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!

2020-21 SMC Hope Happens Here Executive Board 

	Alex Mendez, Senior, Co-Chair Majors: Political Science and Philosophy Sport: Baseball
	Erin Mikson, Senior, Co-Chair Major: Media Studies, Journalism & Digital Arts Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Brandon Mitchell, Senior, Co-Chair Majors: Business Administration and Accounting Sport: Men's Ice Hockey
	Nicole Anderson, Senior, Social Media Co-Coordinator Majors: Business Administration and Sociology Sport: Women's Basketball
	Kelsey Bush, Junior, Social Media Co-Coordinator Major: Business Administration Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Hannah Wilmot, Senior, Social Media Co-Coordinator Major: Media Studies, Journalism & Digital Arts Sport: Field Hockey
	Colin O'Connor, Junior, Finance & Merchandise Co-Coordinator Major: Economics Sport: Men's Ice Hockey
	Jillian Perry, Junior, Finance & Merchandise Co-Coordinator Major: Business Administration Sport: Women's Lacrosse
	Shelagh Fluharty, Senior, High School Co-Coordinator Major: Neuroscience Sport: Field Hockey
	Emma MacDonough, Junior, High School Co-Coordinator Major: Psychology Sport: Women's Basketball
	Max Rossignol, Junior, High School Co-Coordinator Majors: Economics and Business Administration Sport: Men's Soccer
	Jason Boucher, Sophomore, Event Coordinator Major: Undeclared Sport: Men's Tennis
	Maggie Taylor, Junior, Event Coordinator Majors: Economics and Political Science Sport: Women's Soccer