Hillcrest High School (Springfield, Missouri)

Infobox Secondary school
name = Hillcrest High School
principal = James "J" Rush
type = US Public Secondary
grades = 9–12
established = 1958
city = Springfield
state = Missouri
country = USA
enrollment = Over 1200
campus = Suburban
mascot = Hornets
Marching Band = Blue Wand Band
colors = Blue and Gray (orange is a popular alternate color)
website = [http://sps.k12.mo.us/hhs/ http://sps.k12.mo.us/hhs/]

Hillcrest High School is a high school located at 3319 N. Grant Avenue in Springfield, Missouri. Hillcrest High School is one of five public high schools in Springfield, Missouri. It is located in the north part of Springfield. It was opened in 1958.

Notable Programs

JROTC

Hillcrest is the only high school in Springfield, Missouri to have a JROTC program, associated with the Army. The JROTC Program teaches students Citizenship and Patriotism. They are recognized throughout the community for their volunteerism and community service. The cadets visit the Veteran's Home several times yearly to support the veterans. The JROTC Program at Hillcrest has several activities the different teams participate in. The have a saber team, color guard, shooting team, and exhibition team. The color guard has performed at several events in the community from The sms bears basketball games to the 9/11 ceremony the JROTC holds at Hillcrest High School every year on September 11th. The JROTC Cadets are very proud of their Unit. Col.Don Baldridge and SGT Major Paul Rock are the Cadets teachers and leaders. Col. Baldridge and Sgt. Major Rock created an event to bring the JROTC from Hillcrest and the surrounding areas together called the JROTC Olypics. Hillcrest High School has the travelling trophy for the 2008-2009 year beating out the other JROTC squads from the surrounding areas to bring the trophy home. The Hillcrest JROTC program is supported by their booster club. Their booster club is made up of Parents, alumnis, cadets, students and the community. The President for the booster club is Carolyn Jones and the Vice President is Lynn Ziverk. [http://www.hillcrestjrotc.org Hillcrst JROTC]

HTV Magazine

Hillcrest also has an award winning TV and internet-based magazine, [http://www.htvmagazine.com/ HTV] . The show is entering its 20th year on local cable access in 2008-2009. It has become one of the nation's most-honored scholastic journalism programs, earning the following national awards in recent years:

*National Television Academy "Award for Excellence" (3 total)
*Robert F. Kennedy High School Journalism Award (6 total)
*Channel One "Number One Newscast" (3 total)
*NSPA Broadcast Pacemaker (9 total)

"HTV Magazine" is student-produced, and has consistently covered compelling, sometimes controversial topics since its beginning in October of 1989. In 2002, HHS Principal Dr. Julie Leeth received the national "Courage In Journalism" award for backing HTV when the district sought to censor a student commentary.

Adviser Dave Davis created "HTV Magazine" in the fall of 1989, and remains the only broadcast teacher Hillcrest has ever had. Davis is the director of "Camp STN,' considered by many the nation's best workshop for scholastic broadcasting teachers. The camp takes place each summer in Springfield, MO.

The broadcast facility at Hillcrest is currently undergoing renovations that will result in 14 new edit bays, and a separate classroom space. The new, improved facilities should open by late September of 2008.

Highlanders Drum & Bugle Corps

The Hillcrest Highlanders Drum & Bugle Corps was established in 1958 when Hillcrest High School opened. They have greeted and performed for state representatives, governors, and presidential candidates, and just recently the pope. The Highlanders have performed in many community events, small town festivals, and all Hillcrest football and basketball games.

Hillcrest Baseball

Known for it's Baseball program. In the 1970's produced several players that were drafted by Major League Baseball teams. Most recent player drafted was Pitcher Jon Barratt by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. There have been 23 players drafted from Hillcrest since 1960, more than any other school in Springfield. Some of its better known players are: Bob Detherage (LAD), Phil Henderson (BAL), Danny Barrett (STL) Keith Frazier (NYY), Kelly Snider (LAD), Keith Drumright (OAK), Doug Bennett (LAD), just to name a few. The overall record for the Hillcrest Baseball team is: School ball: 692-310, their Summer (legion) record is: 1509-802. Combined records are: 2163-1098, for an overall winning percentage of .663.

Renovations

On April 4 2006 Springfield Public Schools' voters approved an 18-cent increase in the district's debt service levy. Among the approved projects was an upgrade to the science and technology labs at Hillcrest and two other Springfield high schools.

The project will add new science/technology classroom labs, renovate old lab space into additional classrooms; remodel and provide new areas for student services; upgrade safety and security. The estimated cost is $5.75 million. Construction began in September 2007 and is estimated to be complete in August 2008.

Notable Alumni

* John Ashcroft, former Missouri Governor, former U.S. Senator and former U.S. Attorney General
*Dick Birmingham, former baseball coach, retired in 1985. Has coached on several USA teams, and was offered coaching contracts from several MLB clubs during his tenure. Now runs his own baseball programs for developing players, based out of Springfield, MO.

External links

* [http://sps.k12.mo.us/hhs/ Hillcrest High School web site]