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The Hope Garden Dedicated at Upper Arlington High School
Updated: 5 hours ago
Friday, September 4th | Upper Arlington High School
The sun came out last Friday evening as family, friends, students, staff, and community members gathered at Upper Arlington High School to dedicate The Hope Garden, a new space just south of Marv Moorehead Stadium. The garden remembers all Upper Arlington students who have passed away during their time in the district.
The ceremony recognized the meaningful impact made possible through the generosity of our community who, together, help transform loss and grief into hope.
Sam Short, a member of the class of 2024, passed away in April of his senior year. Sam was the beloved son of Mike and Tori Short. His courageous life and enduring optimism inspired his family to create a place that would honor not only his memory, but the memories of all Upper Arlington students who pass away too soon. Plaques throughout the garden include the names of these students and remember their lives.
Superintendent Bob Hunt addressed the crowd at the dedication, speaking to the significance of creating a space within the school community dedicated to healing and remembrance.
If you look around our district today, you will find we have lots of classrooms for learning, we have science labs for experimenting, we have libraries for reading, stages for performing and sports fields for competing.
And now… we also have a very special place for remembering and honoring our own. The Hope Garden will be the site of quiet reflections, meaningful conversations, and memories that make us smile. It will be a place for acts of remembrance and for moments of connection between students, staff and families.
Alice Finley, Executive Director of UA+Ed, also spoke, thanking donors whose contributions made the garden possible.
The UA Education Foundation received hundreds of gifts to support the Hope Garden. Each one came from the heart. Individuals and families gave. Community organizations and PTOs stepped forward. The Upper Arlington Community Foundation, Tri-Village Rotary, and Upper Arlington Rotary helped support this project. The Education Foundation committed resources of its own, and Cornwell Landscape provided significant care and support.
We all experience loss. We all experience moments of sadness that we don't know how to navigate. The Hope Garden reminds our children that they don't have to navigate those moments alone.
Tori and Mike Short, Sam's parents, along with his three siblings, spoke as well, sharing how deeply moved they were to see their Sam's memory transformed into a space that will comfort generations of Upper Arlington students to come.
Plaques of remembrance grace the Hope Garden for the following students:
Andy Tice - Class of 2011
Alea Ramsey - Class of 2024
Ben Karcher - Class of 2028
Todd Roshkowski - Class of 1987
Sam Short - Class of 2024
Julie Schoedinger - Class of 1987
Carter Edell - Class of 2030
Mike Schoedinger, sister of Julie Schoedinger, shared his thoughts:
The Schoedinger family is honored to support the Hope Garden and continue the memory of my sister Julie Anne Schoedinger. Even though she died in 1980 at the age of 11, we still miss her and remember her. It is wonderful to have this memorial in our community at such a prominent location, where generations in the future can see and learn about UA students who left us too soon.
The dedication ceremony was inspiring. It was wonderful to see the large crowd gather on a Friday night to support the Hope Garden. My parents and I left feeling very good about the tribute to our Julie and the other students memorialized in this special place.
The Hope Garden now stands as a peaceful and welcoming place for students, families, staff, and community members to pause in times of heartache, seek hope in the midst of fear, and find joy in times of remembrance.
The Upper Arlington Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides access to meaningful opportunities for students that are beyond the budget of the Upper Arlington School District. Established in 1985, UA+Ed is permanently structured to fund programs and projects today and for generations to come. The Upper Arlington Alumni Association is an important part of the foundation and keeps graduates connected, engaged, and motivated to pay it forward.
PRESS FOR THE HOPE GARDEN
Click HERE to read NBC4 Article, Upper Arlington Family Turns Grief Into Hope.
Watch 10TV Video Coverage of the Hope Garden Dedication Ceremony:
