Youth Exploring Success (Y.E.S.),established by the Hamilton Community Foundation,  provides additional support to students as they begin setting goals for their future and preparing for life after high school.  This is a grant funded service provided to a limited number of 9th through 12th grade students who attend either Hamilton Freshmen School or Hamilton High School.  The focus of this personalized service is to help students create a plan for their futures and learn how to reach their goals so they may become successful adults.  A Y.E.S. Advocate is placed in the school to work with identified students in collaboration with the efforts of their families, high school counselors, teachers, administration, and the community.

Lindsey Lassiter is the Y.E.S. Advocate for the Hamilton City Schools.  She earned a  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Xavier University.  Ms. Lassiter was a clincial research coordinator at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital from 2005 to 2011 before accepting the Y.E.S. Advocate position at the Foundation. 

Students and parents welcome the additional assistance.  “Without the Y.E.S. program and Ms. Lassiter, I would be lost.” quipped a senior from Hamilton High School.  Lindsey’s goal for her students is to make the transition from high school to post-secondary education and/or training as easy as possible.  Her work is varied each day as she meets both individually and in group settings with the students who participate in the program. 

School staff members, parents or guardian, and interested students can contact the student’s primary school counselor for the referral form.  Ms. Lassiter will receive the completed form and meet with the student to discuss the program and expectations.