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: 2020-21Â | 2021-22Â | 2022-23Â | 2023-24Â | 2024-25
2025-26Â SMC Hope Happens Here Executive BoardÂ
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Ryan Canty, Senior, Tri-Chair
Major:Â Health Science
Sport: Baseball
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Nick Wracker, Senior, Tri-Chair
Majors:Â Environmental Science, Economics
Sport:Â Men's Ice Hockey
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Kyleena Lathram, Junior, Tri-Chair
Major:Â Health Science
Sport: Alpine Skiing
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Emma MacDonald, Senior, Events Coordinator for HHH Events
Major:Â Digital Media Studies
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
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Abbie Whitley, Senior, Events Coordinator for Awareness Games
Major:Â Neuroscience
Sport: Women's Lacrosse
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Dana Welch, Senior, Social Media Coordinator
Majors:Â Accounting, Psychology
Sport: Women's Volleyball
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Adam Bilodeau, Junior, Social Media Coordinator
Major:Â Business Administration
Sports:Â Men's Cross Country, Outdoor Track
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Katie Hansen, Senior, Secretary
Major:Â Environmental Science
Sport: Women's Soccer
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2024-25 HOPE HAPPENS HERE ROSTER |
Baseball |
Preston Hewett '25, Filly Santos '25, Ryan Canty '26, Colin Kinsella '27, Jack Pattison '27 |
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Men’s Basketball |
Alan Brzezinski '25 |
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Women’s Basketball |
Ava MacDonough '26, Ruby Santos '27 |
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Men’s Cross Country |
Taggart Schrader '28 |
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Women’s Cross Country |
Jocelyn Sommers '26, Jordan Munro '28 |
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Field Hockey |
TBA |
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Men's Golf |
Peter Pagliuca '25 |
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Men’s Ice Hockey |
Case Kantgias '25, Jake Lincourt '26, Ben Baxter '27, Ian Wolanin '28 |
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Women’s Ice Hockey |
Angelina Ruiz '25, Elisabeth Gerebi '26, Isabel Goolie '27, Jodie Gratton '28 |
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Men’s Lacrosse |
Ethan Hughes '25, Sean Regan '25, Sebastian Simonson '25 |
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Women’s Lacrosse |
Emma MacDonald '26, Abbie Whitley '26 |
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Alpine Skiing |
Lawton Jones '26, Emme Bell '28 |
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Nordic Skiing |
Clara Wyatt '26, Oliver Miatke '27, Sophie Stephenson '28 |
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Men’s Soccer |
Evan Richardson '27 |
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Women’s Soccer |
Hannah Conneely '25, Katie Hansen '25 |
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Softball |
Allida Kelliher '26, Maddy Vaughn '27 |
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Men’s Swimming & Diving |
Emanuel Cuarta '27 |
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Women’s Swimming & Diving |
Margaret Wilk '25, Madeline Waldt '27 |
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Men’s Tennis |
Garrett Brooker '27 |
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Women’s Tennis |
Molly Gannon '25, Emma Posada '25, Emma Gredenhag '27, Kasey Johnson '28 |
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Women's Volleyball |
Ella Patterson '26, Dana Welch '26 |