DISHS celebrates Hope Day as part of Yellow Tulip Project

The annual event seeks raise awareness about mental health awareness and reduce addiction stigma

May 18, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

DEER ISLE—Deer Isle-Stonington High School hosted a Hope Day celebration on May 15 to bring awareness about addiction to students. The event was held in collaboration with the Opiate Free Island Partnership and Yellow Tulip Project

Three guest speakers—Caroline Wybar, Vanessa Tinker and Ashley Bragg— joined students in the DISHS cafeteria to share stories about their battles with addiction.

Photos from right: Participants pose for a photo with Holly the therapy dog; Caroline Wybar, Vanessa Tinker and Ashley Bragg shared their stories; senior Sam Robbins taught and called a line dance. Photos by Jessi Hardy.

“Everyday is a struggle,” said Wybar of her experience of being sober for 16 and a half years.

OFIP Director Ashley Pesak said she hoped the event would help students understand how they could “cope with hard things” and asked each speaker about what gives them hope. The speakers said spending time in nature, talking openly, and leaning on personal connections and relationships were some of the ways they found strength. All of the speakers agreed that sharing your struggles is half the battle.

“A problem shared is a problem cut in half,” speaker Ashley Bragg said.

Students asked the speakers questions before dividing into groups for various activities throughout the rest of the event. Activities included bedazzling narcan packages, glass fusing, playing with therapy dogs, participating in firefighting activities, line dancing, sunflower planting and more. 

Photos from top left: Grace Hardy, an intern with OFIP, showed students how to get started with a key chain she had made; Ember Daniels tries portable water tanks as firefighter Mallory Reese explains the process and how to use it; students Lilia Wendell and Isabelle Teague designed and set a piece for Robbins to fuse during the glass fusing workshop; Holly the therapy dog joined in on the fun. Photos by Jessi Hardy.

Community volunteers helped facilitate the event and social studies teacher Terry Siebert acted as the day's official “Grill Master.”’ The day concluded with a line dance, taught and called by DISHS senior Sam Robbins.