Operation HHS Graduation to Target Student Debts
May 13—As the school year is rapidly drawing to a close, Bridgette Maloney knows the excitement is building in the hearts of Huntsville High's 2024 graduating class. And to make sure that enthusiasm is felt by every graduate, she has partnered with other education advocates to raise funds to offset outstanding fees for Hornets in need.
Operation HHS Graduation, the braintrust of Maloney, aims to eliminate the nearly $6,000 balance owed by Huntsville High School (HHS) seniors, which if unpaid would prevent them from walking the stage.
Maloney calculated the goal by approximating what percentage of fees belong to seniors, from cumulative figures presented by the HHS Administration.
In total, students owe more than $8,000 in overages.
In order to walk, graduates must have all associated fees paid by May 17. So for the duration of this week, Maloney will be gathering donations, to turn in to HHS on Friday morning.
Maloney was motivated in part this year by the massive floods across our region. Many impacted families have lost thousands of dollars in property damages, as well as, lost wages due to missing work. Operation HHS Graduation (OHG) aims to alleviate the anxiety of this small obstacle in the way some graduating Seniors, from families that need to focus resources elsewhere.
"I was looking, after the floods, at the pictures of the damage; I began praying about it; and this is what God laid on my heart to do," said Maloney, a 1986 HHS graduate and retired pastor, who now works in the library at Sam Houston State University.
Maloney organized OHG to find a practical way of relieving students, who put in hard work and are graduating, even after the lost years of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
"This is the least we can do," said Maloney.
In addition to electronic Zelle payments, interested donors can also contact Maloney to schedule pick ups of cash or checks (made payable to Huntsville High School). Also, local restauranteur Delfina Perez has joined the mission, by donating $10 from every $50 gift certificate, and/or $5 from every $25 gift certificate sold at Rodeo, until the May 17 deadline.
For more information on how donors can help, contact Bridget Maloney at 972-741-0957 or by e-mail at Bridget_Maloney@aol.com.
To make a donation to the cause, scan the code below with your phone.
