When most high school seniors picture their final year, they think about football games, prom photos, college applications, and making memories with friends before graduation. For Fort Mill High senior Chase Barrington-Hughes, those moments mattered too — but he also set his sights on something much bigger than himself.
At the beginning of his senior year, Chase wrote down a list of goals he hoped to accomplish before graduation. It was ambitious by any standard.
He wanted to continue serving on Student Council to help lead school spirit and events. He traded his free period for AP Statistics because he believed challenging himself mattered. He earned a coveted spot on the UDP spirit squad, cheering on athletes and energizing the student section. He stepped into a leadership role as a captain on the Fort Mill High lacrosse team, helping strengthen the defense and mentor younger players.
He pursued academic excellence, leadership, service, and character with equal intensity. Along the way, he earned the prestigious Air Force ROTC Scholarship, secured acceptance into outstanding universities in both the United States and England, and he is pursuing his dream appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. He made Homecoming Court. He invested in friendships that mean the world to him. He mentored students at Sugar Creek Elementary. And somehow, amid the chaos of senior year, with all of the Air Force interviews and rigorous application process, he continued dedicating himself to a mission that has profoundly changed his life.
For the third consecutive year, Chase was selected for the St. Jude Leadership Society Charlotte cohort — an honor that allows students to learn leadership, fundraising, service, and advocacy while supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
But this year comes a with a challenge.
By May 13, Chase hopes to raise another $3,000, bringing his total fundraising impact to $10,000 for the children and families of St. Jude.
The timeline is short. The goal is steep. And after balancing one of the busiest senior years imaginable, he now finds himself racing against the clock — needing to raise roughly $450 each day until the deadline.
This is where the community can help.
What makes Chase’s effort especially meaningful is that this is not a requirement for a grade, a scholarship, or recognition. It is something he chose because he believes deeply in the mission. After visiting St. Jude twice and learning firsthand about the groundbreaking research and compassionate care taking place there, Chase and his family say they will be forever changed.
“No family should have to worry about how to pay for treatment while their child is fighting for their life,” Chase said. “St. Jude gives families hope when they need it most.”
He wants more students to discover the opportunity to grow as leaders while making a real difference in the lives of children battling catastrophic illnesses.
If you are able, please consider donating. Every contribution moves him closer to his goal and helps support the extraordinary work happening at St. Jude.
To support Chase’s fundraiser, visit:
http://fundraising.stjude.org/goto/ChaseBH4StJude
Sometimes the most important lesson a young person can learn is that leadership is not about recognition — it is about service. Chase has spent his senior year proving exactly that.
