Upper Arlington High School will dedicate a permanent memorial garden on Sept. 4, honoring Sam Short and other students who died during their school years, according to UA Schools.
The Hope Garden, located near the south entrance of Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium between the high school building and the tennis courts, will be dedicated at 5:30 p.m. in a brief ceremony hosted by the Upper Arlington Education Foundation, Upper Arlington Schools and the Short family.
Sam Short, son of Mike and Tori Short, was the first graduate of UAHS's 100th class. He died in April 2024. His personal motto was "you can do hard things."
His family worked with the district, landscape architect Aaron Chew, Cornwell Landscaping and the high school administration to build a space for reflection and remembrance. The garden is intended as a peaceful place where students, families, staff and community members can pause in times of heartache, find hope in difficult moments and honor the memories of those they have lost, according to UA Schools.
The project was funded entirely through community donations to the Hope Garden Fund, administered by the UA Education Foundation. The foundation announced the partnership on Jan. 21 via Instagram, opening donations to the public. A community Facebook post estimated the total cost at roughly $175,000.
Chief Operating Officer Greg Thompson first presented the garden concept to the UA Board of Education on Jan. 13. At that meeting, the Short family shared their vision for a place "where beauty, comfort and hope can grow side by side."
That vision is now concrete. Donations remain open and are 100% tax-deductible at UAEducationFoundation.com/hopegarden.
Coming up
- Friday, Sept. 4, 5:30 p.m. — Hope Garden dedication ceremony, Upper Arlington High School (near south entrance of Marv Moorehead Memorial Stadium)
