Wyman honors Community Partner, The School District of University City, at the 2026 Amplify Gala
Three alumni and two community partners were honored at Wyman’s 2026 Amplify Gala for their extraordinary commitment to young people, the community, and Wyman.
Our community partner honorees represent what it looks like to put hope into action: creating vision, building pathways, and helping young people shape their futures. Through their leadership and collaboration, partners make Wyman’s work possible.
This year, we are proud to recognize our long-standing partner, The School District of University City. We honor their steadfast commitment to supporting the whole student; investing in academics, social emotional learning, and the overall wellness of young people across their district.
For more than 20 years, The School District of University City has been one of Wyman’s most innovative, committed, and forward-thinking partners around student success and wellness. In 2002 they were among the very first districts to nominate teens for what is now the Wyman Leaders program. Since then, they’ve stood with us as collaborators, thought partners, and innovators.
Over the past two decades, The School District of University City has helped launch nearly every major Wyman initiative. They were an early partner in Wyman Leaders, and one of the first partners to implement the Teen Outreach Program (TOP). Starting with just a few clubs, TOP grew quickly when it proved to be an essential space and support for their students.
They were also one of three districts to pilot the Teen Connection Project, helping to shape its research base and strengthen the model. And the School District of University City was a key partner in implementing Wrap Around Services that focused on the overall well-being of students, ensuring they had the resources and support to thrive. This is now embedded as a core district approach.
Today, Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program is delivered to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders at Brittany Woods Middle School, and the Teen Connection Project is delivered at University City High School. University City High School is also one of the partner schools for Wyman Leaders. More than 3,700 district students have participated in at least one Wyman program.
What makes The School District of University City such a powerful partner is their commitment to the whole student. They consistently show a willingness to learn, adapt, and try new approaches – all in service to the wellbeing and joy of their students. Their vision of Learning Reimagined reflects this through their commitment to rigorous and relevant learning, wellness, investment in excellent staff, and the belief that strong community partnerships help students succeed. Because of this commitment, The School District of University City continues to provide wrap-around services by partnering with Wyman, social workers, and therapists; providing relevant trainings for teachers and staff; and equipping schools with wellness tools to support students’ needs.
The School District of University City is constantly thinking outside the box to make sure their students receive the opportunities, support, and encouragement to thrive. We are honored to celebrate a school district whose heart for young people, commitment to whole student support, and spirit of collaboration have helped shape Wyman’s programs, and have ensured their students thrive both academically and socially.
We are proud to recognize The School District of University City and are grateful for their partnership. As Superintendent Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley says, “I get up every day and serve the children because they are my why. It takes all of us working together. We have some audacious problems that we’re grappling with, which require audacious solutions, and schools can’t do it alone. So when we’re able to partner with like-minded nonprofits like Wyman, our staff are able to give that support and have partners work alongside them as we work to educate children.”
Read about all our 2026 Honorees:
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