Westfield High School Senior Honored for Service to Homeless Community

Westfield High School senior Asha Adhikari has been honored for her service to the homeless community through her club, Project HOPE. Founded by Adhikari in her freshman year, the club works with individuals experiencing homelessness in Central Indiana.

Service is Adhikari's calling, and she wanted to make a positive impact: "It's almost in my blood. I wanted to see what sort of impact I could make," she said.

Project HOPE has three main goals: educate, donate, and volunteer. To achieve these goals, Adhikari raises donations to make tie blankets, which are donated to shelters in Central Indiana. She also organizes groups to visit organizations such as Gleaners Food Bank and Grace Care Center.

Adhikari's commitment to service has earned her the 32nd Annual Hamilton County Youth Service Award. This award recognizes students who are committed to being drug and alcohol free and are leaders in their community. As Adhikari received this award, she was praised by Hamilton County Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs Executive Director Monica Greer: "We need the youth to be involved in their community and their school. It helps them grow obviously, but it just really builds them as a person."

As part of her award, Adhikari received a $1,000 scholarship. She plans to use this scholarship to pursue higher education at IU Bloomington in the fall, where she intends to continue her journey of service.

Adhikari is considering studying nonprofit management or law and public policy with a minor in community health, focusing on addressing health disparities: "I'm considering studying nonprofit management or law and public policy, with a minor in community health. Health disparities are one of the biggest things that I'm focused on and want to tackle," she said.