Howell High School Student Selected as Hope Squad National Council Co-President for 2024-25
Posted on 09/12/2024
9/12/2024 - Howell High School senior Militza Algredo-Huerta has been selected as a co-president of the Hope Squad National Council for the 2024-25 school year. This will mark Algredo-Huerta’s second year on the national board and her first as co-president. She has been a member of the Howell High School Hope Squad for four years and has served as its secretary.
As a member of the National Council, Algredo-Huerta will continue to serve Howell’s Hope Squad while also representing the organization on a national level. In this role, she will have the opportunity to educate others about the importance of suicide prevention, share her passion for mental health awareness, expand the Hope Squad’s reach, and help shape its programming.
One of Algredo-Huerta’s goals for the year is to increase communication with high schools and middle schools across the country, ensuring they are aware of the resources available through the Hope Squad organization. She also plans to focus on bringing the program to more middle schools to help students feel part of a connected community.
“Prior to Hope Squad, there was not a group that was peer-to-peer suicide prevention-based at Howell High School. Since we have started the group, there has been a change in the language that people use when it comes to talking about mental health and the stigma. People are more open to talking about it,” said Algredo-Huerta. “This is kind of a new movement, something that is really picking up, so I think the work on the national level is important because I am not only representing Michigan, but other states as well. We are still trying to get this going; Hope Squad is not currently in all 50 states. We are getting closer, but it is a work in progress. It is important for us as the United States of America to have more awareness. If you look at the statistics, suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers. This stuff is real, and we want to make sure that we try and minimize it as a cause of death.”
“Research shows that struggling students are more likely to confide in a peer than an adult. Hope Squad is purposefully designed to empower a team of students to be alert and to connect struggling peers to help and hope,” said Greg Hudnall, founder of Hope Squad. “Hope Squad members become leaders and champions for change by teaching and connecting with the entire student body to reduce mental health stigma and shape a school’s culture.”
“Militza is dedicated to changing the conversation around mental health stigma and helping her peers at Howell High School and across the country feel seen, heard, and valued,” said Jason Schrock, Howell High School principal. “Her work on both the Howell High School and National Hope Squad boards is commendable as she raises mental health awareness while effecting meaningful change at both the local and national levels.”
Being involved with Hope Squad has had a profound impact on Algredo-Huerta. “I think Hope Squad is pretty amazing. It has provided me opportunities I didn’t expect to have, like presenting to the State Board of Education. Honestly, just the students I have had a chance to talk to, everyone has their own story, and I feel like once I graduate, I will be walking away more observant and empathetic. It has inspired me to the point that I think I would like to do this work on the collegiate level,” said Algredo-Huerta.
About Hope Squad
Hope Squad is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that reduces the risk of suicide through intentional connection. Listed as an approved program on the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s Best Practice Registry, Hope Squad is supported by academic research partners and is currently used in thousands of schools across the United States. To learn more about Hope Squad, visit https://hopesquad.com.