Hmong American Peace Academy (HAPA)

We are beyond proud to announce that some of our talented scholars — Kenta Vang, Serenity Moua, Addysin Khang, Angelina Yang and Eva Vang — have won FIRST PLACE in a nationwide Boys & Girls Club x Old Navy pitch competition! The challenge? To develop an innovative idea that merges the missions of Boys & Girls Club and Old Navy while attracting students to work at Old Navy stores. ? Round 1: Selected as Milwaukee’s top team. BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MILWAUKEE, INC ? Round 2: Pitch reviewed by Old Navy operations. ? Round 3: Live presentation delivered online to Old Navy. The grand prize included a $5,000 grant for our program, a $1,000 stipend and a $100 Old Navy gift card for each team member -- not to mention, an all-expenses-paid trip to San Francisco in April so our squad can pitch its idea at the Gap Inc. headquarters! What a historic moment: This marked the first-ever contest of its kind, and our scholars made HAPA history by taking home the top prize! ?? Huge congratulations to our champions, and to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Brighter Futures program for this wonderful opportunity! #ForeverForward

As for how to approach Hmong education, our seniors said: "We recommend that educators, curriculum builders and anyone involved with Act 266 take time to engage with the Hmong community of Wisconsin. Only through experience, working with, dialoguing with, and inviting in the Hmong community, can Hmong history and culture be fully developed with fidelity. We hope history and culture will be taught with authenticity, respect and love." ?? SO neat to see this video come together! Members of the senior class presented at the state Capitol in mid-December. This really captures the essence of what we did that day. ?? Major thank-yous to the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin for funding the filming — and post-production editing, and videographer Devon Cupery.

Exciting news for HAPA! ?? We're thrilled to welcome Patrick Tevlin as our new Executive Director of Development for the HAPA Foundation. With 25 years of leadership in education and a deep passion for our mission, Patrick will lead fundraising and donor relations to help propel HAPA’s next chapter of growth. As the grandchild of Irish immigrants, Patrick understands the power of education and community support. He’s ready to expand our philanthropic efforts and ensure HAPA continues to provide rigorous academics, character development, and Hmong cultural values to our scholars. Please join us in giving Patrick a warm welcome! #ForeverForward

?? Infinite pages, endless possibilities! ?? Earlier this month, HAPA had the incredible opportunity to attend the Wisconsin State Reading Assn. Conference. This year’s theme, "Infinite Pages: The Unfolding Story of Literacy," perfectly captured the inspiring discussions, author signings, and engaging panels we experienced. A special highlight? WSRA authors signed some books for HAPA’s library, helping us bring even more stories and knowledge to our students. ?? ??: Ms. Mollie Grunnert

What an excellent write-up from the Shepherd Express. ??

YOU can power the future of Robotics at HAPA! Want to hear how? ... Because we would love if you could help us enrich the experience of HAPA scholars through Robotics. In order to succeed, our scholars and staff members need to dedicate at least 200 hours per year to Robotics ... but that’s only part of the equation. Programs like ours also require funding for registration fees, equipment, travel, food, stipends for coaches and more. It really adds up! But your support fuels innovation. Your generosity shapes futures. ?? And the Mighty HAPA Bots are truly worthy of your consideration, as they're consistently proving that hard work pays off. As a second-year rookie team, they’ve qualified for the state competition for the second year in a row! Mark your calendars: March 8 at MSOE Kern Center — let’s cheer them on. ?? At HAPA, one of the main reasons we offer Robotics is to inspire our teens to pursue STEM careers while building self-confidence, knowledge and essential life skills. Through FIRST Tech Challenge, our squad works alongside mentors to design, build, and program classroom-scale robots for fun matches. But more than anything, Robotics goes beyond just competition. It strengthens our scholars' social skills, teamwork and leadership abilities — preparing them for success in and beyond STEM. Join us in supporting our future engineers, innovators, and leaders. Your donation makes all the difference. ?? Give today: ?

See you there? We're looking forward to this event with BizTimes Media!

We're looking forward to this, so much! What an important conversation.

We are beyond proud of four outstanding HAPA seniors who are preparing to take the next big step in their academic journeys! ?? ?? John Thao and Jackie Yang – Accepted to University of Wisconsin-Madison and selected for the prestigious Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program, earning a four-year, full-tuition scholarship and an $800 annual book stipend! ?? Kimberly Vang – Accepted at the University of Michigan, where she’s considering pursuing her passion for health care in the School of Nursing. ?? Ntsaiab Lee – Accepted to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she could make an impact in the Fighting Illini community. Their hard work, dedication, and ambition inspire us all. Join us in congratulating these incredible scholars! ?

?? Happy National School Counseling Week! ?? This week, we celebrate the tremendous impact school counselors have on academic success, emotional well-being, and future planning. At HAPA, we are grateful for our two dedicated counselors, Ms. Kia Lor and Ms. Jenna Puffer, who go above and beyond to support our scholars every day. From providing guidance and encouragement to helping scholars navigate challenges, they are a vital part of our HAPA family. ?? Thank you, Ms. Lor and Ms. Puffer, for your hard work and dedication!