Virtual Academic & Fine Arts Awards Night

The Hillcrest Academy Academic & Fine Arts Awards Night looked a little different this year. Wait, it looked a lot different this year! Absent was the dress-up fanfare of years past, no student ushers to greet you at the doors of Celebration Hall, no live music pieces performed by our many talented students, no eruption of applause after each award, no cookie and lemonade reception to celebrate afterwards.

But even with all these changes, the evening proved to be a great celebration in recognition of Hillcrest Academy’s hard-working students. The virtual event was done through the Zoom platform with Business Instructor and IT Coordinator, Angela Snakenberg digitally conducting the evening. Administrative Assistant, Marissa Unruh, put together a wonderful slideshow of the students to accompany the progression of awards. A special thanks to these two!

As in years past, the ceremony was hosted by Hillcrest Academy’s National Honor Society under the direction of Math Instructor and NHS Sponsor, Lynn Yoder. This year Jesse Slater did a superb job as emcee for the evening, Mia Graber gave a warm opening welcome, and Abby Fritz closed the evening with a heartfelt prayer. 

The following students were awarded Outstanding Student awards: Drew Blauvelt (Agriculture), Kaylee Shafer (Art & Bible), Bronze Slabach (Business), Jesse Slater (Math), Ainsley Shaw (Music), Toby Chen & Jesse Slater, (Science), Yuli Montes de Oca (Social Studies), Mia Graber (Spanish).

The Iowa State Bar American Citizenship Award went to Mia Graber and the Bernie Saggau Award went to Kobe Borntrager.

Many other awards and recognitions were also given along with current junior students Meredith Blossom, Aaron Hershberger, John Hughes, Sophie Marshall, Sarah Miller, Eli Ours, Kennedy Roth, Elizabeth Slater, Aidan Yoder being inducted as the newest members of the Hillcrest Academy NHS.

We at Hillcrest have good reason to be proud of our students. Every year the Academic & Fine Arts Awards Night reminds us of their many achievements! #hillcrestunited