Jacksonville State University

« Back to Recent News

Jax State Dedicates "A Space for Grace" Serenity Garden In Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Jacksonville, AL (08/15/2025) — Jacksonville State University, the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama, and Nature Sacred dedicated A Space for Grace Serenity Garden with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday afternoon behind Mason Hall. The new outdoor sanctuary is designed to provide students, faculty, staff, and visitors with a peaceful space for reflection, connection, and mental wellbeing.

The dedication marked the culmination of a vision that began in 2018. "Today is about gratitude, community, and the hope that this garden will offer peace and renewal for all who enter," said Julie Nix, Coordinator of Social Work Field Education. "This garden is more than plants, wood, and stone. It's an invitation to remember that our spirit, like the earth, needs tending."

The project took shape through a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama (CFNEA), support from the national nonprofit Nature Sacred, and contributions from across the Jax State community - including more than $13,000 raised by former Miss JSU Grace Ann Lundy during her 2024 service initiative, "Let's Talk About It." Lundy said she was determined the garden not bear any single person's name, but rather reflect a shared mission. "A Space for Grace" was inspired by a saying within the Marching Ballerinas: Give yourself grace. "This garden is a symbol of strength," she said. "It takes immense strength to give yourself grace every day with whatever you may be dealing with."

Fred Smith, Vice President of Community Partnerships for the Community Foundation and a Jax State alumnus, praised the university for embracing the project. "This site joins our network of now 18 sites throughout Northeast Alabama, providing an opportunity for deep connection, for unlikely leaders to find themselves in leadership positions through community engagement and programming," said Fred Smith, VP of Community Partnerships at CFNEA. "That's what these sites represent, and I think Jacksonville State University is the perfect place for that type of opportunity and site to be placed."

President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., emphasized the garden's importance as a lasting resource for the entire campus. "This space, surrounded by residence halls and academic buildings, will be a place of respite for students, faculty, and staff alike," he said. "It reflects our commitment to providing not only the tools for academic success, but also spaces that support the mental and emotional wellbeing of our campus community. Thank you to everyone who played a part in transforming this vision into a beautiful, lasting addition to the Friendliest Campus in the South."

SGA President Ayanah Scott emphasized the garden's role as more than a campus beautification project. "This is a step to invest in our students," she said. "To the outside, this may just be a garden, but in the eyes of our community, this was an active step to ensure that the minds of our students are well cared for. There may be students who don't leave their room because they don't have to, but I hope that this will give them a new reason."

The Serenity Garden joins a network of 137 Sacred Places nationwide. Erin Robertson, Chief Programs Officer for Nature Sacred, explained one of the signature features of these spaces: "Underneath the benches that are found in every one of our sacred places are yellow waterproof journals. I invite all of you to take a moment, record your thoughts, and you will notice that these journals will fill up quickly with people who come to them to share their joy, their celebrations, maybe their grief or sometimes that they need to process some struggles that they are having in their lives - and you'll create a community that feels autonomous at the same time welcoming."

A Space for Grace Serenity Garden is now open to all Jax State students, faculty, staff, and visitors - a reminder of the university's resilience and its commitment to nurturing both mind and spirit.

Proven Benefits of Nature-Based Support: Research demonstrates that time in nature significantly reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving overall wellbeing. Current data shows that 44% of college students report symptoms of depression and 37% report anxiety disorders, with these conditions linked to lower test scores and worse overall academic performance.

Nature-based interventions have proven effective as therapeutic solutions, reducing stress and anxiety levels, decreasing symptoms of depression, and improving overall feelings of happiness and wellness, which in turn improves academic focus and performance.

At the University of Maryland's Sacred Place garden, students have documented the space's impact through over 3,000 journal entries. One student wrote: "15 minutes in the garden did more for one person than 50 min of therapy!" Another reflected: "I'm grateful for this bench - my favorite place on campus. I've cried here, laughed here, and most importantly, been at peace here. The world is full of love."

About Jacksonville State University: Founded in 1883 as a state teachers' college, Jacksonville State University has grown from humble beginnings into the Alabama regional university with the highest percentage of accredited programs. Located in the Appalachian foothills midway between Birmingham and Atlanta, Jax State offers more than 150 courses of study, including over 40 online programs, at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To learn more, visit www.jsu.edu, call 1-800-231-JAX1, or e-mail jaxfacts@jsu.edu.

About Nature Sacred: Nature Sacred is a national nonprofit that guides communities in the creation of Sacred Places-open green spaces designed to foster health and well-being. Through the Nature Sacred Network, we also provide long-term stewardship support. For almost 30 years, we've partnered to create over 150-and counting-Sacred Places in neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and prisons, providing spaces for reflection, healing, and connection.

A signature bench can be found in every Sacred Place; beneath it, a waterproof journal. This has been the case since the first Sacred Place was established almost 30 years ago. The journal entries have become the best evidence of the impact of these spaces, with visitors writing and reading reflections that create powerful communities of support.

"These spaces provide something essential that we often lose in busy campus life - a place to pause, breathe, and connect," said Alden E. Stoner, CEO, Nature Sacred. "The combination of nature and community support creates a powerful environment for healing and reflection."

Garden Features: The Space for Grace Serenity Garden features several design elements that foster both individual reflection and community interaction:

  • Circular pathways surrounding the space for ease of movement and accessibility
  • Pergola and archways providing a focal point with shade and a welcoming environment
  • Hammock poles where students can hang hammocks, a popular campus activity
  • Two Nature Sacred benches for quiet reflection and journaling
  • Student-designed sculpture created through collaboration with JSU's Art Department is planned for the future and will be created and installed specifically for the space.

The garden serves as a natural extension of campus wellness programming, with JSU Counseling Services planning to use the space for "Mindfulness Mondays," workshops, and relaxation exercises.

Community Impact: The project represents a collaborative effort engaging JSU Counseling Services, the Art Department, Student Leadership, and the broader JSU community. Students, faculty, and staff provided input on the design to ensure the space supports both individual wellbeing and community connection.

The Space for Grace Serenity Garden is now open and accessible to all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. JSU joins a growing network of Sacred Places on university campuses, including Talladega College, the University of Maryland, and Penn State.

The college mental health statistics to Mayo Clinic, University of Michigan, and Institute for Credentialing Excellence

The nature intervention benefits to Nature Sacred research

Media Attachments

From left: Cocky, Jax State SGA President Ayanah Scott, Jax State President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., Miss JSU 2024 Grace Ann Lundy, Nature Sacred Chief Programs Officer Erin Robertson, CFNEA Vice President of Community Partnerships Fred Smith, CFNEA Trustee Tommie J. Goggans III, Jax State Coordinator of Social Work Field Education Julie Nix.

From left: Cocky, Jax State SGA President Ayanah Scott, Jax State President Dr. Don C. Killingsworth, Jr., Miss JSU 2024 Grace Ann Lundy, Nature Sacred Chief Programs Officer Erin Robertson, CFNEA Vice President of Community Partnerships Fred Smith, CFNEA Trustee Tommie J. Goggans III, Jax State Coordinator of Social Work Field Education Julie Nix.

Copyright © 2025 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out