20 Charter Schools Recognized for Excellence in Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and Leadership
$160,000 in Grants to be Awarded at the Fourth Annual Building Hope IMPACT Summit Awards Gala in Miami on May 7
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2025 -- Building Hope, the non-profit leader in charter school facilities, financing, and services, today announced the 20 finalists for its fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Awards. Each of the four award categories—Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment, and the S. Joseph Bruno Model Charter Award—features five outstanding finalists that demonstrate the transformative power of education to change lives and communities.
"Every day, charter schools are changing lives through innovation, dedication and a deep commitment to student success."
This year, Building Hope will award a total of $160,000 in grants, with top winners in each category receiving $20,000 and two runners-up receiving $10,000 each. Since the inception of its IMPACT Program, the nonprofit has awarded $440,000 to 33 charter schools and $40,000 to eight school volunteer leaders.
"Every day, charter schools across the country are changing lives through innovation, dedication, and a deep commitment to student success," said Building Hope President and CEO Bill Hansen. "These 20 finalists are proof of what's possible when educators and communities work alongside each other to serve students and families. Building Hope is proud to celebrate the achievements of these finalists and support their continued impact."
The top five 2025 IMPACT Award finalists by category, in alphabetical order, are:
S. Joseph Bruno Charter School Leadership Award
1. East Mountain High School, Sandia Park, New Mexico
2. Maya Angelou Public Charter School, Washington, D.C.
3. Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science, Wilson, North Carolina
4. SouthTech Schools, Boynton Beach, Florida
5. Yinghua Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Community Engagement Award
1. Austin Achieve High School, Austin, Texas
2. Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Chattanooga, Tennessee
3. Island Montessori, Wilmington, North Carolina
4. Middleburg Community Charter School, Middleburg, Virginia
5. Suncoast School of Innovative Studies, Sarasota, Florida
Educational Innovation Award
1. Baxter Academy, Portland, Maine
2. Beta Academy, Houston, Texas
3. Le Monde International School, Norman, Oklahoma
4. Malama Honua Public Charter School, Waimanalo, Hawaii
5. Reaching All Minds Academy, Durham, North Carolina
Student Empowerment Award
1. Avalon School, St. Paul, Minnesota
2. Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, Kansas City, Missouri
3. Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
4. Polaris Charter Academy, Chicago, Illinois
5. Technology Leadership High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico
In the next round of the grant selection process, a selection committee, comprised of charter industry leaders and past award winners, will interview the finalists and choose three winners in each category, to be announced in March. Leaders from the winning schools will receive an expense-paid trip to the Building Hope IMPACT Summit, held in Miami on May 6-7, where they will each deliver a 10-minute IMPACT talk as the final step in determining the award amounts. At the Summit's closing gala, Building Hope will present $40,000 in grants per category: awarding $20,000 to the top winner and $10,000 each to two runners-up.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable work of the schools that have applied for the Impact Awards," said Trisha Leitem, Director of Building Hope Services and Co-Chair of the Selection Committee. "The passion, resilience, and innovation demonstrated by this year's applicants are truly inspirational. Their dedication to creating lasting change has already made a difference in so many students' lives, and we are looking forward to honoring them for all they have done and continue to do."
For more information about the IMPACT Awards or to register for the 2025 IMPACT Summit, visit www.buildinghope.org/impact/awards.
About Building Hope
Building Hope is a national nonprofit that empowers advancements in education through our work with charter schools providing unparalleled facility financing, real estate development, and operational services. We believe a facility should never be the barrier preventing a child from attending a great school. During our 21-year history, Building Hope has supported over $1 billion in the development of school facilities. For more information, visit www.buildinghope.org.
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