One quick glance around campus and you can see one thing many students have in common: end-of-semester stress. Let’s face it: grades are due, mid-term exams are looming, and winter break can’t come soon enough. Everyone is feeling the pressure, but today brought an unexpected break from the books in the form of four legs and a wagging tail.

Students were invited to stop by the lobby outside the lecture hall during both lunches to experience an unconventional stress reliever: a K9 therapy dog, named Jaime, who quickly became a beacon of stress relief and support just in time for exam season. Whether students came by for a quick pat or lingered for a longer cuddle, Jaime provided a moment of peace and comfort in an otherwise hectic school day.

Jaime, the K9 companion, is named in honor of Jaime Guttenberg, a victim of the tragic 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Her canine namesake also proudly wears an orange harness and leash in her honor, as orange was Jaime Guttenberg’s favorite color—and now a symbol of remembrance and resilience. The dog’s handler, Sergeant Scott Bresalier, is good friends with Jaime Guttenberg’s father, Fred Guttenberg, and through his work, he continues to honor her legacy through healing and connection.

Jaime was brought to us thanks to student members in Bring Change 2 Mind, an on-campus club that works to help students better understand and support mental health. Club President Mackayla Moise Duran shared that therapeutic dogs like Jaime help lower cortisol and boost oxytocin—our natural “happy hormones.” With midterms and finals starting next week, Jaime is the perfect companion to help students relax and destress. Sergeant Bresalier also mentioned that these dogs have been shown to improve attendance and grades while reducing tardiness. Jamie definitely proved that sometimes a pup cuddle session is a much needed reprieve from all that studying.