Hope Happens Here, Saint Michael's Chapter

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's College Purple Knights

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

What is Hope Happens Here?
A primarily student-athlete-run organization that aims to break the negative stigma associated with mental health issues. Through our collaboration with the Saint Michael's College Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), we strive to spread awareness and "start the conversation" on mental health issues and create positive change when addressing these issues.

The Beginning
In 2015-16, men's ice hockey student-athletes Danny Divis '17 and Justin McKenzie '17 co-founded Hope Happens Here, touting it on their social media channels is a movement dedicated to "removing the stigma of mental health issues on college campuses." With modest goals at first, they hit the ground running and presented at nearby Enosburg Falls High School and with the University of Vermont SAAC. As the school year moved forward, they held mental health awareness events at home games for various Saint Michael's sports, produced T-shirts that are still worn by many members of the student body, and organized the Pie-A-Purple Knight fundraiser to promote their cause and raise funds for the organization.

Thanks to their work in developing Hope Happens Here, Divis and McKenzie became the first co-winners of the prestigious Hockey Humanitarian Award in 2017. The duo appeared live on ESPN during the 2017 NCAA Men's Frozen Four to discuss HHH, threw the first pitch prior to a Boston Red Sox game later that summer, and addressed collegiate athletic communications professionals during the 2018 Eastern Athletic Communications Association workshop in Burlington. This additional exposure led to the founding of more than two dozen college and high school chapters around the country. Saint Michael's College still claims the alpha chapter of what has become a national organization.

Social Media
Follow the SMC chapter of HHH on our website and Instagram and Twitter to see what we're up to!

Past Executive Boards: 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25

2025-26 SMC Hope Happens Here Executive Board

	Ryan Canty, Senior, Tri-Chair Major: Health Science Sport: Baseball
	Nick Wracker, Senior, Tri-Chair Majors: Environmental Science, Economics Sport: Men's Ice Hockey
	Kyleena Lathram, Junior, Tri-Chair Major: Health Science Sport: Alpine Skiing
	Emma MacDonald, Senior, Events Coordinator for HHH Events Major: Digital Media Studies Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Abbie Whitley, Senior, Events Coordinator for Awareness Games Major: Neuroscience Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Dana Welch, Senior, Social Media Coordinator Majors: Accounting, Psychology Sport: Women's Volleyball
	Adam Bilodeau, Junior, Social Media Coordinator Major: Business Administration Sports: Men's Cross Country, Outdoor Track
	Katie Hansen, Senior, Secretary Major: Environmental Science Sport: Women's Soccer