A tradition that began in 2021, OurKINDofStetson’s KINDness Week continues to unite Hatters every year since the inaugural Random Acts of Kindness Week.  

On Feb. 17-21, all members of the Stetson Community are invited to participate in engaging events designed to inspire, motivate and celebrate the university’s kindness.

The motto for the week: “To Make KINDness contagious across the university.”  

This year’s KINDness Week Committee expanded its reach by including the Hand Art Center, Career Services, Staff Council and the Student Government Association to the already established team comprised of the Office of Alumni Engagement, Stetson Athletics, Chartwells, People Operations/HR, the Office of the President, Student Counseling Services and Student Development and Campus Vibrancy.  

“I am very excited about how this year’s KINDness Week has come together,” said Nora Lewis, associate director of People Operations and OKOs committee member. “We had new and diverse voices in the room, which pushed us to develop a more interactive and inclusive week. I have to thank the Student Government Association for the energy and ideas that they brought, beginning with our first meeting.  

“They encouraged all of us to think outside the box and expanded our ability to hold more events, purchase new and exciting swag, and be more active on social media. They filled the holes we didn’t know existed, which is why I believe this will be the best KINDness Week yet.” 

Some of the new events include an Employee Appreciation Basketball Game on the night of Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Edmunds Center; a Paint, Write, and Be KIND with Stetson HeARTs on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the Hand Art Center Seminar Room; a Loving KINDness Meditation and Art event on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Hand Art Center Libby Gallery; a tailgate and halftime TopHats performance at Thursday, Feb. 20’s “White Out” basketball game (a collaboration with the Career and Internship Expo); and, celebrating the Stetson’s baseball team’s opening day at Melching Field.

A full listing and description of the week’s events is below.  

Monday, Feb. 17  

Get your morning “kick”  with FREE Starbucks  
9 a.m. at the CUB Flagpole 
Kick off your KINDness week with a morning caffeine break. Coffee will be available for the first 100 people. The event is sponsored by the Alumni Office and Chartwells.

Catch the KINDness Cart  
9-11 a.m.  around Campus
The Student Government Association will be riding around campus in a decorated golf cart with the 2025 KINDness is Everywhere Banner. If you can catch the cart and sign the banner, you’ll leave with some extra special KINDness swag.    

KINDness “Kick-off” Challenge and Banner Signing  
Noon-2 p.m. at the  entrance of the CUB 
Join our Staff Council in front of the CUB to Sign the 2025 KINDness is Everywhere banner, collect some swag to share with other KIND folks, pick up a gift for your favorite faculty or staff member, and play a game to win a new Kindness Ambassador shirt.   

Tuesday, Feb. 18  

KINDness Banner signing, KINDnotes, and Swag Give-a-ways  
11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the entrance of the CUB
Stop by and send some KINDness by writing brief notes to KIND professors and staff members. You can also Sign the 2025 KINDness is Everywhere banner, collect some swag to share with other KIND folks. 

Drag Bingo  
6-8 p.m. in the Stetson Room 
Come win exceptional prizes alongside a true RuPaul’s Drag Race star at this joyful and exuberant event! Presented by Hatter Productions.  

Employee Appreciation KINDness Tailgate and Men’s Basketball Game vs. UNF   
6:15 p.m. at the Edmunds Center 
Come cheer our Championship Men’s Basketball Team on at this family-friendly event as our faculty and staff are recognized for their KIND efforts across campus. Culver’s give-a-ways, swag and more are free for all attendees. Faculty and staff members who attend will receive a free Stetson KINDness shirt. Tickets are free for all students and employees, and their families.  

Wednesday, Feb. 19  

OurKINDofSCHMNACY!!! 
11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the entrance of CUB 
Take a break and visit the SDCV and SGA crew outside of the CUB for a homemade Schmancy Pop. You can also enter into the prize raffle and sign the 2025 KINDness is Everywhere banner. 

Joyful and Mindful Lunch in the CUB  
11 a.m.-2 p.m.   
Chartwells, in collaboration with Stetson Counseling Services, present a “Joyful” lunch in the dining hall. This event includes Randoms Acts of KINDness giveaways, raffles, special desserts and more. Come treat yourself! Regular dining charges apply for those not on meal plan.   

Paint, Write and Be KIND with Stetson HeARTs 
2:30-4 p.m.  at the Hand Art Center Seminar Room  
Stetson HeARTs hosts an art activity in Room 102. This event will include an appreciation-themed student-led tour of the faculty show.  
**Cultural Credit Available** 

Thursday, Feb. 20 — White Out!  

Stetson Swag Grab and Last Chance to Sign the Banner   
11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the entrance of the CUB 
Join SAAC and SGA as they share some Stetson swag in preparation for the night’s big event! This will be the last opportunity to sign the 2025 KINDness is Everywhere banner.  

WHITE OUT Tailgate and Men’s Basketball Game vs. FGCU  
6:15 p.m. at the Edmunds Center 
Wear white and join in in this Stetson KINDness Week Tradition. Come Tailgate with fellow Hatters to the sounds of WHAT Radio, while enjoying face painting, balloon animals and collecting give-a-ways. There also will be a special TopHats performance and a knock-out game at halftime. Tickets are free for all students and employees, and their families.  

 Friday, Feb. 21 

A Loving KINDness Meditation and Art  
9:30-11 a.m. at the  Hand Art Center Libby Gallery 
Rajni Shankar-Brown, PhD, Professor and Jessie Ball duPont Endowed Chair of Social Justice Education, will guide both, a loving kindness meditation and arts integration activity, with a community-engagement focus for our students, faculty and staff. 
**Cultural Credit Available**  

Internship and Career Expo  
 Noon-3 p.m.   
Find your next KIND community! This event is an opportunity to connect with employers and organizations looking to hire for full-time, part-time and internships roles. The first 15 attendees will receive a NEW KINDness Ambassador shirt! Free professional headshot photos will be made available to all attendees, too.
**Cultural Credit Available**  

Baseball’s Opening Night vs. UMBC — GREEN OUT! 
6:30 p.m. at  Melching Field 
The Tailgate, beginning at 5:30 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. game will include KONA Ice, free pennants and more. The KINDness Ambassador Winner will be announced and will throw out the first pitch!  

Other Events

Additionally, there will be an ongoing Instagram competition throughout the week run by SGA. Organizations will identify a KINDness ambassador, and the winner will throw the first pitch at the Green Out baseball game on Feb. 21. Lastly, Stetson Presidential Fellows have collaborated with Mainstreet DeLand to extend the KIND efforts into Downtown DeLand. 

With exception of the sporting events, the expanded KINDness Week is made possible through a generous donation from Addition Financial.

“I am very thankful for the sponsorship from Addition Financial,” Lewis said. “This funding created opportunities to enhance and expand our events throughout the whole week and many will receive fun new KINDness swag.”

OurKINDofStetson is an ongoing university initiative that provides opportunities for our community to intentionally connect through kindness. These opportunities can be found on the OurKindofStetson website and include opportunities for community members to send aKINDnote, link to the 2025 Random Act of Kindness Foundations Calendars (school, work, and home), submit public appreciation of employees which are shared in our bi-weekly HR Newsletter and connect with OurKINDofStetson.