RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 16, 2025) – A sidewalk chalk tradition that started at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City is spreading hope and awareness across the state this week.
Launched in 2021 by the university’s counseling office, the annual Chalk the Walk event encourages students and community members to cover sidewalks with uplifting messages and artwork during Suicide Prevention Month. This year’s event at Mines takes place Thursday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with student-led campus walks scheduled every half hour. Wellness vendors will also be on hand to provide resources for students and the community.
“This event provides information for students about the prevalence of suicide on college campuses and information about how to engage and assist someone who is thinking about suicide,” said Duane Kavanaugh, director of counseling services at Mines. “It lets students know that they are important and that there is help. A few years ago, a student came in for counseling after reading a positive message on the walk rather than acting on their suicidal thoughts.”
According to Kavanaugh, suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students. The event is designed not only to raise awareness but also to remind participants that small gestures—like a hopeful chalk message—can have life-saving impacts.
In recent years, the Mines Wellness Committee partnered with Lost&Found, a South Dakota nonprofit focused on ending suicide among young adults, to expand the initiative beyond campus. In 2024, more than 30 businesses and organizations across Rapid City joined in, chalking messages of encouragement throughout the community.
“This event for Suicide Prevention Month is so impactful,” said Whitney Bischoff, student programs manager at Lost&Found. “Last year, we had students who came to the walk at South Dakota Mines who had seen the chalked messages at other businesses across Rapid City and commented on how inspiring it was to see all of the positivity. We have also seen firsthand that one positive message can truly make a difference for those struggling most.”
Now in its fifth year, Chalk the Walk has grown into a statewide initiative, with communities across South Dakota—including state agencies and Gov. Larry Rhoden’s office in Pierre—joining in to share messages of hope.
Organizers say the rapid growth of the event underscores the demand for open conversation around mental health in Rapid City, the Black Hills, and communities statewide.
