Remembering Sophie
Sophie Hack MacLeod
“Friend of Children Award” for The Sophie Fund
The Sophie Fund received the 2025 Friend of Children Award from the New York Association of School Psychologists at NYASP’s annual conference on November 13.
“The Sophie Fund has demonstrated unwavering commitment to transforming the lives of young people facing mental health challenges,” said Conference Co-Chair Taylor Ayres at the NYASP awards ceremony. “This exceptional nonprofit organization works tirelessly to create a vibrant community where young people thrive by supporting and enhancing mental well-being throughout the greater Ithaca area. Their innovative work exemplifies the spirit of this award by placing children’s well-being at the center of everything they do.”
Ayres cited The Sophie Fund’s “comprehensive approach, which includes implementing impactful mental health initiatives, reducing stigma around mental illness, advancing a Zero Suicide ethos, and serving as dedicated community advocates.”
Beth Taplitz, an Ithaca-based conference committee member, thanked The Sophie Fund for “your compassion and willingness to always be a resource for support whether it’s sharing resources via email, talking on the phone, or paying for professional development for local professionals.”
Taplitz added: “In Ithaca, we have seen and experienced The Sophie Fund’s community outreach first-hand, with students at our local schools and the larger community.”
Scott MacLeod, co-founder of The Sophie Fund, expressed his gratitude for NYASP’s recognition. He said the award was especially meaningful because his organization regards school psychologists as true heroes on the front lines every day meeting the challenges of youth mental health. He noted that the digital era and the accompanying spike in youth anxiety and depression makes the work of school psychologists even more difficult and necessary.
Beth Taplitz, Scott MacLeod, Taylor Ayres
NYASP’s 2025 conference, “School Psychologists Blazing Trails Together,” took place at the Downtown Ithaca Conference Center from November 13-15.
The Friend of Children Award is presented by the NYASP conference in appreciation of a local individual or organization whose dedication and work supports the lives of children and their families.
Per the tradition of supporting a local charity that aligns with its mission, NYASP also donated $1,258.10 in proceeds from its conference raffle to The Sophie Fund.
NYASP’s mission is to serve children, their families and the school community by promoting psychological well-being, excellence in education, and sensitivity to diversity through best practices in school psychology.
The Sophie Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the mental well-being of young people in the greater Ithaca community. It is named for Sophie Hack MacLeod, a Cornell University student who died by suicide in Ithaca in 2016.
Thank You, Cupcake Contest Sponsors!
The Sophie Fund extends its gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Visions Federal Credit Union, Cayuga Health, Well Said Media, Maguire Family of Dealerships, and Wegmans for supporting the 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest. Thank you for once again championing the mental health mission in our community!
Cupcake Joy, 2025 Edition
We’re celebrating 10 years of the Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest! Here’s a slideshow from the latest edition held in the Ithaca Commons on October 18, 2025.
Registration Team for 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest
Madelyne entering her “Pumpkin Chai Cupcakes”
Kirstan Brodie’s “Apple of My Pie Cupcakes”
Jonica LeRoux entering her “Bear Paw’s Smoky Sugar Shack Cupcakes”
Katy Holloway’s “The Pineapple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree Cupcakes”
Lucia entering her “Halloween Cupcakes”
Anayeli Newton’s “S’mores Cupcakes”
Bethanie Keem-Calhoun’s “Mimosa Cupcakes”
Rebecca DeGroat entering her “Happy 250th Birthday Marine Corps Cupcakes”
Sadie Hays’s “Mount Merapi Cupcakes”
Kyra O’Toole entering her “Fall Forest Cupcakes”
Hudson, Paxton, and Gamay’s “Harry Potter Cupcakes”
Lydia Mentzer’s “Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes”
Megan Martinez’s “Pumpkin’ed Up Salted Caramel Cheesecake Cupcakes”
Alecia Sundsmo’s “Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes”
Isaac Ortiz’s “Dubai Chocolate Cupcakes”
Tabitha Gray’s “Orange Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes”
Village at Ithaca’s Razzmatazz Rainbow Cupcakes”
Dawn Kracht’s “A Taste of Fall Cupcakes”
Cupcakes awaiting the judges
Juju B’s Sweets’s “Joy Cupcakes”
Travis Bohmer’s “Apple Pie, Oh My! Cupcakes”
Sophie Fund giveaways for the contestants
Sophie Fund volunteers
Event planner Cara Nichols and friends
Awards Ceremony Emcee Gabriella da Silva Carr and sidekick-in-lederhosen Ben Sandberg
Wegmans pastry chefs Savannah and Natalie conduct a cupcake decorating workshop
Mastering the art of piping floral decorations
Wegmans decorating workshop cupcakes ready to eat
Let the judging begin (with a Corgi named Gnocchi standing guard)
So many cupakes, so little time
Drum roll, please, for the final round of judging!
Molly receiving the Autumn Magic Award
Kate Bagnell receiving the 3rd Place Award for her “Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes”
Sadie Hays receiving the Honorable Mention Award for her “Mount Merapi Cupcakes”
Katy receiving the Honorable Mention Award for her “The Pineapple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree Cupcakes”
Marina Mahashin and Amin Lopez Luna receiving the Honorable Mention Award for their “Coco-Mango Sticky Rice Cupcakes”
The Sophie Fund Team
Be Kind Ithaca finding new ways to spread the message
And that’s a wrap: “Elvis has left the Pavilion“
Ithaca Cupcakes 2025: Special Awards
Contestants in the 10th Annual Ithaca Cupcake Baking Contest on October 18 dazzled the judges with their creations! Congratulations to these winners of Special Awards!
Special Awards
The Guac Star Award
Lydia Mentzer
The Sorting Hat Choice Award
Hudson, Paxton, and Gamay
Flavor Bouquet Award
Madelyne Myers
Slice of Pi Award
Kirstan Brodie
Autumn Magic Award
Molly Maher
Spooktacular Sweet Treat Award
Lucia O’Toole
Vivacious Vegan Delight Award
Juju B’s Sweets
Orange Explosion Award
Tabitha Gray
Spirit of Service Award
Rebecca DeGroat
Power in Every Bite Award
Alecia Sundsmo
Sky’s The Limit Award
Village at Ithaca
Lydia Mentzer’s “Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes,” chocolate cakes with guacamole-colored frosting.
Hudson, Paxton, and Gamay’s “Harry Potter Cupcakes,” vanilla sponge cakes with beer-flavored buttercream frosting topped with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin scarves and pretzel stick wands.
Madelyne Myers’s “Pumpkin Chai Cupcakes,” pumpkin, ginger, nutmeg, and chocolate cakes, with brown sugar cream cheese frosting.
Kirstan Brodie’s “Apple of My Pie Cupcakes,” cinnamon-spiced cakes studded with juicy apple chunks topped with a “pie crust” of salted brown butter cream cheese frosting.
Molly Maher’s “Between Seasons Cupcakes,” chocolate spice cakes with orange marmalade filling topped with chocolate cream cheese frosting and grated candied orange.
Lucia O’Toole’s “Halloween Cupcakes,” dark chocolate cakes and chocolate frosting with Halloween decorations.
Juju B’s Sweets’s “Joy Cupcakes,” cocoa and apple sauce cakes studded with toasted almonds topped with coconut-flavored frosting, sweetened coconut flakes and almond slivers.
Tabitha Gray’s “Orange Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes,” chocolate cakes with orange filling and an orange buttercream frosting.
Rebecca DeGroat’s “Happy 250th Birthday Marine Corps Cupcakes,” carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting and gold and red sprinkles.
Alecia Sundsmo’s “Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes,” chocolate vegan cakes with chocolate icing and a vegan marshmallow on top.
Village at Ithaca’s “Razzmatazz Rainbow Cupcakes,” blue raspberry confetti cakes and Italian meringue frosting topped with meringue clouds and blue raspberry and sour candy.
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