HLA Today - Issue 3 (10-11)

HLA

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy’s Bi-weekly News

Today

Volume 17, Issue 3

Monday

Alex Stilwell

Nerd & Hick

Visit the HLA Website ffhillcrest.org

October 8, 2010

Tuesday

Future Profession

Friday Spirit

Taylor Isaac

Short video highlights of school activites are available.

HLA Today is produced bi-weekly by the Journalism class.

Simon Ell

Wednesday Wacky

HLAToday Staff Annalise Boyum Wil Twedt Chris Christenson Frankie Sandnes

Daniel Nersten Quincey Circo

Thursday Taylor Brue

Decades

The students pictured above are recipients of the coveted HLA Today’s CHOICE Award as selected by the HLA Today staff.

Their prize: a front page picture.

Fun Colors, Wacky Wigs, and Crazy Styles Hillcrest shows spirit during Homecoming week.

By Annalise Boyum

If you are interested in having the HLA Today mailed to your house, contact the front office, 218-739-3371.

The cost is $30 per year.

If a visitor were to have walked through the halls of Hillcrest this past week, they would have thought Hillcrest students were a bit, shall we say--Strange? Different? A bit odd? Whatever the word might be, a person would definitely need an explanation.

Junior Heidi Christofferson thought it was fun to walk down the halls and hear people yell “Hannah Montana!” as she passed by in her shiny shirt and long blonde wig.

Each day last week the students and faculty had a different theme to follow. Monday was

the day to choose between hick and nerd, and those that couldn’t choose one or the other became both! Tuesday was the day to choose a future career, like trucker, mom, or doctor.

Wacky Wednesday was the day for wackiness—hence the title! Thursday was decades day. Each grade had a different decade. The Seniors had the 80s, the Juniors-70s, Sophomores-60s, Freshmen-50s and the Junior High and Faculty had the future. Then, as always, Friday was the day to dress in all the red and white you had for School Spirit Day!

Chaos That Defies Gravity Classes get together and show what they got.

By Wil Twedt

The Pep Fest is the last of the all-school activities during Homecoming. Hillcrest students compete in various contests. Events include everything from putting on football pads to shaking ping pong balls out of a box strapped to their backs. The sports teams were brought up front and the players introduced themselves. They shared how they have been doing in the season.

The Pep Fest is where the classes get together and show off their acting abilities to the rest of the school.

The theme was Cosmic Chaos. The classes showed this in many different ways, from video game simulations to white figures trying to fight grav-

Iron-Man Volleyball Boys play volleyball tournament.

by Wil Twedt

The gym was full of excitement as the volleyball teams took to the court, but this time it wasn’t the girls.

The volleyball games were part of the first activities of homecoming, and the boys and men of the school got together and played in a tournament to find out which of them was the best, and the seniors won the tournament.

“Dominating everyone was fun,” Zach Taylor, senior, said after winning the tournament, “But beating the staff was the best part!” Although Mr. Undseth did not agree, “I just wanted the seniors to be happy and Page 2

ity.

Junior Rachael Synstelien said after losing to the senior class in the skit contest, “I think that with all the time and energy put into our skit, we should have won, but I’m over it.”

Tidbits

compiled by Wil Twedt

Chad Hermes scored a touchdown in a J.V. football game. Esther Choi got lost in Fergus. Dylan O’Sullivan found a really old banana in Mr. Jahr’s classroom ceiling. A worm fell in front of Sunny Molandsoy’s plate during supper. Talia Pearson, Allie Steinle, and friends walked around the state hospital at night.

Gene thinks that the juniors should have won the skit contest. Rachael Synstelien runs over squirrels. Seniors are undefeated in powder puff football; juniors on the other hand are not.

Let’s Rock N… Bowl?

Hillcrest students bowl after the football game.

By Frankie Sandnes

After the stressful week of Homecoming, and with all the preparations for sports and music, and school work on top of all that, Hillcrest students have always looked forward to a Friday night of bowling at the Northern Aire Lanes.

Every year after the football game, the students and faculty are

welcome to bowl. Not only is there bowling, but there is also music, fog machines, and crazy lights.

“The best part for me was dancing with my friends, and I really just liked that everyone could relax for once and be them-

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Painted Faces Hillcrest girls exchange their makeup for war paint to play in the Powder Puff tournament.

By Chris Christenson

Hollywood has taught us that girls only play football in movies. Here at Hillcrest, however, that’s proven not to be the case.

Following tradition, the girls had their annual Homecoming Powder Puff competition on Friday, October 1. The

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tournament was held after the Pep Fest, and heightened the anticipation for the Homecoming football game to be held later that night.

Teams were formed by grade, and class rivalry made for some tough playing. In the end though, the se-

niors came out on top with a welldeserved win. “Our practice paid off,” said senior Heather Frustol, “[it was] a good victory.”

Mr. Nersten and Mr. Undseth provided commentary during the games, entertaining the audience (which consisted of both students and alumni) with their witty remarks.

Let’s Make Some Music Homecoming ends on a musical note.

By Annalise Boyum

Following the Fresh Breeze Banquet, the annual homecoming concert

began. Many Hillcrest students got dressed up in their concert best, with feelings of butterflies fluttering in their

stomachs. At seven o’clock Saturday evening the concert band began the night strong. After conducting the concert band, Band Director Mr. Doering led the Jazz Band in their performance.

Mr. Doering said, “Everyone did a great job! This first performance comes very early in the school year, and everyone learns to play together…in just a few weeks. The concert band and jazz ensemble both performed their pieces with precision and style, and it will be fun to start preparing for

New Hillcrest, Old Friends Alumni come back to a changed school and renew friendships.

By Frankie Sandnes

It’s been too long! You may have heard this quite a bit last weekend when Alumni come back from all ages. The Hillcrest experience is a genuine and authentic place where people can grow spiritually, and make solid Christian friendships.

Although Hillcrest Alumni come back to their old “stomping grounds”, a lot has changed. Alumni John Jacobsen, who graduated in ’79, noticed a few differences. “When I went to Hillcrest, the boys dorm and girls dorm were both in the same building.”

He also noticed different classes and students since he attended Hillcrest. “Hillcrest used to offer a Norwegian language class, and when I went to Hillcrest the Norwegian exchange program hadn’t even started yet.”

Although Hillcrest changes,

its main goal stays intact, to prepare students to defend their faith and get ready for college.

John Jacobsen and 2010 alumni Justin Olsoe said that Hillcrest really prepared them spiritually for college. “I would really recommend that students going to Hillcrest take advantage of the Bible classes, join mission trips, and build Christian friendships,” said Olsoe.

“Not many people realize how much

upcoming concert events…”

Once the band finished their performance, Choir Director Mr. Strom accompanied, on the piano, for the twelve vocalize students. Preceding their pieces, Mr. Strom led the choir in the night’s final performance. Mr. Strom thought the concert went well.

He anticipated that everyone would be excited to perform and that’s always fun for him to see. Mr. Strom said, “It’s always great to do the first performance…then you always know what to try differently in future concerts.”

Come, One and All Fresh Breeze campaign kicks off its public phase with a banquet during Homecoming.

By Annalise Boyum

The Student Activity Center at Hillcrest Academy was alive Saturday night, October 2, with returning alumni and other supporters of the Fresh Breeze campaign.

Senior Rachel Olson thought that Chef Heath Stocks had organized the meal very well, feeding approximately one hundred fifty-five people.

Hillcrest students helped serve and clear tables.

In total, the event brought in over $60,000 toward Fresh Breeze.

A former Hillcrest student, who attended the event, said, “I was very excited to hear that they had already surpassed the goal that they had for this time, and I’m looking forward to them having the debt [of the Student Activity Center] paid off.”

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Smellin’ Coffee Students sacrifice three hours of sleep to serve pancakes for the Dominican Mission.

By Chris Christenson

Early Saturday morning on the 2nd of October, 25 teens dragged themselves out of bed and made their way to Applebee’s. There, after donning matching blue shirts and downing several cups of caffeine, they made ready for that morning’s event: a Pancake Feed fundraiser.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast was organized and put on by the Dominican Republic missions team, and all proceeds went towards the trip.

Though the restaurant wasn’t

exactly “hoppin’” at eight in the morning, there was still a sizable turn out. Nevertheless, the smaller size of the group made for a cozy atmosphere where team members sat and chatted with customers between plates of flapjacks.

By the end, many students felt it had been worth the effort. Andrew Stender, a member of Team Dominican, spoke for many when he commented, “It was just over all a good day.”

Hillcrest’s Comet cards go on sale after a two-year absence.

Over the years, schools have tried just about everything to raise funds.

Volleyball

Tuesday, 9/28 Hillcrest.................................... 0 Brandon-Evansville.................... 3

Thursday, 9/30 Hillcrest.................................... 3 Rothsay.................................... 2

Tuesday, 10/5 Hillcrest.................................... 3 Ashby....................................... 1

Thursday, 10/7 Hillcrest.................................... 0 Battle Lake............................... 3

Girls Soccer Tuesday, 9/28

Hillcrest.................................... 2 Crookston................................. 1

Thursday, 9/30 Hillcrest.................................... 2 Walker..................................... 0

They’re Back

By Chris Christenson

Sports Scores

Some methods work better than others, but there is one that never fails.

In fact, it could be argued that the best marketing scheme known to man is to give a cute kid something to sell, and send them knocking on doors.

Hillcrest is sending out its own cute kids. To raise money for the senior missions trip, team members are selling Comet cards. These cards grant special benefits to their carriers, from discounts at Pizza Hut to free car washes.

The cards go for ten dollars a piece and are valid all year long. All proceeds go towards sending the mission team to the Dominican Republic in November.

Friday, 10/1 Hillcrest.................................... 2 Bemidji..................................... 3

Tuesday, 10/5 Hillcrest.................................... 1 Detroit Lakes............................ 4

Boys Soccer Saturday, 9/25

Hillcrest.................................... 5 Minnewaska.............................. 2

Tuesday, 9/28 Hillcrest.................................... 8 Crookston................................. 0

Thursday, 9/30 Hillcrest.................................. 16 Walker..................................... 0

Thursday, 10/7 Hillcrest.................................... 3 Detroit Lakes............................ 2

Football

Friday, 9/24 Hillcrest.................................. 55 Verndale................................... 6

Friday, 10/01 Hillcrest.................................. 49 Underwood............................. 14