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 SMC Hope Happens Here Executive Board 

	Brandon Mitchell, Senior, Tri-Chair Majors: Business Administration and Accounting Sport: Men's Ice Hockey
	Jillian Perry, Senior, Tri-Chair Major: Business Administration Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Max Rossignol, Senior, Tri-Chair Majors: Business Administration and Economics Sport: Men's Soccer
	Kelsey Bush, Senior, Social Media Coordinator Major: Business Administration Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Aidan Keefer, Senior, Socia Media Coordinator Majors: Criminology and Political Science Sport: Men's Basketball
	Maci Leali, Junior, Social Media Coordinator Major: Business Administration Sport: Field Hockey
	Jason Boucher, Junior, Event Coordinator Major: Biology Sport: Men's Tennis
	Maggie Taylor, Senior, Event Coordinator Major: Economics Sport: Women's Soccer
	Kyle Hirshom, Senior, Finance & Merchandise Coordinator Majors: Health Science and Business Administration Sport: Men's Lacrosse
	Colin O'Connor, Senior, Finance & Merchandise Coordinator Major: Economics Sport: Men's Ice Hockey
	Emma MacDonough, Senior, High School Coordinator Major: Psychology Sport: Women's Basketball
	Shannon Murray, Senior, High School Coordinator Major: Biochemistry Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Izzy Ruprecht, Junior, High School Coordinator Majors: Business Administration and Psychology Sport: Women's Soccer