HAPA: Hmong American Peace Academy

We swear we didn't plan it this way, but we JUST posted about HAPA senior Eva Vang, and what are the odds? She ended up making headlines one day later. 😄

Congratulations, Eva, on being featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel! We’re proud to celebrate your medical assistant certificate. 🥳

Six Milwaukee students graduate from high school with medical assistant certificates Six high schoolers graduated with a medical assistant certification from a new program designed to offer them job opportunities and college credit.

Congratulations to our Intermediate School and Middle School Girls on the Run of Southeastern Wisconsin teams on completing their 5K at American Family Field this weekend!

It was a warm but beautiful day, and we loved seeing so many of our girls reach their goals. Way to go, runners — we're so proud of you! 💜

We know National Speech-Language-Hearing Month is technically celebrated in May. We can also tell you that May was a *little* wild around here.

So for one final day, we're officially pretending it's STILL May, so we can celebrate two incredible members of the HAPA team: Our Speech-Language Pathologists, Alicia Kraucunas and Flannery Wheeler.

Also known as Better Hearing and Speech Month, this observance shines a light on communication disorders and the life-changing work of Speech-Language Pathologists, or SLPs.

Let's talk about two SLPs who make a difference for HAPA scholars every single day.

🔹 Alicia Kraucunas

Now in her 11th school year as an SLP, Alicia comes from a family of educators. Inspired in part by her sister, a school psychologist, she knew she wanted to work with children — just in a different role.

"I wanted to work with the kids and find a different way to help them, without necessarily becoming a classroom teacher," Alicia said. "Speech pathology can be in so many different arenas: home health, schools, medical settings ... there are lots of options."

One of the things Alicia loves most about her work is watching scholars grow over time. In fact, she currently works with some seventh-graders whom she's supported since they were in K4.

While many people associate speech therapy with articulation, Alicia's work extends far beyond that. She supports scholars with social communication, language development, fluency and stuttering, and hearing-related needs. Last year, she successfully advocated for a scholar who needed a hearing aid, helping ensure that child had access to the support she needed to thrive.

For Alicia, the field has evolved significantly over the years. Rather than focusing on rigid communication "rules," today's approach recognizes that every person communicates differently.

"When I first started, it was a lot of teaching kids 'the norms' — make eye contact, respond this way, do things this way," Alicia said. "But we've moved away from that because everyone is different. We want kids to feel comfortable in the way they communicate in different environments."

That philosophy is rooted in one of Alicia's biggest goals: Helping HAPA scholars become advocates for themselves.

"It's giving our kids a voice and helping them recognize when they need support," she said. "Or when communication breaks down, and how they can repair those moments in a way that feels authentic to them."

🔹 Flannery Wheeler

Flannery is wrapping up her first school year at HAPA, but her journey to speech-language pathology wasn't a direct one.

Before becoming an SLP three years ago, she worked at a center for children with dyslexia and was previously a middle school language arts teacher. Her interest in the field was sparked by one particular student.

"As a teacher, I had a seventh grader who had Childhood Apraxia of Speech," Flannery said. "I found it fascinating watching how the SLP at our school helped him communicate using an AAC device. I decided I wanted to learn how to help kids with communication myself."

Today, Flannery primarily works with Primary School children, though she and Alicia support HAPA scholars of all ages.

One of the biggest misconceptions about speech-language pathology, she says, is that people assume it's only about helping children pronounce sounds correctly.

"We also help kids with vocabulary, grammar, fluency, and social skills," Flannery said. "Our scope is very broad, so there is a lot to learn."

Her approach varies based on the age of the scholar. With older students, she focuses on direct instruction and guided practice. With younger children, learning often happens through play.

"We might choose a toy from the therapy room and use it to practice language or social skills," Flannery explained. "To a child, it just feels like we're playing. But we're actually working on communication."

Like Alicia, one of Flannery's favorite parts of the job is watching scholars grow: "It is so rewarding to see the progress kids make. I especially love when children learn to say a new sound for the first time."

But beyond the milestones, she treasures the relationships she builds.

"I may be biased," Flannery said, "but I think I get to see some of the sweetest and most hardworking kids in the school."

For anyone considering a career in speech-language pathology, both Alicia and Flannery have a simple message: It's meaningful, rewarding work that changes lives.

Communication is something we all rely on every day. Thanks to dedicated professionals like Alicia and Flannery, HAPA scholars are gaining the skills and confidence they need to make their voices heard. Thank you both, for everything you do for our scholars and families. 💜

Another reminder: the HAPA Cup is coming back! 🚨

Get ready for an exciting day of soccer. 😊

⚽ The tournament format is:
• 6v6 on small fields
• Mid-sized goals
• Teams may register 6-10 players

Need some inspiration? Check out these photos from last year's inaugural HAPA Cup and start getting hyped!

Questions? Ready to register your team? Want all the details? EVERYTHING you need can be found in this link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/2nd-annual-hapa-soccer-cup/items

Just a heads up: Friday, June 5 is the last day to register before prices increase. Don't wait until the last minute ... get your team signed up and locked in today!

See you on the field! ⚽

Ms. Isabelle Stratte's K5 class took home first place in their grade at our recent Primary School Science Fair! How adorable are these proud young scientists celebrating their big win? Here they are showing off their first-place ribbons ... if you needed a reason to smile this Saturday, this is it. 😊

Congratulations to Ms. Stratte and her awesome K5 scholars on a job well done! And a big thank-you to Ms. Stratte for sharing this sweet photo. 📸

Long post alert! HAPA is celebrating the top scholars of the Class of 2026. It made us wonder: What drives our brightest students? What have they learned at HAPA? And where are they headed next? In our "Seniors of HAPA" series, we invite you to get to know these scholars on a deeper level. For the 12th feature of the year, we’d like to say a big thank-you to Ms. Eva Vang for sharing her story with us. New posts are released once a week.

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It should surprise you NOT one bit to learn Eva Vang was crowned the teenage winner of the Miss Hmong Wisconsin Pageant.

If the school held a "Miss HAPA" competition, Eva might be a shoo-in for that title, too.

Just look at everything she's involved in: Eva is taking classes to become a medical assistant through the Boys & Girls Club. Through that program, she works at Froedtert in the Food and Nutrition Services Department. She was a longtime Hmong dancer. She's now graduating in the top 10% of her class and heading toward an emergency medicine path at UW-Madison. Eva's serving her second term as both student government president and Key Club president. She's involved in the newspaper club, the Milwaukee Youth Commission, and HAPA's executive internship with Chief Academic Officer Mr. Brendan Kearney. These are just the major commitments.

The real question is: When does Eva sleep?

She laughed at the idea, especially because she hasn't always been this hyper-involved version of herself.

"I started to grow into this person in high school, beginning freshman year," Eva said. "In middle school, I was a little more laid back. Grades weren’t the number-one thing on my priority list. But I entered high school and wanted to do more with my schoolwork. I realized my main goal was to attend a college that would push me. So everything started taking off right around then."

At the time of this interview, Eva was weighing several out-of-state options, including DePaul and Loyola in Chicago, while waiting to hear back from the University of Michigan and a few of her "reach" schools. Ultimately, UW-Madison won out.

Eva's excited about becoming a Badger while her older sister finishes her final year there.

"I'll know people, and I’ve toured the campus multiple times. I'm familiar with it, yet it'll still be a new experience."

Medicine felt like a natural fit. Health care runs deep in her family. Eva's mother is a nurse. Her aunt is a nurse. Her father's sisters work in the medical field, too.

"It surrounds me!" Eva said.

Her uncle is a chiropractor, and her older sister is pursuing family medicine.

"A lot of it aligns with who I am, too, like being able to provide that patient-provider trust. Or being able to help change someone's life … I’ve always been interested in something like that."

Leaving HAPA will be a major adjustment. Eva started here in K4. She remembers growing up at the school, spending recesses on the blacktop long before many of the newer additions and amenities existed.

For one year, during third grade, her mother wanted to see how she'd do in a different environment. But by fourth grade, Eva had returned.

"My mom realized the pace HAPA went was much faster than the pace at the other school," Eva said. "So she kept me here from then on, and my other siblings, as well."

Now, four of her younger siblings attend HAPA too: A brother in 10th grade, a sister in 7th grade, a brother in third grade, and another brother in first grade. The school has become deeply important to her family, not just academically, but culturally.

"A lot of my siblings don’t realize it now, but I've learned just how important it is to dive into your cultural roots," Eva said. "When I did Hmong dancing, I saw a lot of girls from other schools, and they didn’t know half the things I knew about Hmong culture. And that made me kind of sad. Because maybe they won’t be able to transfer that knowledge to their own children someday, and the history and the stories could start to die out."

She's especially grateful for the way HAPA connected school and home.

"My mom and dad speak fluent Hmong, but they don't really know how to write it. It’s been cool to see how I can connect what I learn at school into my home life. I didn’t realize how impactful that would be."

While Eva’s parents encourage her to succeed, much of her motivation comes from within.

"I’d say it comes from myself, more than anyone. I know what I'm capable of. I know what my limits are, so I don’t ever want to be too comfortable. I want to become the best version of myself. I think my top motivation is my future self."

She also credits HAPA's College and Career team for helping to live out her ambitions.

"It’s really nice to be heard in that way," Eva said. "They support my ideas and career goals. Plus, that staff, I feel really comfortable talking to."

College and Career Director Dr. Taiyani Davis said Eva's been a model scholar when it comes to taking advantage of the school’s support and opportunities.

"Eva is truly a shining star," Dr. Davis remarked. "She has a special gift for surrounding herself with people who are doing amazing things and learning from opportunities that align with her passions and goals. Her dedication, ambition, and positive spirit have led her to accomplish so much already, and this is only the beginning. I am incredibly proud of everything Eva has achieved and cannot wait to see her continue to shine at UW-Madison. The future is so bright for her."

As Eva prepares for graduation, she knows next year will look dramatically different. Her time as Miss Teen Hmong Wisconsin ends around Labor Day, and her journey at HAPA officially comes to a close as of today – the seniors' last day of school, May 29, 2026.

There was a time when she worried about losing her connection to her culture, especially after stepping away from Hmong dancing. Now, she knows that special link isn’t going anywhere.

It's part of who she is. Nearly 14 years at HAPA will do that.

Lately, Eva has been trying to stay present and appreciate each moment while it lasts. After all, nothing is forever. She's learning how to enjoy the experiences while she’s living them.

When asked about a favorite HAPA memory, Eva didn’t mention a major accomplishment or leadership moment. Instead, she smiled.

"You know, a lot comes down to just me laughing and enjoying my time here. It’s the day to day that’s been the very best."

Forever Forward. 💜