At Vibe, we believe leadership starts with compassion, connection, and a willingness to make a difference in the lives of others.
Through our annual scholarship program, we’re proud to recognize graduating Vibe members who are already creating meaningful impact within their communities while pursuing their educational goals.
Meet Jack Hoppesch, one of our 2026 Vibe Scholarship recipients.For Jack Hoppesch, some of life’s most meaningful lessons started at summer camp.
What began as childhood summers spent at Camp Lakeshore with his younger brother eventually grew into something much bigger: a passion for leadership, mentorship, and creating spaces where others feel connected and included.
As a camper, Jack looked forward to every summer spent outdoors playing games, building friendships, and making memories with his brother. But as he got older, he realized the camp had given him more than just fun experiences. It had created a sense of belonging he wanted future campers to experience, too.
So when the opportunity arose to join the camp’s Counselor in Training program, Jack immediately stepped up, even though the program had not been active in years and required more than 140 volunteer hours.
What followed was more than a summer commitment. Alongside camp leadership, Jack helped rebuild the program from the ground up, refining training materials, improving structure, and creating opportunities for future student leaders. What started with a single volunteer eventually grew into a thriving program that now receives more applicants than available spots.
For Jack, the experience reinforced an important lesson: leadership is not about recognition. It is about building something lasting that continues to positively impact others long after you step away.
That same mindset inspired his Eagle Scout project years later.
Wanting to give back to the parks program that shaped so much of his childhood, Jack partnered with Novi Parks and Recreation to build a GaGa ball pit for Camp Lakeshore’s sister camp, Camp Powerplay. After weeks of planning, organizing volunteers, and leading construction efforts, the project became more than just a physical structure. It became a place where future campers could create the same friendships, laughter, and sense of community he experienced growing up.
Looking back, Jack sees Camp Lakeshore as more than a summer camp. It became the place where he discovered how meaningful it can be to invest in people and create opportunities for others to grow.
This fall, Jack will attend Purdue University, carrying with him the leadership skills, compassion, and community-first mindset he developed over nearly a decade of service and mentorship.
Through every role he has taken on, Jack continues to show that the strongest communities are built when people choose to invest in one another.