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Hosting Young Philosophy Enthusiasts
March 19, 2026 

HYPE

EQ: How Does Power Affect/Influence/Shape the Morals of Our Society? 

Sub Essential Questions

  • What makes an empathetic person?

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HYPE Conference at the University of New Hampshire: A Student-Run Event Exploring Empathy and Its Impact on the World Around Us

Durham, NH – [March 19, 2026] – Ethics Forum, a dedicated group of students from Souhegan High School, is proud to present the HYPE Conference of 2026 at the University of New Hampshire. The event, which will take place on March 19th, is designed to bring together young philosophy enthusiasts to engage in thought-provoking discussions on empathy and its role in shaping our interactions with the world.

HYPE stands for Hosting Young Philosophy Enthusiasts, and this year’s conference revolves around the essential question: “How does having empathy affect our interactions with the world around us?” The event will feature a series of discussions run by student facilitators allowing participants to explore the complexities of empathy in various contexts, from personal relationships to societal issues. 

This student-run initiative is the culmination of months of planning, preparation, and collaboration by the Ethics Forum at Souhegan High School. The conference will also feature a teacher workshop, which is run by students from the ethics forum, who will be sharing what we do at our school with others. 

The HYPE Conference is open to high school students with a passion for philosophy and the impact of empathy on our society. Those interested in attending are encouraged to join us next year, as an attendee or a facilitator.

About Ethics Forum at Souhegan High School:
The Ethics Forum is a student-run organization at Souhegan High School dedicated to fostering open and thoughtful discussions on ethical issues in today's world. Throughout the school year, we host conferences to help our understanding of the world around us. Through conferences, and other events, the group encourages students to think critically, engage with diverse perspectives, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

 

2026 H.Y.P.E
MC's

Our 2026 H.Y.P.E. MCs have shown a lot of commitment to our Ethics Forum at Souhegan High School, which is why they were picked to be an MC at H.Y.P.E.

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Aoife McAllister

This will be Aoife’s fourth year at HYPE! She is a part of the Girls Tennis team, an active member in Ethics Forum and takes a huge liking to communication. HYPE is important to her because of the opportunities to meet and learn new people, including their perspectives on interesting topics.

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Sophia Yates

This will be Sophia’s fourth year attending HYPE! She is a member of the girls tennis team, is part of the theater club, NHS, is an active member of the Ethics Forum, and holds important roles in the school's concert band. HYPE is important to her because she wants everyone to have a voice and know that the things they say matter.

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Isabelle Miller

This will be Isabelle’s 4th time attending HYPE. She is currently the Community Service Coordinator for the Souhegan Chapter of the National Honor Society, the director of the Souhegan Valley CROP Walk, and a figure skater. Her favorite aspect of HYPE is that it gives students a place to talk about important topics without feeling uncomfortable.

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Logan St.Denis

This year will be Logan’s fourth time attending HYPE! Whether it’s captain of the XC, vice president of Student Activities Committee, or Student Grade Representative of Community Council, Logan loves to be a leader. Logan hopes students gain a widened perspective of the world and people’s interpretations.

Guest speaker announced soon...

Thank you to our sponsors

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About The Event

The HYPE Conference started as a Senior Project back in 2009 that was hosted in a hallway at Souhegan High School with only a handful of students. From that hallway, we have grown to host 1,200 students and faculty, who are interested in student voice and leadership, at the University of New Hampshire Durham. HYPE is an opportunity for high school students to have meaningful philosophical discussions centered on ethics and civil discourse. HYPE takes philosophy from the classroom and puts it directly in students’ hands. Each year, participants travel to UNH for a day of intense discussion and philosophical debate centered on a guiding question. This year's Essential Question is "How does having empathy affect our interactions with the world around us?” HYPE is unique because the conference is not only an incredible experience for the students who attend but also a huge step for high school students who choose to facilitate. Hype as a conference is entirely student-run and designed, aside from support from our academic and faculty advisers. These students have put in countless hours to produce content comparable to the professional world outside of secondary education. This is a leadership experience unlike any other, and alumni take this experience and apply it to wherever their endeavors take them. The HYPE program hosts 30+ different schools from across the North East region. Ethics Forum also receives aid organizing the event from several student leaders in surrounding towns as well as a plethora of amazing sponsors and local organizations
    

Questions?
Email us at ethicssouhegan@gmail.com
Note: we are still getting some HYPE 2025 details finalized, thank you for your patience

2025 HYPE Pictures 

Student Testimonies Announced Soon 

Location: Hamel Recreation Center at UNH Durham, New Hampshire

Downloads 

Main School: 603-673-9940

412 Boston Post Rd, Amherst, NH 03031

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