The Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Program (HHYAP) celebrated the success of 13 amazing students at its sixth annual Impact Awards Dinner on Wednesday at Beck’s Hybrids in Atlanta.
The event drew in students, their families, Hamilton Heights School Corporation personnel, and local dignitaries from the greater Hamilton County area and beyond for this special celebration of accomplishment.
The program recognizes one student per grade (grades K-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.
“I look forward to this event every year,” HHYAP Early Intervention Advocate Mary Ann Haymaker said. “This time is truly about the kids and recognizing the impact they have made on their teachers and classmates. It is a special time to come together and honor their hard work, resilience, and determination of these students to rise above a challenging issue that may otherwise have negatively impacted their life.”
The 2023 Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Impact Award Recipients along with their presenters include:
- Kindergarten: Aaliyah Eastland, presented by Sara Smith
- 1st grade: Brandon Dillard, presented by Tracy Zachary
- 2nd grade: Tommy Kloepfer, presented by Tracy Zachary & Chelsea Kleyla
- 3rd grade: Evelyn Young, presented by Marianne Collar
- 4th grade: Ethan Vondersaar, presented by Taylor Krueger
- 5th grade: Drew Champion, presented by John Walsh
- 6th grade: Sanyia Thomas, presented by Emily McClelland
- 7th grade: Avery Patterson, presented by Bonny Stites
- 8th grade: Hattie Graham, presented by Kari Beery
- 9th grade: Eva Pierce, presented by Caty Wiegman
- 10th grade: Adalyne Price, presented by Caty Wiegman
- 11th grade: Aerial Trump, presented by Dee Roper
- 12th grade: Ethan Mead, presented by Krista Shields
In addition, JP Etchison presented Hamilton Heights Middle School Counselor Sabrina Duncan with the 2023 Tony Etchison Memorial Award.
“Sabrina is an incredibly caring and compassionate individual,” Haymaker said. “She is accessible, available, and simply a wonderful human being that has a knack for bringing joy to others. She represents everything this award is about.”
The event’s emcee, Heights Superintendent Dr. Derek Arrowood, said the event is truly a celebration of the accomplishments and triumph of these students, many of whom have overcome significant challenges in their lives.
“These are extraordinary students who have shown the will and grit to overcome despite their situations,” Arrowood said. “The adversities these students have faced did not limit their ability to succeed inside and outside the classroom. Their examples can be a lesson to all of us that anyone can overcome challenges in their life and become an inspiration to others. They certainly are to me.”
The memorable evening was made possible, in part, thanks to the generous support of this year’s sponsors: Beck’s Hybrids, White River Christian Church, Bender Homes, Monuments by Robinson & Sons, Berrycomm, Cicero Pool & Spa, Cicero Insurance Agency, The Farmer’s Bank, Purkey’s Heating and Cooling, Church Church Hittle + Antrim, Powers Septic and Sewer, Big Dog’s Smokehouse, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Adler Attorneys, Jackson Township Trustees Office, Specialty Tax Services, Logan Street Banners and Signs, Spring Valley Storage, Noblesville Elks, North Central Outdoor Power, and Blades Audio Video.
A special thank you to the Youth Assistance Program Board Tricia Akers, Dr. Derek Arrowood, Sarah Buckner, Judge Michael Casati, Jeanann Dodson, Judge Paul Felix, Jessica Heiser, Jeremy Hunt, Syd Loomis, Natasha Robinson, Emily Schmale, Zach Smith, and Perry Williams.