Elko High School's Hope Squad starts the year with new officers and plans to spread hope

Elko High School’s Hope Squad members said they are ready for the new school year, to share ideas to collaborate with other student groups, to overcome challenges students are facing and to address how the squad spreads hope beyond the school's walls.

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Jace Kufeld is this year’s vice president. Selena Prieto and Zachary “Zach” Bruno-Essman are members.

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Kufeld shared an idea for the squad to go support games.

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“Imagine a JV football game, or a JV volleyball game. A lot of time people don’t come to those, they want to go to the varsity game afterwards," he said. "Imagine having the Hope Squad go to these, to support JV and the freshmen."

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Kufeld said the school has good athletes and that they are all Elko Indians.

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“We’re still Elko Indians, we want to support any club or sport that we can,” he said.

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Prieto said she wants to collaborate with Adobe Middle School and its Hope Squad.

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Bruno-Essman said he wants to collaborate with the soccer team. The team hosts fundraisers at the concession stand during games.

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“Instead of parents paying for the stuff, we go around and fundraise,” he said.

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Bruno-Essman said the team and Squad could work together during games.

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“I would really like to partner up with the team and maybe have a banner at the concession stand that could help advertise Hope Squad,” he said.

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Advisor Kimberly Vargas said she also wants to build connections across school clubs.

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“I think cohesion between all of our groups will only help EHS, I don’t see where it could harm us at all,” she said.

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Other ideas included collaborating with HOSA and hosting an event with the school’s Bible study group.

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Challenges students are facing and resources

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Kufeld said one of the main things high school students are struggling with is stress related to grades.

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“I would say 100%, one of the main issues, especially in high school … that we’ve seen, has been stress, always,” Kufeld said.

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Prieto added that she’s seen students struggle with their mental health, with school, grades and teachers being stressors.

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Kufeld said high school is a stressful time.

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“You’re looking at college and planning the rest of your life. That definitely affects mental health, 100%,” he said.

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Kufeld said for student athletes, they need to maintain passing grades in order to play.

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“Especially in those big sports groups, a lot of times the grades lean into that,” he said.

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Kufeld added that studying can also impact that student's social life.

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“If I have bad grades, I won’t be hanging out with my friends as much. I’d be studying, right?” he said.

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Bruno-Essman said in addition to grades, one of the things he’s seen students struggle with is parental issues.

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“Issues with divorced parents, and the kids not knowing how to deal with it. It’s something that I deal with too. It's hard for the kids,” he said.

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As for resources available to students, the squad highlighted two: 988 and SafeVoice.

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“The resources are almost open 24/7 which I think is awesome because mental health can strike at any time,” Kufeld said.

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Kufeld said a misconception he has heard about mental health is that it is dramatic.

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“A lot of people may say mental health is dramatic and it's overexaggerated. And a lot of those times, those people haven't gone through it at that stage,” he said.

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Kufeld said mental health is like a spectrum.

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“I would definitely say it's not dramatic. It matters, no matter how big or small, you got to make sure something is done about it. Because hiding doesn't do anything,” he said.

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Prieto said “mental health is real” and that people struggle with it every day.

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Vargas highlighted how the squad’s buoy system, which notifies her of someone who may be struggling, can be sent from student to student and student to staff.

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Vargas said the high school is a whole community of students, teachers and staff.

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“We’re for people’s best interest,” she said.

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Continuing community outreach

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The squad will host in-school events and continue outreach efforts with the community.

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“Hope Squad is so much more than just here. It’s communities, it’s outreach programs,” Kufeld said.

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Squad members volunteered at the 2026 Renaissance Faire.

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They also hope to work with other squads in the Elko County School District, like hosting another retreat.

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The school will host its fall Hope Week Nov. 16-19. On Feb. 10, the City proclaimed Feb. 12 as the Day of Hope.

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Vargas said her students are always open to jump in and help.

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“It's their mentality, they jump in. And I love them,” she said.

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Members said Hope Squad is not exclusive to high school students, as anyone of any age can struggle with their mental health.

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“I definitely don’t think Hope Squad should be only for older people. I definitely think it's for any kid, any person. I feel like Hope Squad is for everybody, any age,” Bruno-Essman said.

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Originally published at https://elkodaily.com/news/local/education/article_89f33a57-6adc-4a53-be3d-bc6551196990.html

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