Alumni Night Brings Full House and Holiday Spirit to Hillcrest Union

Held each year at the final home basketball game before winter break, Alumni Night at Hillcrest Academy is a celebration in every sense of the word. With former students filling the stands, Christmas music setting a festive tone, and both Ravens girls and boys teams competing on the court, the gym buzzed with energy from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

A total of 157 alumni signed in for the evening, reconnecting with classmates, cheering on current players, and soaking in the familiar sights and sounds of a Hillcrest game night. And the holiday music playing throughout the evening added to the joyful festivities.

On the court, the Ravens split a competitive doubleheader with the Pekin Panthers, as reported by KCII Radio. The girls battled hard but fell to Pekin 40–52, while the boys closed the night with a strong 57–49 win, sending the crowd home on a high note.

As part of the Alumni Night tradition, attendees were invited to take part in prize drawings throughout the evening. The grand prize was won by Dennis Miller ’68, whose name was met with enthusiastic applause. The night also marked the first Putt for Dough contest of the season, sponsored by Imagine Therapy Solutions (Kendra ’99 and Jace Bailey ’00). During halftime of the boys game, Jessica Miller (Jed Miller ’94) stepped up as the contestant and, on her third and final attempt, sank the length-of-the-court putt to win $100 cash. The roar from the crowd nearly lifted the roof.

What’s become a new Alumni Night tradition is the Everence Hillcrest Stewardship Award presentation. Between the varsity games, Rachel Swartzendruber Miller ’98, Vice President of National Markets for Everence, took the floor to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Hillcrest farm. In honor of this milestone, she presented this year’s award to the collective group of alumni and community members whose dedicated support has sustained the farm over the last three decades.

More than the prizes and final scores, Alumni Night continues to highlight the deep connections that endure long after graduation. It was an evening filled with school pride, shared memories, and a strong sense of community, all wrapped in the joy of the Christmas season.