The Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Program celebrated the success of 15 amazing students at the third annual IMPACT Awards Dinner last week at Beck’s Hybrids in Atlanta.
The event drew in approximately 200 students, their families, Hamilton Heights School Corporation personnel, local legislators and dignitaries from the greater Hamilton County area and beyond for this special celebration of accomplishment.
The program recognizes one student per grade (grades K through 12) who successfully maneuvered through a challenge in their life. Students can be nominated by a teacher, guidance counselor, administrator or any staff member that feels a student is deserving of the award.
2019 Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance IMPACT Award recipients:
- Kindergarten: Knox Pharis, presented by Carla Wiles
- 1st grade: Faith Lehman, presented by Denise Wisley
- 2nd grade: Fletcher Beeson, presented by Denise Wisley
- 3rd grade: Zayra Pena Rosales, presented by Lori Watson
- 4th grade: Kaelon Richardson, presented by Andria Cherry
- 5th grade: Avianna , Drake and McKenna Stewart, presented by Heather Greider and Meghan Trees
- 6th grade: Jude Bogenschutz, presented by Kent Provence
- 7th grade: Tquan Spencer, presented by Jeff Beechler
- 8th grade: Andrew Miessen, presented by Kari Beery
- 9th grade: Eli Scott, presented by Elisa Garcia
- 11th grade: Chloe Chris, presented by Jane Shields
- 12th grade: Grace Miller, presented by Stephanie McQuinn and Janet Knott
- Artwork Recognition: Donald Games, presented by Erin Goodman
The event’s emcee, Hamilton Heights School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood, said the purpose of this event is to celebrate the accomplishments of students who have overcome challenges in their lives and demonstrated success.
“The outcome of the night was that I was personally inspired by these students,” Arrowood said. “They make me want to be a better person because of what they have overcome.”
“This evening is truly all about the students and their success,” said Mary Ann Haymaker, Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Early Intervention Advocate, who spearheads the event. “It’s about celebrating the hard work, resilience and effort demonstrated by these students to rise above a difficult issue that may otherwise have negatively impacted their life.”
“I think as a nation we fall into the trap believing and sending the message that our leaders can only be adults who come from the areas of politics, athletics or the entertainment industry,” said Jeff Beechler, Hamilton Heights Middle School social studies teacher, who was the presenter of the seventh grade award. “And that’s just totally false. These awards were all about leaders who are young, have faced adversity and inspired those around them. That’s the reality and the message our country needs to hear and be teaching our kids. Quality leaders don’t change the world for the better because of their age, power or entertainment value. Real leaders inspire those around them to be better versions of themselves. And those kinds of leaders come in all shapes, sizes, genders, ages, colors and socioeconomic backgrounds.”
“It was a fabulous evening to recognize and celebrate some amazing kids making an impact regardless of the situations they have been given in life,” said Denise Wisley, Hamilton Heights Primary School Special Education teacher and presenter of the first and second grade award recipients.
The memorable evening was made possible, in part, thanks to the generous support of this year’s sponsors: Achieva, Inc., Adler Attorneys, Beck’s, Big Dogs, Bolden’s Dry Cleaners, cch+a Attorneys at Law, Cicero Family Dental, Cicero Kiwanis Club, Cicero Market, Doak Financial, Duke Energy, Edward Jones, Noblesville Elks, The Farmers Bank, Gatewoods Vegetable Farm and Greenhouse, Gymies Fitness Center, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Harbor Shores Church, Amanda Hill Photography, Hughes Insurance Group, Jackson Township Trustees Office, Jennifer Blueher, Noblesville Trophies, Powers Sewer and Septic, Purkey’s Heating & Cooling, Fred Woodruff and Winona Dings, John and Kathie Stretch, and Yott Realty Group.
A special thank you to Pastor Adam Colter, the Youth Assistance Program Board and 2019 Youth Assistance IMPACT Committee Members: Perry Williams, Toby Etchison, Jessica Heiser, Michelle Heiser, Beth Henderson, Sydney Loomis, Melissa Martin, Jeremy Hunt, Jeanann Dodson, Dr. Derek Arrowood, Judge Paul Felix, Judge Michael Casati and Tricia Akers.