Hillcrest will be represented in a prestigious state contest thanks to the efforts of junior Dani Ward.

The PTSA “Reflections” competition takes place each year, giving students the opportunity to enter a variety of works based on a theme. This year “Diversity Means” is the topic.

Ward submitted a photograph that speaks to the theme, and art teacher Heather Weter entered it locally, where it took first place in Springfield.

“It now goes to state, and it will be on display at the mall on January 8, along with the other winners,” said Weter.

It was actually music that inspired the final product, according to Ward.

“I was listening to a song while putting up quotes on my wall, and I got this idea it would be really cool to take a picture of a person holding up a quote,” said Ward.

Students should make sure they attend all three sessions during Career Fair at Hillcrest next Thursday. Why?

Names will be placed into a drawing that takes place that afternoon at the annual A+ assembly in the HPER. Every time students report to a Career Fair session, their name is added to the drawing.

“This year we have over $2,000 dollars in prizes,” said A+ secretary Darby Bowler. That includes a 32″ TV, a Nintendo 3DS, Dr. Dre Headphones, gift cards, and much more.

The Hillcrest version of “Minute to Win It” will return, and there will be live music featuring Brad Thomas, Chandler Reed, Wes Buchanon, Jessica Larson, Madrigal, Orchestra and Band.

Students are reminded to wear IDs. The rules for the drawing say, “No ID, No Prize.”

The Hillcrest Herald newspaper has gone through a major transformation.

The paper has been the voice of HHS students for over 50 years, and for the first time has a presence on the world wide web. In fact, the Herald is no longer printed on paper at all.

“The Herald went online to save money for our journalism department,” said the paper’s website designer, senior Dylan Walker. “The site will be updated bi-weekly.”

In addition to those bi-weekly updates, readers can expect a new edition of the online Herald each quarter.

Jordan Lohwasser is the Herald Editor-in-Chief this year. Walker also serves as the HHS yearbook editor.

Check out the first online edition at: http://hillcrestjournalism.com

A new segment is coming to HTV Magazine, a tradition at Hillcrest for the past 23 years.

It is called “Random Play,” and it will feature humorous, serious, or truly random clips. This segment is different from the news and human interest features that the staff usually covers.

Random Play will air monthly, along with the rest of the show, but it will appear at the end of the production, after the credits.

“It really is a throwback to our first year of HTV. We always saved a surprise segment after the credits, to be separate from the news portion of the show,” said adviser Dave Davis.

Senior Chandler Reed directed the first Random Play feature, and it will be shown along with the rest of HTV #192 on Monday morning at Hillcrest.

The Science Olympiad team at Hillcrest is hosting a pancake breakfast in hopes of getting more students involved. The breakfast will be Wednesday, October 12 before school at 7:20 am.

“Our goal is to get students involved and find out what they may be interested in for the Science Olympiad,” said science teacher Sharon Blauvelt.

The Science Olympiad is a series of competitions that tests students’ knowledge in different science-related topics.

“I would encourage everyone who is interested to come because it is free food and you get to meet people who might join the group,” said senior Paulina Doran.

Drinks will be served with the pancakes. Students who have question should see science teacher Robert Powers in room S208.

Senior ads for the 2011-2012 Hillcrest yearbook are on sale now in room 127.

Students or their parents may purchase a senior ad from yearbook Editor-in-Chief Dylan Walker or adviser Sherrie Bellmer anytime before October 7.

The senior ads typically feature a note from the student’s parent or grandparent, and a few pictures from their childhood through present day.

“It’s a great way for seniors to get their pictures in the yearbook. I would encourage every senior who took senior photos to buy an ad. I plan on buying one myself,” said Walker.

The amount of pictures placed depends on the size of the ad that is purchased, which impacts the space available.

Quarter-page ads are $75, half-page ads are $150, and full-page ads are $285 plus a FREE yearbook. All ads are in color.

Students in Mrs. Heather Weter’s Painting I and II classes are using a different painting technique to create works of art.

“I’m using spray paint to paint a picture of space. And I’m not made for painting,” said senior Logan Grann.

The students are layering different colors of spray paint to add depth to their pieces.

“We are trying something new and something different. Spray paint is hard work and this is a new experiment. Hopefully it will turn out and we will have a nice piece of art,” said Weter.

So far the students seem to like the new take on painting.

This school year, students have been challenged to “Come Together” at Hillcrest.

One way the theme will become a reality is at the beginning of each month. The HHS Cabinet will be planning social events for every first Friday. That means this Friday, September 2, Kool-Aid will be served after school to kick off the first Friday tradition.

“I think the event really ties into our theme, and it’s important for students to come because it’s the first one of the year,” said Cabinet member Chandler Reed.

Students are encouraged to attend the social event in to get socially involved in the school, and to start off the year in a positive way.

“I’m going to the Kool-Aid social because I’m excited to mingle with my friends and enjoy the free refreshments,” said junior Ryan Lindsey.

The staff of “HTV Magazine” wrapped up its ten-day trip to the South, finding, shooting and uploading stories each step of the way. Their motor coach arrived at Hillcrest early Thursday morning.

The 18 teens, four field producers, and seven chaperones visited Memphis, New Orleans, Panama City Beach, Charleston, SC, Gatlinburg and Louisville.

You can see stories, photos, and blogs by everyone involved in the production effort by visiting the trip website, htvsouthernswing.com. Stories posted are two days behind the travel schedule, and will continue through Friday, August 5.

“We are exhausted, but happy for this experience. Several kids have told me how much they learned on the trip, and that was the point,” said long-time HTV adviser Dave Davis.

This is the second such bus tour by the HTV staff. In 2009 students traveled to the north and east over spring break. Students edit stories on laptop computers on loan from Apple. Field equipment is provided by Hillcrest High School.

In 2009, the staff of “HTV Magazine” traveled over 3,000 miles in ten days, shooting and uploading stories and photos each step of the way.

The success of that groundbreaking trip has inspired a second journey. The “HTV Southern Swing,” as it is called, will take place July 25 – August 4. The trip will take the staff to Memphis, New Orleans, Panama Beach, Charleston, SC, Knoxville and Louisville.

“It will be a working trip for us, but we are pumped,” said junior Paige Moffis.

Following the students will be easy. The HTV website will have daily updates and fresh content, as will the students’ blog pages.

“We are using everything at our disposal to share our trip. Facebook, Twitter, our site, the blogs,” said adviser Dave Davis.

Students got a look at the bus a few weeks ago. Apple is providing laptops for students to edit their stories and blogs on.