On Oct. 23, freshman, cheerleader, friend, classmate and daughter Ashley Scott ‘28 died.

Throughout her life, Ashley was known by her peers as a selfless and caring person as she always put others first and made sure that everyone felt loved and appreciated. From the age of five, Ashley created a non-profit organization titled “Kids Care Too” with her saved-up Christmas money to help the homeless.

After her passing, many students were left to find ways to celebrate her life and mourn her loss.

Within the chaos, her JV cheer teammates created the hashtag DIFA (Do it for Ashley). Other neighboring high school cheer teams also show support by wearing cheer bows with DIFA at the Rock the Mat Cheer Competition on Nov. 2, wearing DIFA bracelets, drawing hearts on their wrists and hands, and so much more.

“JV wanted to have an opportunity to recognize Ashley and the significant impact that she made to our program–specifically to that team–and just remember her life and all of the happy memories that we have for her,” cheer coach Amanda Mundaca said.

Additionally, Ashley’s family established a foundation in her memory to help youth through times of need.

Created by her parents, Anne and Troy Henington, the Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation seeks to support young people by providing access to mental health resources, covering athletic fees for children in need and assisting youth in overcoming mental and emotional challenges. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, this foundation embodies Ashley’s enduring legacy and her mission to uplift others, ensuring that her spirit continues to inspire and transform lives.

The foundation’s overall focus is to stop bullying, inspire others, and choose kindness, with the goal of getting help for any stressors that youth face.

“Having resources to deal with bullying and mental health issues is crucial because it provides individuals with the support and tools they need to cope, heal, and thrive,” Seminar peer Savanna Schnider ‘28 said. “Bullying can have long-term emotional, psychological, and social consequences, and without proper resources, victims may struggle to recover or seek help. Access to counseling, support groups, and educational programs can help individuals build resilience, develop coping strategies, and gain perspective on their experiences.”

Students struggling with mental health have resources available to help. The best apps for mental health advised by school counselors include: Happify to help build coping skills, How We Feel for an emotion tracker and Calm & Headspace for meditation and mindfulness.

Hotlines for mental health include 1-844-493-TALK for professional help in a crisis and 988 for the suicide and crisis hotline.

“You can call any of these hotlines if you are out of school or come into the counselor’s office for any help that you need,” counselor Katerina Casas said.

The Ashley Isabella Scott Foundation is looking for students who would like to get involved. They are currently looking to create a scholarship in memory of Ashley for a student who embodies kindness, generosity, and other positive traits.

“There’s a song that says, ‘I hope you dance…’ Ashley would want everyone to live life to the fullest and dance every moment they can. Be loving, be kind, and ‘you have the choice to sit it out or dance, just dance….’ So live every moment to the fullest, and dance, just like the song says…. if you ever doubt yourself, then just do it for Ashley,” Anne Henington said.

This story was originally published on The Rock Newspaper on November 22, 2024.