and see how we can continue to grow,” Trotta said. “It is amazing to see the impact and outreach we have already had without even hosting an event yet. Taking a step back and seeing what Ali and I have already accomplished almost brings tears to my eyes. I am beyond proud of Ali for this, and I am so grateful she asked me to be a part of it.”
Find out more information about this club on their Instagram.
