![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
![Lesbian Visibility Day is April 26, and it’s a holiday to celebrate the lesbian community of the world. Lesbian Visibility day was established in 2008 by many queer activists and organizations who sought to raise more awareness for lesbian history and culture. “So this is why during Lesbian Visibility [Day] we celebrate and center all lesbians, both cis and trans, while also showing solidarity with all LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people,” Linda Reily, in an article written by her, said.](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Lesbian-Visibility-day.jpeg)
On Oct. 23, freshman, cheerleader, friend, classmate and daughter Ashley Scott ‘28 died.
Throughout her life, Ashley was known by her peers as a selfless and caring person as she always put others first and made sure that everyone felt loved and appreciated. From the age of five, Ashley created a non-profit organization titled “Kids Care Too” with her saved-up Christmas money to help the homeless.
After her passing, many students were left to find ways to celebrate her life and mourn her loss.
Within the chaos, her JV cheer teammates created the hashtag DIFA (Do it for Ashley). Other neighboring high school cheer teams also show support by wearing cheer bows with DIFA at the Rock the Mat Cheer Competition on Nov. 2, wearing DIFA bracelets, drawing hearts on their wrists and hands, and so much more.
Photos courtesy of: Anne Henington
“JV wanted to have an opportunity to recognize Ashley and the significant impact that she made to our program–specifically to that team–and just remember her life and all of the happy memories that we have for her,” cheer coach Amanda Mundaca said.
Additionally, Ashley’s family established a foundation in her memory to help youth through times of need.
Created by her parents, Anne and Troy Henington, the “Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation” seeks to support young people by providing access to mental health resources, covering athletic fees for children in need and assisting youth in overcoming mental and emotional challenges. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, this foundation embodies Ashley’s enduring legacy and her mission to uplift others, ensuring that her spirit continues to inspire and transform lives.
The foundation’s overall focus is to stop bullying, inspire others, and choose kindness, with the goal of getting help for any stressors that youth face.
“Having resources to deal with bullying and mental health issues is crucial because it provides individuals with the support and tools they need to cope, heal, and thrive,” Seminar peer Savanna Schnider ‘28 said. “Bullying can have long-term emotional, psychological, and social consequences, and without proper resources, victims may struggle to recover or seek help. Access to counseling, support groups, and educational programs can help individuals build resilience, develop coping strategies, and gain perspective on their experiences.”
Students struggling with mental health have resources available to help. The best apps for mental health advised by school counselors include: Happify to help build coping skills, How We Feel for an emotion tracker and Calm & Headspace for meditation and mindfulness.
Hotlines for mental health include 1-844-493-TALK for professional help in a crisis and 988 for the suicide and crisis hotline.
“You can call any of these hotlines if you are out of school or come into the counselor’s office for any help that you need,” counselor Katerina Casas said.
Photo courtesy of: Anne Henington
The Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation is looking for students who would like to get involved. They are currently looking to create a scholarship in memory of Ashley for a student who embodies kindness, generosity, and other positive traits.
For more information on how to join Ashley’s foundation or to learn more about Ashley’s story, people can find Anne Henington or Troy Henington on Facebook or message @doitforashley2024 on Instagram.
“There’s a song that says, ‘I hope you dance…’ Ashley would want everyone to live life to the fullest and dance every moment they can. Be loving, be kind, and ‘you have the choice to sit it out or dance, just dance….’ So live every moment to the fullest, and dance, just like the song says…. if you ever doubt yourself, then just do it for Ashley,” Henington said.
Ashley’s Celebration of Life is Nov. 23 at Cherry Hills Community Church at 2 p.m. All students are invited to attend. Please wear black, gold, or pink in business casual. GoFundMe for Ashley: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-ashleys-legacy-of-kindness-difa