What is RISE at VHHS?

Students at Vestavia Hills High School are making their mark on the community and beyond through RISE, a semester of service-learning projects benefitting the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Research Program at the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. RISE stands for REBELS IMPACT through SERVICE and ENGAGEMENT.

The Goal of RISE is two-fold:

1) To engage. We seek to engage every student at Vestavia Hills High School. We strongly believe that connection builds community, self-awareness and empathy for others. When we are connected, we are better. And, in the spirit of our battle cry, We Are 1Rebel.

2) To serve. We seek to plan events that create community and in doing so, we learn leadership skills to help us serve others. Students form teams, create fundraisers, meet deadlines, practice communication skills, problem-solve--and build community in the process.

The 2025 RISE Beneficiary

The Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Research Program of

Major RISE Events 2025

RISE Kickoff Pep Rally, January 8, 2025 VHHS

Sadie Hawkins Dance, January 25, 2025 VHCC

Pinkies Up Tea Party, February 22, 2025 VHMC

Rebel Run 5K, March 1 @ VHHS Front Parking Lot

Kids Day - Character Meet & Greet and Touch a Truck, March 15, 2025 VHHS

RISE DAY! Community Event 4pm - 9pm, April 12, 2025 VHHS fields

2025 RISE Leadership

RISE Council (L to R) Maddie Hendon - Team Development, Grant Richards - RISE Chair, Manning Roberts - RISE Chair, Graham Gwaltney - Youth Leadership President, Ann Harper Adams - RISE Chair, Victor Altamirano - RISE Chair, and Livy Duffey - Community Outreach and Sponsorship

2025 RISE Chairs

Victor Altamirano, Manning Roberts, Ann Harper Adams, Grant Richards

Committee Chairs

Accounting: Isabel Carroll, Selah Coleman, Carter Willis

Activities and Sports Connection: Harrison Crotwell, Jill Gaylard, Maxwell Kown, William Plaisance

Entertainment: RISE Chairs

Freshman Connection: Ella Joy Bragan, Bailey Kopecky, James Bentley

Fundraising: Emma Kate Lawrence, Julie Moctezuma, Brady Petway, Ellie Robicheaux

Kids Day: Bella Henderson, Hicks Johnson, Abby Puthoff, Ella Joy Bragan

Logistics: Madelyn Wigley

Luminaries: Emma Gordon, Sarah Gordon, Bailey Kopecky

Liberty Park Connection: Julia Bochnak, Meredith Bochnak, Jones Cleary

Pizitz Connection: Callie Johnson, Caroline Welling

Publicity: Brooks Bennett, Georgia Hunter, Bailey O'Neill

Rebel Run: Reese Beckner, James Bentley, Virginia Davis, Drew Morris, Emily Spooner

Sadie Hawkins Dance: Sarah Kate Misner, Bailey Shepherd

Signage, Gratitude, and VIP: Mary Paten Bean, Mary Kenyon Nall, Kaitlyn Wintermantel

Team Development: Maddie Hendon

VHHS Teacher Sponsors: Mary Virginia Sweeney, Merryl Cooper

RISE 2025 Sponsor Levels

VHHS Students raise money one dollar at a time, one person at a time, and for one cause - the fight against cancer. RISE exemplifies the notion that together we can accomplish great things. By joining these students as a RISE sponsor, you are providing them a foundation on which to build this year's campaign. More importantly, you are supporting the service-learning of our students while giving hope to many families whose child is impacted by cancer. Thank you for your consideration and support.

Presenting Sponsor - $10,000+. Logo on all printed materials, social media, website, and verbal recognition at events

Gold Sponsor - $5,000 Logo on all printed materials, social media, and website

Red Sponsor - $2,500 Name recognition on all printed materials, social media and website

Blue Sponsor - $1,000 Name recognition on website and banners

White Sponsor - $500 Name recognition on website

Donation Method:

Donate Online via the UAB portal: go.uab.edu/vhhsrise

Check made payable to Vestavia Hills High School - RISE

Check made payable to O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center

To complete your donation, please email Mary Virginia Sweeney, RISE at sweeneymv@vhcs.us

Thank you for your generous support!

RISE - Vestavia Hills High School - 2235 Lime Rock Road - Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

RED LEVEL

BLUE LEVEL

WHITE LEVEL

Congratulations VHHS!

You Raised $227,164 in 2024

IN A YEAR WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN, VHHS STUDENTS RISE UP

This is our pandemic story.

On March 13, 2020, Governor Kay Ivey announced that all schools in the state were to be closed immediately. It was less than 24 hours before the 11th annual Rebel Run was to be held. The next day, and the days that followed, the school was quiet; the parking lot was empty, and that was the end of RISE season and the remainder of the school year. There were no exams, no awards days, no prom or graduation for the Class of 2020.

During the next 15 months, the shut downs and restrictions continued. The world was in a full blown pandemic and nothing was the same. People navigated unchartered waters in every aspect of life, especially school. Learning remotely and wearing masks became the norm. Isolation and social distancing replaced pep rallies and dances. School spirit was in a closet and the culture seemed to be shifting.

In the midst of it all, students at VHHS decided to RISE as best they could, within the limitations in which their world now existed. From January 2020 to April 11, 2021, during the worst pandemic the world has seen since 1918, these students, including the class of 2020, rose like never before. Their focus was not on what they could not do but on what could be done. This “can-do” spirit served them and their community well.

During those 15 months, they managed to raise $337,365 for the fight against cancer, but that is only part of the story. They created new events as well as new ways of raising money and awareness. Throughout the community, yards signs and red bows began to pop up, promoting “Togetherness” – the theme for the year. Senior Sunrise, Touch-a-Truck, even an all-student prayer service were created.

Due to COVID, RISE Day 2020 was merely a time when the community was encouraged to shine their lights at their own houses while athletic facility lights burned to honor lost spring sports seasons along with a lost RISE Day event. RISE Day 2021 was much different. School spirit came roaring back with more than 1,000 people at the outdoor festival that included live music, games and competitions.

The highlight of the event took place after dark in the stadium when the Ceremony of Light honored cancer survivors and those we’ve lost. Community members joined students as they listened to the beautiful music of VHHS choir members and remembered loved ones with a walk around the track lined with 1,700 luminaries.

After a school year like never before, RISE Day was a special time illustrating the Power of Together. We salute those students who worked hard to create this experience for all and who supported a cause greater than themselves. RISE proceeds support the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. The Kids Day event benefitted the Rucker Collier Foundation.