Hilton Head Christian Academy’s commitment to developing confident, capable young women extends beyond the classroom—and for the past eight years, that commitment has been powerfully expressed through its partnership with SASS GO.

Through the generosity of the Izant Family Foundation, HHCA has worked alongside SASS GO to provide personal safety and self-defense training at no cost to 1st–12th-grade girls, HHCA moms, and female faculty and staff.

What began as an opportunity to offer an afternoon of self-defense training to a small group of HHCA girls has grown into a transformational program, equipping over 900 girls and women with practical skills, heightened awareness, and the confidence to navigate the world around them.

On April 18, 2026, HHCA's impact was recognized at SASS GO's annual On the Banks Gala, where HHCA received the inaugural Guardian Impact Award, celebrating its deep commitment to protecting and empowering young women.

We were so excited to honor HHCA with the 2026 Guardian Impact Award, and showcase the bold leadership and love HHCA has continued to pour out year after year. The video shared at the gala honoring HHCA and their commitment to protecting their community of girls truly moved the room. The response from attendees was powerful, and it was clear that HHCA's work resonated in a meaningful and lasting way.

Shannon Henry, SASS GO President/Founder

At its core, the SASS GO program is about more than physical self-defense. It equips girls with situational awareness, decision-making skills, and the confidence to use their voice—tools that are just as vital as any physical technique. From elementary-aged girls learning foundational principles to high school students engaging in more advanced training, each session is designed to meet girls where they are and prepare them for real-world situations.

The confidence, awareness, and strength that is cultivated in our girls through SASS GO is vital. While we may never fully know the scope of the impact SASS GO programming has had over the past 8 years, I am confident it has made a profound and lasting difference. 

- Steve Bryant, HHCA Director of Security 

In addition to equipping participants with practical skills, HHCA's SASS GO trainings have fostered a unique sense of community. By including moms, faculty, and staff, the trainings offered over the past 8 years have created a shared experience that has strengthened relationships and reinforced a culture of care and accountability. At the conclusion of each program, participants have found themselves not only more prepared, but more connected—to one another and to a shared mission of looking out for others.

For HHCA, this partnership reflects a deeper purpose: to educate students academically and to equip them to live with wisdom, courage, and discernment. Programs like SASS GO align directly with that mission, helping students understand their value, trust their instincts, and act with confidence in challenging situations.

We are grateful to be the first recipient of SASS GO's Guardian Impact Award. It reflects lives impacted, confidence built, and a culture of safety and empowerment that continues to grow within the HHCA community. We are also grateful to the Izant Family Foundation for their vision and generosity in making this program possible year after year. Together, we are not only teaching girls how to stay safe—we are equipping them to stand strong, support one another, and walk confidently in who God created them to be.

Doug Langhals, HHCA Head of School

As HHCA celebrates this honor, it remains committed to raising young women of courage, conviction, and confidence—prepared not only for college and career, but for life.

Learn more about SASS GO initiatives: I Will Survive Weekend, explore The Banks