Nearly 200 students from across the region gathered on Nov. 18 at Acrisure Stadium for a symposium dedicated to elevating student voice, agency, and well-being. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and organized by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), the event – part of a statewide series – combined storytelling, reflection, and data-gathering to create an environment where students felt seen, heard, and valued. Their insights will directly inform a comprehensive State of the State: Mental Wellness Report to be shared with Governor Shapiro.
In her opening remarks, Amy Lena, deputy secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, acknowledged that “adults often create policies for students without actually hearing from them first.” The symposium challenged that pattern by placing students at the center of the conversation.
From the moment students arrived, the atmosphere was intentionally welcoming – with quiet spaces, therapy dogs, and guided table discussions facilitated by trained staff. The goal was simple yet profound: empower young people to speak openly about what supports their mental wellness, what challenges they face, and what meaningful change could look like in their schools.
Shannon Fagan, SEEKS and special projects coordinator at the AIU, emphasized that meaningful change doesn’t have to come from large-scale initiatives. “Sometimes it could be the lunch person that welcomes you into the cafeteria and says, ‘Hello. How are you today?’” she said. “That makes all the difference in the world.”
SEEKS (Supporting Expansion and Enhancement of K-12 School-Based Social, Emotional Supports) launched in 2023 with funding from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). Though the initial grant has ended, the work that began under SEEKS – supporting social-emotional wellness, strengthening university partnerships, and improving mental health resources in schools – helped lay the foundation for events like this one. The symposium is a continuation of the original mission to bring districts together, elevate student voice, and share insights that can guide future programming across the region.
The keynote speaker, former Pitt football player Tre Tipton, delivered one of the day’s most impactful messages. Sharing openly about his own mental health journey, Tipton reminded students that bottled-up emotions can cause deep harm and that reaching out for help is a courageous, lifesaving act.
“Nobody can help you if you don’t speak up,” he said.
Tipton’s honesty resonated across the room, sparking conversations about stigma, vulnerability, and the importance of confiding in trusted friends and adults.
Throughout the day, students shared how they’re already supporting their peers – through groups like Sources of Strength, student advisory councils, advocacy networks, and informal peer-to-peer support systems.
Joy Oranwa, a junior from Penn Hills School District, said what students need most is adults who truly listen – not just to the loudest voices, but to all students – and to be included in the conversations that shape school experiences. “We have first-hand experience with the things that are going on in the school and the classroom,” she said. She added that too often adults get “hyper-fixated on what they have to do,” and bringing students into the conversation ensures their voices and realities are not overlooked.
Above all, the symposium invited students to help lead the work of strengthening school mental wellness. They said that listening to one another, telling their own stories, and realizing they shared similar challenges made the experience significant.
“Encouraging even one more person to speak their mind is enough for me,” said Penn Hills senior Maria Hernandez.
“When adults check in on us, it really makes an impact,” added Luna Croyle of Cornell High School. “It feels good to feel seen.”
Organizers hope this is just the beginning. With students energized, educators inspired, and partnerships strengthened, many expressed a desire for more events like this – spaces where students can safely share their stories and influence the systems meant to support them.
Because when students say, “my voice matters,” adults have a responsibility to listen.
