What a year 2022 was! It’s hard to believe that it’s almost over, but as we reflect on this past year, we have so much to be proud of. Here are the top five highlights!
Hope Fest 2022
In 2022, we hosted our first ever Hope Fest, which took place in June. This event celebrates music, community and sobriety. This year, we had the band Six Figures, the Colts in Motion interactive trailer and heard stories of hope from a Hope Academy teacher, graduate and parent. Thanks to the event sponsors and individual donors, Hope Fest raised $17,817 to support Hope Academy’s mission of providing a safe, sober and challenging academic experience for Indy-area teens in recovery from substance use disorder.
Simon Youth Foundation Immersive Student Experiences
In partnership with the Simon Youth Foundation, we are able to provide Indianapolis area teens who are in jeopardy of dropping out of high school with the tools and resources they need to graduate and prepare for their post-graduation career path. In 2022, several Hope Academy students had the unique opportunity to visit Washington DC to learn more about our government while another group of students went on a Civil Rights Journey in the South. We are so grateful that we are able to bring more innovation and resources to the classroom and beyond, thanks to this incredible partnership as a Simon Youth Academy.
Graduation
This year, we celebrated our 16th Commencement. During the ceremony, seven graduates were honored, all of whom have overcome some of the most significant obstacles in the recovery high school’s history, including navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic while also maintaining their sobriety. We are thrilled that all of our students were accepted to a post-secondary institution! The Dr. Sig Zielke scholarship was presented to the class valedictorian, Riley Kim, and the Simon Youth Foundation scholarships were presented to Easton Snodgrass and Riley Kim.
Summer GPS
Our Summer GPS program helps support our students when they are not in school. We plan fun activities that help our students stay connected and motivated to maintain their sobriety. Some of this summer’s activities were going to the Escape Room, Kings Island and playing “Who Dunnit” when it was too hot outside. They were all highly-attended and we had a blast!
2022 Rise and Shine for Hope Breakfast
This year was our most successful Rise and Shine for Hope breakfast yet! We had record attendance with almost 250 guests and raised nearly $72,000 to support Hope Academy and our students in recovery from substance use disorder. We heard from Keynote Speaker, Vop Osili, President of the Indianapolis City-County Council, as well as Hope Academy Seniors, Will and Ashley, who shared their stories. The 2022 Faces of Hope Award was presented to Dr. Virginia Caine.
We can’t wait to see what 2023 has to bring! Happy New Year.