A Mother honors son’s memory with Bartolomucci Behavioral Health Studies Lab
(University Park, Ill.) - With a generous $50,000 donation from a mother who lost her son to substance abuse, Governors State University (GovState) will unveil the Trent Bartolomucci Behavioral Health Lab on June 27. The lab, named for a young man whose life ended far too soon, will be a place of research and study, as well as a center for those struggling with addictions.
Kim Bartolomucci, Trent’s mother, said the lab is part of her mission to honor Trent's memory by helping others in their battle against addiction.
"There is an epidemic in our country, and in our community that I don't want anyone else to suffer from. I'm glad Trent's name is still out there and if he can be helpful in this way, that's a blessing to me,'' said Kim Bartolomucci, who works in public health.
Trent, who battled addiction for seven years, died from an accidental overdose two months short of his 22nd birthday. At the time he was enrolled in college and had plans to pursue a master's degree in accountancy.
This year, the 10th anniversary of Trent’s death, the College of Health and Human Services Department of Addictions Studies and Behavioral Health (ASBH) will host a ribbon cutting and unveiling of a state-of-the-art lab to serve the community and students seeking master’s degrees in addiction studies.
Longtime ABSH chair and Professor Emeritus Cheryl Mejta said the program prepares students to address pressing health issues confronting the community.
“This new lab will definitely help us in that effort. Substance misuse continues to be a critical health issue in our society. Fentanyl, in particular, is responsible for significant numbers of overdoses, many of which are fatal,” said Mejta who has also worked with Kim Bartolomucci for years.
"The practice lab will service community members while providing addiction studies students with learning opportunities to develop their clinical skills under the direct supervision and mentorship of the addiction studies faculty,'' said Mejta.
With the Trent Bartolomucci Behavioral Health Lab, the ASBH aims to be a strategic hub of education, service, and support for students, trainees, and community members. It will bring together faculty and staff from across the University, in the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Education and Human Development, and the Counseling and Wellness Center, to advance the ultimate goal of increasing access to evidence-based treatment.
“We wanted to keep the funds in this area because this is where we live, and we’ve seen the need,” said Bartolomucci.
Click here to RSVP for the unveiling of the Trent Bartolomucci Behavioral Health at 5:30 p.m. on June 27, 2024 at Governors State University.
Click here for more information on the Trent Bartolomucci Foundation.