HOPE in Action: Preparing Today's Scholars to be Tomorrow's Leaders

The HOPE Giving Circle was founded on a simple but powerful belief: when women come together to invest in students, they don’t just change individual lives—they help shape future leaders. Through the HOPE Scholarship, mentorship, and commitment to service, HOPE prepares Harper College students to go forth with confidence, purpose, and a deep understanding of what it means to give back.

Each HOPE Scholarship recipient is awarded $10,000, a transformational investment they can carry with them as they transfer to a four‑year institution. But, HOPE’s impact extends far beyond financial support. Every scholar is paired with a mentor to help them navigate academic decisions, explore career paths, and begin building the professional networks that will support them long after graduation. This individualized guidance helps students lay a strong foundation for leadership and lifelong success.

Equally central to HOPE is a commitment to community service. Service is not only a key factor in the scholarship application process, it is a defining hallmark of the HOPE Giving Circle itself. HOPE members model the values they seek to instill by giving back through their financial support of the scholarship, participating in community‑centered service opportunities such as the HOPE Day of Action each January, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue at events like Women at the Table, which brings members together with inspiring thought leaders.

This culture of service and leadership has created a powerful ripple effect, which comes full circle as former scholarship recipients step into roles as engaged alumni and leaders themselves.

Emily Alvia, a HOPE Scholarship recipient from 2022–2023, joined the HOPE Giving Circle as a full member in December and now volunteers her time as a member of the HOPE Giving Circle Executive Committee, helping guide the organization that once supported her.

Similarly, Amanda Mirczuk, a HOPE Scholar from 2020–2021, remains deeply connected with the HOPE Giving Circle as well as the Harper College Educational Foundation. She has served as a leader on 4 Harper College Committees in the past 5 years and is passionate about empowering current students and alumni to become future leaders. As a fixture at alumni events, Amanda joined the HOPE Giving Circle as a full member in January and serves as co-chair of the Harper College Alumni Committee. Both Emily and Amanda continue leading through example by actively engaging in volunteer service and community outreach initiatives.

The HOPE Giving Circle is more than a scholarship program; it is a community committed to empowering the next generation. By instilling the values of leadership, mentorship, and service, HOPE ensures its scholars are not only prepared to succeed, but inspired to lead and give back wherever their futures take them. To learn more about the HOPE Giving Circle, visit harpercollege.edu/hope.