Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight is the perfect place to showcase HHCA students, families, achievements and activities!  To submit story ideas, contact Robin Smith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

HHCA Family On A Mission

Soccer coach Roel Harsta, his wife Jennifer and two sons Chase (3rd grade) and Logan (1st grade) are following their passion to bring clean water with the installation of water systems, latrines, and health and hygiene education to children in the Belizean Schools. The Harstas and another former HHCA famliy, the Stephens, are moving to the central american country of Belize to establish the Water Mission Belize project. They will be operating under Water Missions International, (WMI) a Christian-based, non-profit engineering organization whose mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water to developing countries and disaster areas.

Daughters of the American Revolution Honor HHCA Students
Three students were honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Captain William Hilton Chapter,
at their annual awards luncheon and ceremony on February 10th.  Congratulations to Brian Stuligross, 8th grade, who
won the American History Essay Contest with the topic, "The Transcontinental Railroad - An Indian's Point of View."
Brian received a $100 savings bond, an engraved "Excellence in History" medal, and a certificate for his outstanding
work. Mackenzie Hrobar, 8th grade, and Logan Naddy, 5th grade, were selected by their teachers as the HHCA recipients of the DAR GoodCitizenship Award.  Each was recognized with a certificate and an engraved "Good Citizenship Award" medal which represents honor, courage, leadership, and promise as a caring citizen of our community and our country.
*Mackenzie was unable to attend the ceremony, but her parents were able to accept the award for her.

Environmental Science Study Trip
Mr. Sanders’ environmental science classes visited the new reverse osmosis plant operated by Hilton Head’s Public Service District. As part of their unit studies on fresh water resources, the students learned how sea water intrusion into the upper portion of the Floridan Aquifer has compelled the utility to drill wells into the deeper part of the aquifer.  Since this water is naturally brackish, it must be desalinated, and reverse osmosis has proven to be the most economical method of doing this.  The three million gallons per day processed by the plant comprises about half of the district’s needs, with the remainder being purchased as treated Savannah River water from the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority.  Our guide was Mr. Pete Nardi, Director of Community Relations.

HHCA Beta Club Adopts Families for Christmas
What is the Beta Club and why are they filling sponsor Mrs. Tamara Davis' car with goodies? The Beta Club is a community service group for middle school students who carry an average of 95% or better in all their classes.  The group selects projects that benefit the community including car washes, book collections and food drives.  This year the group of more than twenty students chose to adopt three families from the Bluffton Self-Help program to help meet their Christmas wishes.  Students did not have a donation drive, but instead decided to provide gifts for these three local families from within their club. Stuffed animals, Walmart gift cards, clothing and toys were among the many items the students purchased and gift wrapped. Pictured L to R: Mike Dillon (7th grade), Mrs. Davis, Luke Higgs (7th grade)

Fusion at the Jazz Corner
A performance at a BBQ by Sergio Rojas, Brian Stuligross, Taylor Dorrell and Drew Lewis was the jumpstart these four students along with Claire Neal needed to form a small ensemble known as Fusion. The name of their band reflects the Latin, jazz, funk and rock influences that describe their music. This group along with Thomas Nienow on tenor saxophone recently performed at the Jazz Corner at the Village in Wexford.  They played along side of the Hilton Head High Jazz Band to celebrate the Junior Jazz Foundation Golf Tournament, which benefits music programs on Hilton Head Island.  The crowd's reception was incredible as Fusion played seven songs in their set, including two originals.

Fusion will also be performing selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas with other upper school students at the Savannah / Hilton Head Airport on this December.  They will also be performing at The Corner Perk in Bluffton in January.  The students in Fusion are currently booking events for the winter and spring.

2009 National Honor Society Induction

The following students were inducted into the Hilton Head Christian Academy chapter of the National Honor Society: Anna Bensch, Joshua Beste, Emily Cranston, Bailey Davis, Jessica Day, Kelly Johnson, Andrew Lewis, Claire Neal, Heather Oliver, and Lauren Ziegler.

Criteria for National Honor Society membership:
Cumulative GPA of at least 4.0 • Junior or Senior •  Must be enrolled in at least one honors course •  Must maintain a positive Christian testimony in and out of school • Must be approved by the faculty • Must have been enrolled at HHCA for at least one full semester

Senior Betsy Serral Has a Heart for Gulf Coast

As Published by the Island Packet
By AMY COYNE BREDESON
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Published Saturday, November 14, 2009

As a member of Providence Presbyterian's outreach team in the summer of 2006, Betsy Serral got an upclose look at the destruction from Hurricane Katrina and hasn't been the same since.  In the last three years, Besty has made nine trips back to the Lakeshore, Mississippi town to be a part in any and every way of their recovery.  This October Betsy's vision to replace the local church's worn-out van came to fruition.  Read the entire article as printed in The Island Packet.

Hilton Head Dance Theatre's The Nutcracker

Guys and Dolls at Main Street Theatre

Eighth grade student, Brian Stuligross (in the center) appears in Main Street Youth Theatre’s production of Guys and Dolls with Clark Hummel (left) and Eli Sobel (right). The show runs weekends through November 8 – Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. (tickets 689-MAIN).  Brian’s other theater credits include The Capricious Pearls and Bedside Manor at HHCA, Seussical, Oklahoma and Alice in Wonderland at MSYT.

Eleven HHCA Singers Travel to Columbia

Pedal 4 Kids Bike Race

The Boys and Girls Club hosted a biking fundraiser event on Saturday, September 26. The King family (Hailey, 7th grade) tackled the 10 mile ride. They rode along with girls basketball Coach Joni Colburn and several of her Bootcamp for Women members.

Write On - Annual Young Playwrights Competition

HHCA alumni Victoria Mooney ('09) was one of only 9 professional actors hired to perform the staged reading performances of The Hartford Stage's Write On competition. Tori is currently enrolled at the Hartford Conservatory majoring in musical theater and voice. She received the HHCA Thespian award her senior year.

National Magazine Article Focuses on Christian Camps

A recent article in the Christian Chronicle magazine highlighted eighth grade student Rachel Weldy. Author Bobby Ross Jr. explored the impact summer youth camps have on student's decision for and walk with Christ. Rachel was featured in part because she is the third generation to attend Michigan Christian Youth Camp and to make the story even better, she was baptized by her oldest cousin Brandon.

Welcome to Second Grade!

Second grade teachers Mrs. Bangert and Mrs. Hilton host an annual tea party for rising second grade girls at the home of Mrs. Bangert.  The girls are dressed in their finest and treated to a special all-girls event.  The students have the chance to see friends from the previous year and to meet new students that will join them at HHCA this year.