Alumni Night 2024: A Packed House and a Night to Remember

On December 17, the Hillcrest Academy Alumni Association hosted its much-anticipated annual Alumni Night basketball event, and it was nothing short of a roaring success. Despite the final outcomes on the scoreboard, with both our boys’ and girls’ teams facing tough losses, the evening radiated school spirit, camaraderie, and joy as the Hillcrest community came together in full force.

Hillcrest Union was alive with activity and packed to capacity with current students, families, faculty, and an impressive turnout of alumni. Among the attendees, 164 alumni registered for raffle prizes, making this year’s event one of the most well-attended in recent memory. The atmosphere was electric, with cheers and applause echoing through the gym as our teams battled hard on the court, the sounds of the Pep Band and traditional Christmas music playing from the house speakers during breaks.

One of the evening’s highlights was the announcement of the raffle grand prize —two court side tickets to the upcoming Iowa Women’s basketball game against Wisconsin—was awarded to Patty Miller, of the Class of 1972. It was also the first installment of the Putt for Dough contest sponsored by Imagine Therapy Solutions. During halftime of the boys game, Ryan Bontrager ’08 putted the length of the court, putting the golf ball in the hole, winning $100 cash.

Beyond the games and prizes, Alumni Night is about rekindling friendships and celebrating the enduring spirit of Hillcrest Academy. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for graduates to reconnect with their peers, share memories of their time at Hillcrest, and witness how the school continues to thrive and grow.

The Hillcrest Alumni Association would like to thank all our Alumni Night business sponsors along with everyone who came out to make this night so special: Bulltown Repair, Casey’s, Club Car Wash, Crowded Closet, Everence Financial, Farm Refreshed, Federation Bank, First Class Apparel, Freeman Foods, Helmuth Ford, Hills Bank, Hudson’s, Kalona Chocolates, Kalona Coffee House, Kwik Star, Pro Growers Solutions, Scheels, The Appliance Barn, Inc., The Encounter Cafe, Wendell Miller (Skogman Realty).

Also, a special thanks to the volunteers and staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. While the games didn’t end in victory for the Ravens, the night itself was a true win for the entire Hillcrest community. We can’t wait to see you all again next year.