enlighten.enlighten. inspire. inspire. achieve. achieve. CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS SpringSummer 2021 2018 AA Publication Publication from from Hillsboro Hillsboro Independent Independent School School District District Accolades Edition this issue VIRTUAL UIL COMPETITION • PAGE 3 HILL COUNTY FAIR • PAGES 8-9 CHOOSE LOVE • PAGE 11 2 CONNECTIONS Spring 2021 HISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION STILL AT WORK DESPITE PANDEMIC his year has been a little bit different for everyone including the Hillsboro ISD Education Foundation T (HISDEF) when it comes to raising funds and hosting events. Due to COVID-19, events that the HISDEF would normally host as fundraisers were unable to take place, such as the Daddy-Daughter Dance. The pandemic hasn’t stopped them from giving back to our students and staff! HISDEF awarded over $13,000 in classroom grants at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year which allowed teachers to utilize items earlier in the school year. Laura Popp and Amanda Rounsavall were awarded scholarships for continuing their education and the top 10% of seniors will still receive scholarships upon graduation. Campus grants will be given closer to the end of the school year and are usually for larger ticket items that can be ultilized by the whole campus. Pam Hamilton, HISDEF President, said that COVID-19 has resulted in decreased revenue for the organization and the disappointment of not being able to have fundraising events that have become highly anticipated in the community. “Despite these trials, we have been able to continue giving back to our students and schools,” Hamilton said. “Through the continued support of HISD staff and the community, we will persevere and strive to move forward in our mission to support HISD teachers and students.” As well as the annual staff drive and community donation drive, the organization did receive a large donation from Atmos Energy that will go toward Pre-K-3rd grade English-Language Arts. Atmos also donated back- packs and water bottles that were distributed to campuses and will be given out. CONNECTIONS Spring 2021 3 UIL Competitions Held Virtually ike lots of things in our world, academic UIL L competitions have changed over the years, but this CONNECTIONS year was very successful considering the pandemic. Connections is published by The Hillsboro Reporter as Rather than traveling to one a courtesy to the Hillsboro Independent School District. location for competition, each For additional copies of Connections, please contact school stayed on their own The Hillsboro Reporter at (254) 582-3431. campuses to compete in the Hillsboro Independent School District events. Paper-based test events 121 E. Franklin St. Hillsboro, TX 76645 were completed and scored Phone: (254) 582-8585 Fax: (254) 582-4165 using a digital grading www.hillsboroisd.org program. Writing events were Superintendent: Vicki Adams completed on Chromebooks [email protected] Hillsboro High School and speaking events were 1600 Abbott Ave. Hillsboro, TX 76645 recorded before both got Phone: (254) 582-4100 www.hhs.hillsboroisd.org submitted for judging. The host Principal: Greg Gummelt school was responsible for [email protected] Hillsboro Junior High School ranking the results. 210 E. Walnut St. Hillsboro, TX 76645 Phone: (254) 582-4120 Katherine Garza, a coordinator for the academic UIL www.hjhs.hillsboroisd.org Principal: Patrick Harvell competitions at Hillsboro Junior High School, said that this year [email protected] provided unique challenges but it was a successful remote Hillsboro Intermediate School competition year. 1000 Old Bynum Rd. Hillsboro, TX 76645 Phone: (254) 582-4170 “UIL is a stressful day for both the students and the teachers,” www.his.hillsboroisd.org Principal: Stephanie Tucker Garza said. “We’re at another school, [email protected] making sure that students are where Hillsboro Elementary School 115 Jane Lane Hillsboro, TX 76645 they need to be and all that goes Phone: (254) 582-4140 www.hes.hillsboroisd.org along with UIL competitions, but this Principal: Robin Ralston format allowed our students to be [email protected] Franklin Elementary School in their own space and with familiar 103 Country Club Dr. Hillsboro, TX 76645 faces.” Phone: (254) 582-4130 www.fes.hillsboroisd.org PreK Coordinator/Daycare For students, not only were they Director: Michelle Steele in their regular school environment, [email protected] there were no scheduling conflicts so they could participate in as many Connections is created by events as they wanted. This allowed Cami Steele, Designer/Writer/ Photographer those students that were Lised Cruz, Practicum Student, Designer/Writer/ quarantined to participate by doing Photographer the events at home following the same schedule as the campus. This format also allowed students not to miss a day of learning and only required a couple of teachers to administer the competitions. 4 illsboro ISD hosted a Creative Arts Fair for all students in the district. In a normal year, the fair would have been a part of the Hill County Fair, but due to COVID, H only the stock show portion took place at the fairgrounds. Each campus had its own competition with cash prizes. In total, there were 297 entries throughout the district from candy to candles and everything in between. “We have so many talented students here at Hillsboro ISD,” Jo Hayes, one of the masterminds behind the arts fair, said. “We look forward to showing off our students at the Hill County Fair, so with it not being hosted, we wanted to provide a way for them to showcase their skills and have some fun.” Thank you to everyone that worked behind the scenes with judging, checking in entries, and documenting the entries to post on a website for parents to view. You can find out more about the art fair participants and winners by going to hillsboroisd.org under the Art Gallery tab where all entries and winners of each category are posted. 35 Ian MosS Zariah McGill Melissa Dittmar Jaylyne Simon Grand Champion Reserve Champion Grand Champion Reserve Champion FES/HES Baked GoodS FES/HES Baked GoodS FES/HES Art FES/HES Art Payton Coleman Sara Spigener Makayla Mendoza Brynlie Vantreese Grand Champion Reserve Champion Grand Champion Reserve Champion HIS Baked GoodS HIS Baked GoodS HIS Art HIS ARt Joshua Moore Jocelyn Alferez Eli Moreno Emma Spigener Grand Champion Reserve Champion Grand Champion Reserve Champion HJHS Baked GoodS HJHS Baked GoodS HJHS Art HJHS Art Windsor Fischer Alyssia Hernandez Karen Almazan-Compean Adolfo Cabral Rodriguez Grand Champion Reserve Champion Grand Champion Reserve Champion HHS Baked GoodS HHS Baked GoodS HHS art HHS Art 6 CONNECTIONS Spring 2021 Class of 2020 Inducted to Hall of Fame illsboro Athletic Hall of Fame is proud to introduce its Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees. Due to COVID-19, the committee was unable to hold an in-person Hceremony. Making up the Athletic Hall of Fame committe are Michael Harris, Ray Jordan, Sally Divin, Tony Marley, Mickey Jackson, Steve Hale, Cullen Davis, and Kyle Davis. The Team Award was presented to the 1966 Basketball Team. The team won the first bi-district championship and was the first team to advance to the regional tournament in Hillsboro High School history. They were coached by Dale Archer. Members were: David Barnard, Dickie Cason, Sam Crain, Joe Curry, Kent Frazier, Allen Grove, Billy Hayes, Ronnie Johnston, Curtis Lewis, Steve Neal, Charley Rich, Bill Shepard, and Jerry Yocham. Their manager was Steve Hardy. The 1936 Football Team was named by the committee for the Memorial Award. They were district champions with a 9-1 record and ended up losing to the state runner-up Kerrville Tivy in the bi-district game. The team was coached by McLemore and Frank James. Members were: Garland Matthews, R. L. Dorsay, Harry Clark, Orville “Rusty” Smith, Bryan, Ray Smotherman, Ramirez, Marchbanks, Royce MoEver, Bill Maxwell, E.L. Keeton, Bennett, Jack Herring, Alton MoEver, H.L. Parks, Ab Weatherby, Jack Dobbs, Howard Shelton, Kirk, and Jake Fawcett. Their managers were Wooten and James Raymer. CONNECTIONS Spring 2021 37 Maurice Orr, HHS Class For Generation B of 1932, was inducted (1960s-1970s), the from the Generation A committee (1920s-1950s) category. inducted Tommy Tune, Orr was 1st Team HHS Class of 1962. All-District 9-A Right Tune’s high school Tackle and 2nd Team accolades include All-State in 1931. After All-State 3rd Team high school, Orr went on Defensive Tackle, to Southern Methodist University where he was a 3-year Letterman All-District Team: Offense and (1933-1935), All-Southwest Defense, and the Merit Award for Conference-Tackle from Associated Press, Football and Athletics. He earned a full and a National Champion, both in 1935, and scholarship to Kilgore Junior College participated in the 1936 Rose Bowl. He was to play football. Tune joined the Navy drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (now in 1963. Steelers) in 1938. Jeana Brooks, HHS Class of 1980, was the committee’s Generation C (1980s-1990s) category inductee. Brooks attended Hill Junior College from 1980-1982 before attending Sam Houston State University from 1982-1984. While in college, she was the Southern Region Collegiate Breakaway Champion and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association National Champion Women’s Rodeo Team. Her professional career accolades include being a Professional Women’s Rodeo Association (PWRA) World Champion Calf Roper for seven years, PWRA All-Around Champion, United Professional Rodeo Association Breakaway Champion twice, and the United States Calf Ropers Association Breakaway Champion. She was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Hill College Hall of Fame in 2015. For the 2000s-current This year the committee Generation D awarded the category, the Community Service Award inductee is Justin to Troy Dungan. He was Jamar Brooks. HHS inducted for his willingness to continually support and Class of 2005.