Hamilton Heights Middle School had 89 fifth-grade students (left) and 80 eighth-grade students (right) who completed the T1L1 Mentoring Program. (Photos provided)
Posted By: The Reporter May 7, 2026
By KEVIN YANEY
For The Reporter
Hamilton Heights Middle School has graduated 169 fifth- and eighth-grade students involved in the Teach One to Lead One (T1L1) mentoring program. A ceremony to recognize their achievement was held in the school gym on May 2.
The T1L1 program has been a part of the curriculum at Hamilton Heights since 2019. It is a community mentoring program where teams of caring adult mentors meet weekly with students during the school day. The mentors lead the students in a curriculum rooted in 10 Universal Principles that are essential for student leaders to possess if they are to find their purpose and reach their potential. The 10 Universal Principles are respect, integrity, self-control, compassion, courage, teamwork, excellence, humility, enthusiasm, and honor. Students are encouraged to find ways to put these principles into action. The program helps develop students into leaders.
In addition to the 169 students who completed the T1L1 program, Positive Attitude Awards were presented to fifth-grade students: Olivia Fenelon, Caleb Smith, and Oscar Smith; and eighth-grade students: Jack Butor, Sterling Dahlstrom, Reese Dougherty, and Mackenzie Drury. Second Mile Awards were presented to fifth-grade students: Ellis Donald, Ian Gohl, and Sydney Hartman; and eighth-grade students Colton Millikan, Sebastian Pritsch, Makaylah Ottinger, and Alethia Speck.
T1L1 Central Indiana Program Coordinator Gabby Pinkston said, “I love how we have been in this school district for seven years and we have gotten to know the school, community mentors and the students. This has been a great benefit for everyone.”
Hamilton Heights was the first school district in Indiana to host a T1L1 community mentoring group. It currently serves seven school districts in Central Indiana. For more information, go to T1L1.org.
