BSF Hosts Health & Wellness Workshop to Strengthen Student Success

The Barrientos Scholarship Foundation brought students together on Oct. 15 for a dynamic Health & Wellness Workshop at the UNO Community Engagement Center, featuring Dr. Hamza Haqqi, Ed.D., and motivational speaker Maggie Thorne. 

The session, part of BSF’s ongoing Student Success Journey programming, focused on helping students navigate the pressures of school, work, and daily life with resilience and balance.

Dr. Haqqi emphasized the connection between emotional well-being and academic performance, encouraging students to build self-awareness and adopt restorative habits that support long-term success. 

Thorne, known for her appearances on American Ninja Warrior, shared her personal story of perseverance and offered practical strategies for maintaining physical and mental strength through challenging seasons.

“I really enjoyed listening to speaker, Maggie Thorne, so much so that I later on stayed in contact with her,” said Lesly Sanchez, 18, a freshman at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. “Her story was so inspirational and brought me so much motivation to continue to push myself in all aspects. As an athlete myself, I saw a lot of myself in her. BSF did a great job on selecting Maggie as the health and wellness speaker.”

Students also engaged in open dialogue about stress, balance, and creating healthier routines, walking away with tangible tools to support their academic and personal goals.

The workshop underscores BSF’s commitment to supporting scholars holistically, ensuring they have access not only to financial aid but to the knowledge, skills, and community needed to thrive.