The Hillsboro High School chess team came home with a second-place trophy from the Class 3A Kansas Scholastic Chess Association’s high school championships this weekend at Blue Valley High School in Kansas City. HHS actually tied with Chapparal High School for the team title, but was awarded the second-place trophy via the tie-breaker system. John Bartel won a state medal—the first individual medal ever won by a Hillsboro team member—by placing 20th among the 184 high school players. Pictured above are (from left) Bartel, Michael Christian,
Joshua Elliott, Matt Richert and Cody Blackketter. Missing the event because of illness was one of team’s top players, Ben Bosworth. Competing at the state level for the first time from Hillsboro in the elementary (kindergarten to fifth-grade) division were Julian Hessel (first grade), Benjamin Koop (third grade) and Grant Knoll (fifth grade). “I am so proud of the team,” said Janet Whisenhunt, advisor for the high school program.
Cast members from Hillsboro High School’s production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” practice a scene before the play opens Thursday. Pictured are (from left) Becky Steketee (Mrs. Anna Smith), Heidi Schroeder (Agnes Smith), Maria Loewen (Esther Smith), Chelsea Bebermeyer (Rose Smith) and Jessica Elliott (Tootie Smith). The play will run March 13 and 14. Both presentations will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $5 and are on sale through the high school office. Seating is not reserved.
Hillsboro High School junior Jessica Elliott (foreground) and senior Julia Loewen browse through the collection of once-worn prom dresses at Cinderella’s Closet on March 9 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. The event lasted from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. By the time it was over, 20 dresses had been selected, according to organizers. Girls from all of the high schools in Marion County were invited to the event after organizers received 153 dresses to share. The event will be offered again next year, they said, probably in February.
Unified School District 410 Board of Education discussed a proposed welding program in which students could earn dual credit for high school and college.