Shaping Her Future While Shaping Policy: Hope Faith Wiggins’ Journey Through Advocacy, Academics, and Online Learning

Hope Faith Wiggins, an 11th grade student at Texas Online Preparatory School (TOPS), is already making an impact far beyond the classroom. A top‑ranked student, youth advocate, and aspiring physician, Hope Faith is using her voice to champion online education, raise awareness for childhood cancer, and prove what’s possible when students are supported in an environment where they can truly thrive.

Recently, Hope Faith received a Certificate of Achievement from Texas Senator Molly Cook, recognizing her leadership and advocacy at the state level. The honor followed Hope Faith’s powerful testimony before the Texas Senate, where she spoke about the importance of continued funding for online K–12 education and shared how virtual learning has been life‑changing for students like her. Her testimony helped inform lawmakers as the bill ultimately passed, followed by a formal resolution by the House of Representatives, marking a meaningful moment where a student’s lived experience directly shaped policy.

For Hope Faith and her family, the recognition represents more than an award; it reflects years of perseverance, growth, and finding the right educational path.

Hope Faith’s journey to TOPS began after years of bullying in traditional brick‑and‑mortar schools. From kindergarten through third grade, the daily stress of negative social experiences took a toll, even as she continued to earn strong grades. When schools temporarily moved online during COVID‑19, everything changed.

In the virtual setting, Hope Faith discovered an environment where she could focus, feel safe, and fully engage in learning. While many students struggled during the transition, Hope Faith continued to excel academically and realized that online learning allowed her to thrive both emotionally and academically. That experience led her family to seek out a fully established online program, ultimately enrolling Hope Faith at TOPS beginning in sixth grade.

The transition proved transformative. According to her mom and learning coach, Maxine Wiggins, TOPS’ middle school teachers provided an exceptional level of support, encouragement, and academic rigor. By the end of eighth grade, Hope Faith had gained the confidence and preparation to test into college through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; an achievement that set her on an extraordinary path.

By age 14, Hope Faith’s first month of high school was also her first month of college.

Today, Hope Faith is simultaneously completing high school at TOPS while taking honors‑level college courses at Lone Star College–University Park. After only one year in college, she currently ranks number one academically in her class and serves as an officer in the National Honor Society, as well as a member of Pi Theta Kappa and the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Her leadership extends well beyond academics. Hope Faith has spent four years working with the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education and Youth Engagement, where she became the youngest student ever accepted into the program. Serving as a youth ambassador focused on mental health advocacy, she continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to public service and community impact.

Hope Faith’s advocacy work is deeply personal. Inspired by the loss of her close friend Bella to childhood cancer in 2018, she has made it her mission to ensure that no child feels forgotten during treatment. Each year, she donates a new American Girl doll to a child battling cancer on her birthday, the same day Bella passed: a tradition rooted in compassion, remembrance, and hope.

A lifelong American Girl doll collector, Hope Faith has even incorporated her hobby into learning. Through stop‑motion videos, photography, fashion courses, and TOPS’ Genius Hour, she strengthened her communication skills and creativity while staying engaged academically. Being nurtured by supportive teachers and a welcoming learning environment has allowed Hope to show up authentically, confidently, and ready to lead.

Looking ahead, Hope Faith dreams of earning her associate degree while completing high school at TOPS, with a dream to attend Rice University upon graduation. A goal inspired by her Houston roots, family support close by, and Rice’s strong track record of preparing students for medical school. Her long‑term ambition is to become a pediatric oncologist, improving outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer. She believes that a childhood cancer diagnosis should never be a death sentence, and she is determined to be part of the solution.

Hope Faith’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when students are met with understanding, flexibility, and high expectations. With the encouragement of her mother and father, the dedication of her teachers, and the opportunities provided through TOPS, Hope Faith Wiggins is not only excelling academically: she’s changing lives.

We are proud to celebrate Hope Faith’s achievements and honored to support her continued journey.

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