Hope Ignites Excellence Awards
The Hope Ignites Excellence Awards recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations which demonstrate and support hope and success for their colleagues, affiliates, communities, our young people, and the Hope Ignites Network.
Excellence Awards are presented annually at dinner and ceremony held during the Hope Ignites Network Leadership Gathering. Nominations are now being accepted for 2025 Hero of Hope and Legacy of Hope honorees. The nomination deadline is February 14, 2025. The Annual Excellence Awards will be presented on the evening of Thursday, March 27, in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Vatterott Award
The Hope Ignites Vatterott Award, named for its inaugural recipient John Vatterott, celebrates the legacy and impact of an extraordinary visionary—an exemplary man or woman for others—whose generosity, determination and philanthropic support has sustained the vital work of Hope Ignites on behalf of scholars, collegians and children in need.
Partner in Hope Award
The Hope Ignites Partner in Hope Award is for a university, college, or other institution dedicated to creating pathways of awareness, access, and affordability for Hope Ignites scholar advancement in their academic journeys.
Hero of Hope Award
The Hope Ignites Hero of Hope Award is for an outstanding affiliate team member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to contribute to the success of their affiliate, scholars, and the Hope Ignitess Network.
Legacy of Hope Award
The Hope Ignites Legacy of Hope Award is for two members of our alumni community who exemplify the spirit of being well-educated, career-ready, and community-minded.
PMT Excellence Award
The PMT Excellence Awards, presented for the first time in 2024, recognize those affiliates with very high aggregate scores in Compliance and Key Performance Indicators over the past year. These affiliates serve as the Network’s role models for excellence in mission impact and operational execution.
2023/2024 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT AWARD
Edward Jones
Network Partner
PARTNER IN HOPE AWARD
Santa Clara University
University Partner
HERO OF HOPE AWARD
Lucas Pinzon
Executive Director
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Guatemala (Esperanza Juvenil)
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Apshara Siwakoti
Alumna
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Colorado
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Ruben Lugo, Jr.
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Detroit
PMT EXCELLENCE AWARD
Boys Hope Girls Hope of
Arizona, Cincinnati, & Colorado
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Joe Koenig
President of World Wide Technology (WWT)
Boys Hope Girls Hope Board Member 2013-2024
2022/2023 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT AWARD
Emerson
Network Partner
PARTNER IN HOPE AWARD
Arizona State University
University Partner
HERO OF HOPE AWARD
Kate Schueren
Director of Development
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Detroit
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Vernon Green
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Illinois
2021/2022 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT AWARD
Mike de Graffenried
Network Board Member
& Contributor
PARTNER IN HOPE AWARD
University of Denver
University Partner
HERO OF HOPE AWARD
Jan Wacker
Director of Development
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of St. Louis
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Raymund Deng
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of San Francisco
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Michallé Fain
Alumna
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Illinois
2020 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT AWARD
World Wide Technology
Network Partner
PARTNER IN HOPE AWARD
Saint Louis University
University Partner
HERO OF HOPE AWARD
London Johnson
Collegian Support Specialist
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Detroit
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Kevin Chau
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of New York
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Micarah Young
Alumna
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Pittsburgh
2019 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT AWARD
Pat Stokes
Former Network Board Chair & Capital
Campaign Chair
PARTNER IN HOPE AWARD
St. Olaf College
University Partner
HERO OF HOPE AWARD
Chuck Roth
Executive Director
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of New Orleans
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Anissa Gilbert
Alumna
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of Pittsburgh
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Nick Varuso
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
of New Orleans
INAUGURAL 2018 HONOREES
THE VATTEROTT
AWARD
John Vatterott
Chair Emeritus
Boys Hope Girls Hope
HERO OF HOPE
AWARD
Rebecca Limbaugh
Executive Director
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit
LEGACY OF HOPE AWARD
Larry Phillips
Alumnus
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois
HERE IS HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE HOPE
Working to nurture and guide motivated
young people in need to become well-educated,
career-ready men and women for others
