GRADUATION - MAY 21ST, 2026
Most high schools celebrate what students achieved. We celebrate who they became.
Graduation at Archway Academy is more than a ceremony. It is the celebration of every hard day, every honest moment, and every choice to keep going. For many of our graduates, this day once felt out of reach — and watching them walk that stage is one of the most moving experiences of our year.
Graduation
More than a ceremony. A celebration of transformation.
Graduation at Archway Academy marks the culmination of not only academic achievement, but the deep personal healing each student has embraced on their recovery journey. Every student who crosses this stage has done something remarkable — they chose to get well, and they chose to stay in school while doing it.
Each year, we gather with families, friends, educators, counselors, and recovery staff to honor the extraordinary courage it takes for a teen to choose sobriety and to stay committed to it. Our students don't just cross the stage with a diploma in hand. They cross it as changed people. Empowered. Hopeful. Ready for what comes next — with a foundation built on honesty, accountability, and purpose.
"At Archway, we often say we witness miracles — and nowhere is that more evident than on graduation day."
A School. A Community. A Family.
Graduation is a shared victory.
It belongs to the student who showed up even on the hardest days. It belongs to the families who kept showing love and support. It belongs to the staff who never stopped believing. And it belongs to the recovery community that wrapped around each student and reminded them they are never alone.
For many of our graduates, this moment once felt out of reach. But through daily effort, peer support, clinical guidance, and belief in themselves, they made it. And watching them walk that stage — cheered on by everyone who loves them — is one of the most moving experiences of our year.
Hear from Our Valedictorian
Harper
Sobriety date: November 4, 2022
"I'm so grateful to be here. Nothing that's happened before Archway — and maybe nothing that happens after — has or will have a bigger influence on who I am as a person."
Despite receiving the honor of valedictorian, Harper was quick to note that grades are just numbers — and numbers don't reflect the courage, growth, and resilience of the people on that stage with her. In her speech, she spoke of her brother Nathan, who received the same honor posthumously, and whose memory shaped her path to Archway and to this milestone.
Her words — honest, humble, and full of hard-won wisdom — are a reminder of why graduation at Archway is unlike any other.
"This school understands something that most places don't: that grades are just numbers, and numbers don't tell you anything about the amazing people sitting on this stage with me. That's what made it possible for all of us to be here today."
Graduation Awards
Where achievement meets courage.
Each year, Archway presents awards that reflect not only academic achievement, but the courage, growth, and heart our students have shown along the way. Every award is named for someone who shaped Archway Academy — and the students who receive them carry those legacies forward.
Sasha Coles Award
Awarded to a student who has an outstanding impact on the classroom and the recovery community — with unrelenting dedication to the principles of recovery.
Sasha Coles served as Archway Academy's Executive Director for over 15 years, shaping and transforming countless families and students. Her leadership extended beyond our walls, driving policy changes and influencing the adolescent treatment landscape across the country.
John Redford Award
Awarded to a parent with a warm heart and never-ending support for their child and the Archway community — with unrelenting service and unyielding love.
John Redford, a devoted parent whose son attended Archway Academy, was a true champion and ambassador for our mission. He served as a dedicated member of our Board of Directors, always offering his time, voice, and unwavering support.
T. Greg Hambrick Award
Awarded to a student with outstanding service to their community — always willing to help and showing a great attitude while serving.
Greg Hambrick was Senior Warden of Palmer Church, and helped form the special team that explored the idea of a recovery high school in Houston. His vision and leadership were instrumental in Archway's inception, and he served as a founding member of our Board of Directors.
John Fenoglio Award
Awarded to a student with an outstanding commitment to recovery principles and accountability — someone not afraid to tell it like it is.
John Fenoglio, a founding board member and parent, single-handedly funded Archway Academy's first-year operating budget — making it possible to hire an Executive Director and open our doors. His generosity and commitment continue today through his active involvement in our annual events.
Tammer Malaty Award
Awarded to a student who embodies the true spirit of perseverance through resilience and tenacity.
A longtime Archway Academy employee, Tammer Malaty founded the Adventure Learning Program and later Malaty Therapy, impacting hundreds of young people throughout Houston. His dedication, innovation, and care have left a lasting mark on our community.
John Putnam Award
Awarded to a student who embodies transformation — someone rising from the ashes and growing into something amazing.
One of Archway's longest-serving board members and a past chairman, John Putnam was instrumental in driving the organization forward. He played a key role in establishing our golf tournament as a signature annual event, strengthening both our community and our mission.
Universities attended by Archway graduates
Graduation is coming.
Details about our 2025–2026 graduation ceremony — including date, time, and location — will be announced in the spring semester. Families will receive invitations, cap and gown information, and RSVP instructions from the Archway team.
Get ready to celebrate one of the most meaningful milestones in the Archway journey.