HAST Run Free
Donation protected
We are HAST Hawks. I wasn't sure I, Allison Buell, was a HAST -- Hammond Academy of Science and Technology -- Hawk when I was hired to teach high school English in August of 2014. But after the first difficult months of teaching, I realized I was a HAST Hawk, that I would do anything for my students. In January of 2015 I asked if I could coach HAST's track and field team. I was born and raised in Hammond, still live in Hammond, learned everything I need to know in Hammond, was coached and taught by some of the most phenomenal people in Hammond. And, I've been giving it back to Hammond in any way I can. Teaching and coaching in Hammond is just another way to show my appreciation for our great city.
HAST is a charter school. I won't hide that. I've taught and coached in public, private and now charter schools. And what I've learned is that it doesn't matter how fancy the building is, how shiny the uniforms are, how much money the community has. What matters is inside the school building. And inside HAST is the pulse, the strong heartbeat of 500 young adults who need the opportunity to thrive. We have students from all walks of life, students who have, students who have not.
As long as I can remember, I've been an athlete and a scholar. I thrived on the field and excelled in the classroom. I wouldn't be where I am today without having a safe environment, a place where I could build my confidence, find out who I was. But my parents and I never had to worry about participation fees. If you had the heart, the commitment and the determination, you could compete in high school sports. Things have changed since I was in high school.
What I am asking of you is to help give my student-athletes the opportunity to participate in track and field at HAST. I have 25 young adults who don't have the means to pay for their participation fee of $125. We need to raise $3,000 for all of us to be able to participate in this season's track meets, which begin Saturday. If they can't pay the fee, they can't participate. And what a waste of good, young talent that would be.
Had I been fully aware of HAST athletic policies, we would have started fundraising a lot earlier. I would have made sure they had the means to earn their participation fee. So, we are starting today.
If we reach our goal, my student-athletes will be able to compete this season. If we don't, they've made a commitment to raising the funds for next season. Not one of them quit today when I told them about our dire situation. We are learning a lesson and we are living our lesson. We are building character and we are building the future of our community.
Thank you for helping the HAST Hawks Run Free.
HAST is a charter school. I won't hide that. I've taught and coached in public, private and now charter schools. And what I've learned is that it doesn't matter how fancy the building is, how shiny the uniforms are, how much money the community has. What matters is inside the school building. And inside HAST is the pulse, the strong heartbeat of 500 young adults who need the opportunity to thrive. We have students from all walks of life, students who have, students who have not.
As long as I can remember, I've been an athlete and a scholar. I thrived on the field and excelled in the classroom. I wouldn't be where I am today without having a safe environment, a place where I could build my confidence, find out who I was. But my parents and I never had to worry about participation fees. If you had the heart, the commitment and the determination, you could compete in high school sports. Things have changed since I was in high school.
What I am asking of you is to help give my student-athletes the opportunity to participate in track and field at HAST. I have 25 young adults who don't have the means to pay for their participation fee of $125. We need to raise $3,000 for all of us to be able to participate in this season's track meets, which begin Saturday. If they can't pay the fee, they can't participate. And what a waste of good, young talent that would be.
Had I been fully aware of HAST athletic policies, we would have started fundraising a lot earlier. I would have made sure they had the means to earn their participation fee. So, we are starting today.
If we reach our goal, my student-athletes will be able to compete this season. If we don't, they've made a commitment to raising the funds for next season. Not one of them quit today when I told them about our dire situation. We are learning a lesson and we are living our lesson. We are building character and we are building the future of our community.
Thank you for helping the HAST Hawks Run Free.
Organizer
Allison Buell
Organizer
Hammond, IN
