Hope4Utah Council
The Hope4Utah Council is a dedicated group of student leaders from across Utah who work together to promote suicide prevention, strengthen connectedness, and spread hope on a statewide level. Representing schools and communities throughout the state, these students serve as voices of hope to make a positive impact both in their schools and beyond.
Council members play an active role in supporting Hope4Utah initiatives, including assisting with elementary and secondary Hope Squad conferences and participating in community outreach efforts, such as the annual Walk4Hope. They also create and share messages of hope through social media campaigns and advocate for mental health awareness among their peers.
In addition to their council responsibilities, these students continue to serve as Hope Squad members within their own schools, supporting classmates, fostering inclusion, and helping connect students to trusted adults and resources when needed. Their commitment to service, leadership, and suicide prevention helps create safer, more supportive communities across Utah.
We are proud to recognize these exceptional young leaders and the difference they make every day.
Memphis Owen
Hope4Utah Council Advisor
Alivia Walker
Hope4Utah Council Advisor
Bella Del Vecchio
Farmington High School
Elizabeth Ryder
Famington High School
Gretchen Batt
West Field High School
Kate Drommond
Farmington High School
Kaylee Brooks
Springville High School
Mari Felix
Timpview High School
Morgan Anderson
Ridgeline High School
Nicole Wankier
Corner Canyon High School
Paige Turley
Springville High School
Paxton Norman
North Sanpete High School
Verena Combs
Timpview High School
Memphis Owen serves as the Hope4Utah Council Advisor and has been involved with the Hope Squad program for eight years, including three years as the Hope4Utah Council Advisor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Brigham Young University and is passionate about using communication and connection to promote hope, mental health awareness, and suicide prevention.
Memphis became involved in suicide prevention because she believes that nobody should ever feel like they do not matter, are not loved, or do not make a difference in the lives of others.
She loves working alongside student leaders across Utah who are dedicated to making a positive impact and helping others know that hope is always available. She is grateful for the opportunity to support the next generation of Hope Squad leaders as they work to strengthen mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts in their schools and communities.
Alivia Walker is passionate about serving others and building strong, supportive communities. Her experience includes three years with her school’s Hope Squad and one year with the National Hope Squad, where she developed a strong commitment to mental health awareness and peer support. Alivia brings compassion, connection, and a genuine desire to help others feel supported and valued.
Bella Del Vecchio is a senior at Farmington High School and has been a member of Hope Squad since September 2025. After witnessing friends struggle with suicide and coming close to losing people she cares about, Bella wanted to join Hope Squad so she could help others and make a positive difference in her school community. What started as a way to get out of the house, meet new people, and discover more about herself has become one of the most meaningful and fun experiences for Bella. Through Hope Squad, she has found a place where she can connect with others, make a difference, and help create positive change in her school.
Elizabeth Ryder attends Farmington High School and has been involved with Hope Squad for seven years. This is her second year serving on the Hope4Utah Council. Mental health has always been a priority for Elizabeth, as she has seen its impact both personally and in the lives of others. She is passionate about supporting those around her, spreading hope, and helping ensure that no one feels alone.
Gretchen Batt is a junior at West Field High School and has been involved in Hope Squad for three years. The program has helped her personally in many ways, and helping others has given purpose to her life. Gretchen hopes to make people feel surrounded by friends who are there to uplift them and help them feel like they are enough no matter what. She decided to get involved in Hope Squad because she finds that helping others is the only thing that brings her true joy. She wants to teach people how to calm themselves when things become scary or difficult and where they can turn for support. Gretchen hopes to help others find their purpose in life, discover what makes them happy, and identify what makes them laugh even when life gets tough. She also wants to help people learn how to love themselves.
Kate Drommond attends Farmington High School. She plays volleyball, rides horses, and spends as much time outside as she can. She has been part of Hope Squad for five years, and it has been a huge blessing in her life. She also serves on both the Hope4Utah Council and the Hope Squad National Council, which has been an amazing experience. Kate loves Hope Squad and everything it stands for. She wants to be someone who brings light to others and helps those who may be struggling with mental health or suicide feel seen, loved, and never alone.
Kaylee Brooks attends Springville High School. She is in her third year of Hope Squad and second year on the Hope4Utah Council. Kaylee wanted to join Hope Squad to help the people around her and make sure everyone knows that at least somebody cares about and loves them. She wanted to make a difference and bring joy, hope, and kindness to others. Kaylee is also a member of the SHS drill team and plays three instruments: the piano, violin, and organ. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves trying new things.
Mari Felix is a junior at Timpview High School. She has been a member of Hope Squad for five years, beginning in middle school, and it has been one of the most meaningful parts of her life.
Mari became involved in suicide prevention because she believes everyone deserves to see rays of light, even when life feels overwhelming. She understands that feeling seen, supported, and understood can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Through Hope Squad, she is committed to helping create those moments of connection and hope for others in her community.
Morgan Anderson is a senior at Ridgeline High School and has been a member of Hope Squad for three years. Hope Squad was the first club she joined when she started high school, and she has always known that it was the kind of organization she wanted to be involved in. Morgan admired the students she already knew in Hope Squad, and their positive examples inspired her to join. She wanted to stand for something good and be someone other students could turn to for help or friendship. Throughout her years in Hope Squad, she has seen the smiles and joy it brings to students at her school. She also recognizes the quiet impact it makes. Morgan understands that suicide is a serious problem today, and knowing that she might be able to help one person recognize the value of their life is all the reason she needs to be part of Hope Squad.
Nicole Wankier is a junior at Corner Canyon High School in Draper. She is a musician who plays six instruments: piano, harp, guitar, viola, violin, and saxophone, and she loves anything related to music. Her main passions have always been music and spreading love through music. Nicole has seen many connections formed through simply playing a song that people know, watching different people begin to sing along, and realizing how connected people are. Seeing others enjoy music makes her happy. She has enjoyed doing social media for Music Council at Corner Canyon High School as well as for her personal harp account, and she loves seeing how many people connect through those platforms.
Nicole has been a member of Hope Squad for two years. She was initially nominated to join, but after learning more about what Hope Squad was, she chose to become involved because she knew someone who wanted to take his life, and that experience stuck with her. She does not want anyone to feel that way and loves helping to try to prevent suicide.
Paige Turley is a senior at Springville High School and is in her fourth year as a member of Hope Squad. She became involved in Hope Squad and suicide prevention because of her own experiences with mental health. Paige was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in fifth grade and has worked throughout her life to manage her mental health and overcome other challenges.
Through treatment, therapy, and her own personal growth, she has learned how important it is to have support and someone willing to listen. Her own experiences in being saved from suicide have inspired Paige to help others who may be struggling and remind them that hope is possible, even when they cannot see it themselves.
She is passionate about talking openly about mental health and suicide to help reduce stigma and encourage people to reach out for help. Paige is outgoing and loves connecting with others. If she notices someone who seems to be having a difficult day, she is not afraid to reach out and start a conversation.
Paige loves hearing people’s stories, learning about what they have been through, and seeing how far they have come. Helping others find hope, grow, and experience happiness is especially meaningful to her. Through Hope Squad, she hopes to continue advocating for mental health, supporting others, and doing everything she can to help create a world where people feel comfortable asking for help.
Paxton Norman is a junior at North Sanpete High School in Mount Pleasant, Utah. He has been a part of Hope Squad for three years. Paxton decided to get involved because of personal struggles he has experienced and because he wanted to be someone who could support and help others who may be going through difficult times.
Being part of Hope Squad has helped him realize how important it is to have people who listen, care, and remind others that they are not alone. Through Hope Squad, Paxton hopes to continue making a positive difference in his school and community. He wants to help create an environment where people feel comfortable reaching out, talking about what they are going through, and knowing that someone cares.
Outside of Hope Squad, Paxton enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with his friends and family. He is wanting to become an EMT and eventually pursue a career in EMS. Paxton enjoys helping others and being someone they can count on. He is grateful for Hope Squad and excited to make a difference.
Verena Combs is a junior at Timpview High School in Utah. She has been a part of Hope Squad since her freshman year and currently serves as vice president of her school’s Hope Squad.
Verena was nominated by a friend who had experienced many struggles that Verena had helped her talk through. Her nomination came as a bit of a surprise, as she considers herself not to be the most extroverted person. However, it was amazing for her to hear that others had noticed and appreciated her willingness to listen. The experience amplified her desire to connect with anyone and everyone.
What Verena loves most about Hope Squad is the idea that suicide prevention is not only about experts, though they are needed and wanted as well. She believes it is also about peers connecting with other peers through small moments of asking, “How are you doing?” or “Is there anything I can do to help?”
For Verena, the very best part of Hope Squad is the idea that its members are ambassadors of hope. When she and others lift people up, those individuals can go on to lift others up as well.
a non-profit, 501c3 organization
LOCATION
5455 River Run Dr.
Provo, UT 84604