The Outsider’s by S.E. Hinton made its way into Ohio reading curriculum in the 1980s and continues to make a big impact today. Back in 2024, the musical adaptation broke numerous records and won four Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical. The story’s themes of identity, empathy, and resilience are still shaping young lives today. While the story of Ponyboy and Johnny has lived on in classrooms for decades, its impact is now reaching students in a more personal and immediate way through experiences beyond the page and stage.
The Stay Gold Project is an educational initiative inspired by the story of The Outsiders, created to help underwrite student tickets to the Tony Awardwinning production during its national tour. “Special” and “amazing’ were words used to describe May 12, when students from around Northeast Ohio whose compassion and leadership embodied the themes at the heart of the show were recognized. Approximately 200 students, family members, and advisors gathered for a special performance of The Outsiders. Before the curtain rose, an intimate preshow conversation with cast members was held to celebrate and honor the “Stay Gold” award recipients. Attendees included a diverse group of middle and high school students, along with their families and affiliated clubs, making the evening a meaningful celebration of youth, storytelling, and community.
Students and educators alike shared powerful reflections on what it means to “Stay Gold” and how the experience impacted them. For Dallas, a student at Manchester High School, the phrase is a reminder “to not let anything tarnish who you are – be yourself and don’t let anyone ruin that for you.” Learning about his nomination came as a complete surprise. He recalled being handed a letter on his way to English class, initially confused until his theater director explained its significance. “It was really exciting to know that he saw me like that,” he said, describing the moment as both affirming and meaningful. Similarly, Ophelia, a student at Memorial Middle School, defined “Stay Gold” as “just being yourself” and not being afraid to express who you are. The experience has encouraged her to continue helping others while staying true to herself. After being nominated, she was inspired to read The Outsiders for the first time, calling it a story she “absolutely loved” and expressing her excitement to attend the event.
For educators like Kevin Hogue, principal at Bloomfield High School, the Stay Gold Project represents an opportunity to open doors for students in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. He highlighted the strength of his school’s drama program and the community that supports it, noting how meaningful it was for students - many of whom were visiting downtown Cleveland or seeing Lake Erie for the first time - to experience something so new. “For our kids, stuff like this is a once in a lifetime experience,” he said, emphasizing their gratitude and excitement, especially since The Outsiders is a favorite among many of them. Colleen Gromek, an educator at Garfield Middle School in Lakewood, echoed this sentiment, sharing how her Mock Trial team connected deeply with the novel through their work. Students gained confidence, pushed past their fears, and discovered their ability to succeed in unfamiliar challenges, paralleling the themes of the story itself. Reflecting on the program’s impact, she said it made students feel “validated” and embraced by their community, offering them a rare opportunity to engage with professional theater and feel celebrated for their growth.
At its core, the message of “Stay Gold” continues to resonate because it asks something simple yet powerful of young people: to remain authentic, compassionate, and true to themselves. What began as a novel read in classrooms has grown into something much more dynamic, connecting students not only to a story, but to each other and to their own sense of purpose. Through experiences like the Stay Gold Project, students are learning about empathy and resilience. As these students return to their schools and communities, they carry that message forward with them, shaping a future rooted in confidence, kindness, and connection. In a world that often asks young people to change, the reminder remains clear: stay gold.
The following schools who participated in the program include: Brady Middle School, Carrollton High School, Louisville High School, Independence High School, Glen Oak High School, Bio-Med Science Academy, Beachwood City Schools, Rittman Middle School, Garfield Middle School, Berkshire Middle School, Lakeview Middle School, Manchester High School, Rootstown Middle School, Holy Name High School, Euclid Middle School, Bloomfield HS/MS, Westpark Community Middle School, Niles Middle School, Lake Middle School, St. Peter’s Middle School, St. Joseph High School.