Final exams are fast approaching, and UNCW students are spending this week preparing for intensive study sessions and all-night cramming with a program sponsored by health promotions called Stress Management Week.

Throughout the week, students took their minds off studying and focused instead on restoring their bodies and minds with yoga sessions, meditation, and seminars about stress management and eating right.

Tricia Tinney, a UNCW health educator, said most students don’t realize how stressed out they are until it’s too late.

“The whole purpose of this week is to bring stress management to the front burner, to care about it a little bit more and deal with it now,” Tinney said.

Tinney’s favorite part of this year’s program was “Student vs. Food.” 

“[It’s] a cooking class where they teach you how to make the food, and then you get a free meal,” said Tinney. “I would say eating mindfully is very helpful this time of year.”

Jon Michael Rehm, UNCW’s executive sous chef, demonstrated making a whole wheat and pesto pizza to encourage students to put a healthy spin on their favorite comfort foods. Later, students were able to sample the pizza, as well as Parmesan chicken, roasted vegetables, whole wheat macaroni and cheese and the chef’s local mixed green salad.

Sophomore Jess Carvalho attended the event and was surprised by Rehm’s nutritious menu.

“This food is delicious, it’s good for you, and it’s free,” said Carvalho.

Health promotions also emphasized two key health skills to practice during exam week: identifying sources of stress and managing them.

Although Stress Management week is over, Campus Dining is now sponsoring Exam Cram, which features different food and snacks each night throughout exam week, free for students with a valid UNCW ID.

Exam Cram kicks off on Reading Day with All Day Wag, which provides students with games and an alternate place to study from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wagoner Hall will then re-open from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for Late Night Breakfast.

The rest of Exam Cram week, Dec. 7 and 9 through 12, will take place in Dub’s Café. Alternate food items will be served from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m.

Dina Spanke, district marketing manager for Campus Dining, recommends students attend Exam Cram for the free food, as well as a fun atmosphere in which to play games, listen to music, and study.

“We really just wanted to give back to the students,” said Spanke. “We wanted to give you guys something to enjoy while you’re going through the stress of exams.”

Campus Dining recently started being more active on their Twitter account, inspiring them to host a new event Dec. 6 to 7 and 10 to 13 called Exam Jamz, according to Spanke.

“We just followed what we were hearing through suggestions [on Twitter],” said Spanke. “Music is very important, so we wanted to give students the opportunity to have their voices heard and be a DJ for the day.”

Students can choose from a list of XM radio stations such as Holly Holiday Hits and Classic Rewind, and tweet a request to @UNCWDining. Each day, one student that tweets to Campus Dining will be selected and their station will play in Wagoner Hall all day. 

Accompanying Exam Cram, Randall Library will provide students with light snacks throughout the week, though the exact dates have not yet been confirmed, according to Madeleine Bombeld, the assistant university librarian.

“Starting Dec. 2 through Dec. 13, there might be something as simple as granola bars, maybe juice or water,” said Bombeld.

Randall will also have extended hours during exam week. The library opened Dec. 2 and has stayed open 24 hours a day, every day since. It will remain open until closing Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. for the break. 

If you need a reference librarian, seek one out during the day- they come in at 9 a.m. and leave at 8 p.m.