Hope Squad students from Godley High School and Godley Middle School participated in the 2026 Texas-Sized Peer-to-Peer Youth Conference on April 1-2, 2026, at Arlington ISD’s Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual & Performing Arts.

The fourth annual conference brought together more than 1,500 students and advisors from across Texas, focusing on peer-led mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and building connection, resilience and life-saving peer support skills.

This year’s conference centered on the theme “Let Hope Rise,” highlighting the power of peer leadership and the importance of creating supportive school communities.

The conference opened with a keynote address from nationally recognized mental health advocate Emma Benoit, whose message resonated with students.

Throughout the event, attendees participated in peer-led breakout sessions, interactive workshops and leadership panels designed to equip them with practical tools to support themselves and others. Additional programming included special appearances and sessions to engage and inspire students, including CHAMP, the Dallas Mavericks mascot, and Fort Worth Opera, which integrated the arts into mental health advocacy.

The two-day structure allowed for age-appropriate programming, with high school students attending April 1 and middle school students attending April 2. Students left the conference with tools to recognize signs of emotional distress, support peers, reduce stigma around mental health conversations and strengthen peer-led initiatives on their campuses.

HOPE Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program in which students are nominated by classmates as trusted peers and trained by advisors to recognize and respond to signs of distress.

GHS students attending included Kayler Burdett, Kimberly Castro, Addison Coats, Shelbi Cook, Cali Harrington, Tucker Holzheuser, Wyatt Jones, Dylan Mourning, Richard Pearce, Ethan Quinteros, Nova Reyna, Kinzie Riney, Lesley Rodriguez, Leila Tran, Miley Wagner and Colt Williams.

GMS students attending included Rosealia Cantu, Lily Cross, Aubree Daniel, Gracie DeFoor, Callie DeVillier, Avery Eddolls, Natalie Flores, Lola Geisler, Tony Hafoka, Wyatt Ivy, Reese Ogle, Bella Pittman, Jenson Roy, Lane Stuck, Perrie Ann Thompson, Ryleigh Tuomey and Max Van Wart.

Staff members attending the conference were GHS Assistant Principal Kristin Armstrong, GMS counselor Mackenzie Welch and Godley 6th Grade Campus counselor Wendy Fisk.

The conference was hosted by the Grace Loncar Foundation, Grant Halliburton Foundation and the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation and included participants from 22 school districts, as well as charter and private schools, representing more than 55 middle and high schools.