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Hillcrest Academy Hillcrest Academy Events and Student Life Preschool-12th grade Classical Christian Curriculum.

Residence Halls available for domestic and international students in grades 9-12.

10/11/2026

"And that's where we meet this troubled leader by the name of Nicodemus," Mr. Jahr started in chapel. "He just can't figure out how to be saved."

Mr. Jahr challenged students to imagine the scene: a respected teacher slipping through the darkness to seek answers from Jesus. He had spent his life explaining religious truths to others, yet now he was the one who needed to be taught. For students, the encounter provides a powerful reminder that knowing about God is not the same as trusting in Him for salvation.

The questions Nicodemus carried to Jesus are the same kinds of questions students are learning to confront at Hillcrest. Today's teenagers can ask an AI chatbot almost anything. They can receive explanations of Scripture, personalized encouragement, and immediate responses to their worries. But no machine can take the place of Christ, forgive their sins, or give them eternal life.

There is a striking parallel between Nicodemus and today's students. Both live in worlds where knowledge and respected authorities promise answers. Both face questions that information alone cannot resolve. And both need the same Savior.

Hillcrest showed growing maturity, resilience, character, and determination as an 89-yard kickoff return and fourth-quar...
10/10/2026

Hillcrest showed growing maturity, resilience, character, and determination as an 89-yard kickoff return and fourth-quarter touchdown secured a hard-fought 28-20 win over NCE-Ulen-Hitterdal last night.

Trailing 20-14 in the third quarter after surrendering the lead, the Comets responded with an electrifying 89-yard kickoff return by Maverick Peterson, a fourth-quarter touchdown connection between Jude Moline and Isaac Hamilton, and a defensive stand that kept their opponents scoreless through the final frame. For Head Coach Korey Fry, the win was something bigger than another “W,” it demonstrated a young team's growing ability to handle adversity and respond under pressure. "We fought to the finish," Fry said. "We were in another grind-it-out game where nothing came easy. Our guys had to battle for everything tonight. I'm proud of the way we stayed together, continued to compete, and found a way to win a tough game on the road." Friday night's 28-20 road victory over Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal was an important step to their goals for a playoff run.

The Comets have faced a demanding stretch of powerful teams in recent weeks, including matchups against highly ranked opponents that have challenged their ex*****on, physical toughness, and confidence. But those difficult games have also provided opportunities for growth. Against NCE-UH, Hillcrest needed every bit of that experience.

After falling behind 6-0 in the opening quarter, sophomore Eli Walkup answered with a 12-yard touchdown run to even the score. Freshman quarterback Jude Moline then connected with Peterson on a 24-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Walkup powered his way into the end zone for the two-point conversion, giving Hillcrest a 14-6 lead.

NCE-UH answered with another touchdown before halftime, narrowing the Comets' lead to 14-12. The home team then reclaimed the lead in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown and converting the two-point attempt to move ahead 20-14. Hillcrest faced another defining moment. And this time, the Comets answered immediately.

Peterson fielded the ensuing kickoff and raced 89 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 20-20 and delivering the spark his teammates needed. "Maverick's kickoff return was huge for us," Fry said. "We needed a spark, and he stepped up and gave us exactly that. Those are the kinds of plays that can completely change the momentum of a football game. Our guys fed off that energy, and it helped us get going." Peterson finished with five receptions for 65 yards and a receiving touchdown, along with 160 yards on four kickoff returns. He also recorded 5.5 tackles defensively, contributing in all three phases of the game.

Hillcrest's determination showed up in the fourth quarter. With the game tied, Moline found Hamilton for a 44-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead. The two connected again for the two-point conversion, putting Hillcrest ahead 28-20. The Comets' defense took care of the rest.

NCE-UH had rushed for 316 yards on 54 carries, led by Asher Flaten's 245 yards and two touchdowns on 41 attempts. The physical rushing attack continually challenged Hillcrest's defensive discipline and endurance. Yet when the fourth quarter arrived, the Comets refused to surrender another point. Walkup led Hillcrest with 12 tackles, followed closely by Hamilton with 11. Drake Veldhouse contributed seven tackles, while Peterson added 5.5 and Xander Knutson finished with 4.5.

Walkup's performance was especially noteworthy. Along with his defensive leadership, the sophomore carried the football 14 times for 103 yards and a touchdown. "Eli showed his Ironman ability tonight," Fry said. "He was dominating on defense and carrying the load for us offensively running the football. That's a lot to ask of a young player, but he just keeps showing up and competing. He's physical, he's tough, and he gives us everything he's got."

Hillcrest finished with 281 yards of total offense, including 132 rushing and 149 passing. Moline completed seven of 10 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Sam Swensen added 58 passing yards.

The most encouraging development for Hillcrest isn't simply that the Comets won Friday night. It's how they won. They overcame an early deficit, watched an eight-point lead disappear, responded when they fell behind again, and delivered their best defensive effort when the game was on the line. "We've been through some battles these last few weeks against some really good football teams," Fry said. "Our young guys have been thrown into some big situations, and they're learning every Friday night. We've talked about eliminating mistakes, playing together, and understanding what it takes to finish games. Tonight, we found a way to do that."

With a shortened week before their next game Wednesday, Hillcrest has little time to celebrate. The focus quickly shifts toward recovering, preparing, sharpening ex*****on, and carrying Friday's determination into another challenge. "We're growing, and that's what we've been preaching all season," Fry said. "These guys are learning how to fight through adversity and finish football games. I'm proud of them. Now we've got to keep building, stay focused, and continue getting better."

📸 Eric Strand

Hillcrest's 3-0 sweep Thursday night showcased that unity, relentless defensive effort, and steady progress is built thr...
10/09/2026

Hillcrest's 3-0 sweep Thursday night showcased that unity, relentless defensive effort, and steady progress is built through hundreds of serves, thousands of repetitions, difficult practices, hard conversations, and the daily decision to show up for one another.

The Comets swept Parkers Prairie in straight sets, 25-12, 25-20, and 25-22, in one of their most encouraging performances of the season. Behind 62 digs, 36 kills, 12 blocks, and an extraordinary serving performance of just one missed serve, Hillcrest demonstrated the kind of discipline, determination, and unity that can make a difference when postseason volleyball arrives.

But the biggest story wasn't simply what appeared on the scoreboard. It was what head coach Debi Foss saw happening between the points. "We played some really, REALLY good 'Comet Ball' tonight!" Foss celebrated. "The girls came together as a united front, encouraged one another on a whole new level, and played with an energy and purpose that was so fun to watch. I couldn't be prouder of these girls!"

Hillcrest came out strong, overwhelming Parkers Prairie 25-12 in the opening set. The 13-point margin gave the Comets early control, but the next two sets required something equally important: composure. Parkers Prairie narrowed the gap in the second set, but Hillcrest maintained its advantage for a 25-20 victory. The third set was even tighter, with the Comets finishing the night 25-22 to complete the sweep.

Across three sets, Hillcrest outscored Parkers Prairie 75-54, a 21-point advantage built on consistent ex*****on and contributions throughout the lineup. Defensively, the Comets were relentless. Elsa Retzlaff led the team with 16 digs, followed closely by Grace Swedberg with 14 and Elin Retzlaff with 13. Together, those three players accounted for 43 of Hillcrest's 62 digs, nearly 70 percent of the team's defensive total. Their persistence helped keep rallies alive and created opportunities for Hillcrest to turn defensive plays into offensive points.

On the attack, Elin Retzlaff and Aaveah Stender each recorded nine kills, while Elsa Retzlaff added eight. The trio combined for 26 of Hillcrest's 36 kills, providing nearly three-quarters of the team's offensive production. Emme Berge and Kali Miller each delivered five kills, highlighting the depth of a Comet attack that could find points from multiple positions.

At the net, Stender posted a particularly impressive defensive performance, with seven of Hillcrest's 12 blocks. Paisley Peterson and Miller added two blocks apiece, while Elin Retzlaff had one.

The setting combination of Stella Moline and Brooke Swedberg kept the offense moving, with Moline recording 16 assists and Brooke adding seven. Their ability to distribute the ball allowed multiple hitters to contribute.

And from the service line, Hillcrest showed the value of doing the simplest things exceptionally well. Moline connected on 21 of 22 serves, while Grace Swedberg was perfect on all 16 attempts. Elin Retzlaff finished 11-for-11, Peterson went 9-for-9, and Elsa Retzlaff and Brooke Swedberg each completed all eight of their serves successfully. Five Comets recorded service aces. For a team that has worked throughout the season to improve its serving consistency, Thursday's results offered a measurable sign of progress. Successful serving doesn't always produce a spectacular highlight, but it keeps the pressure on an opponent and gives teammates opportunities to finish the point.

Coach Foss has consistently emphasized improving ex*****on, building confidence, and learning to work together. Thursday night's performance offered a glimpse of how those priorities are becoming habits. The 62 digs represented players refusing to let the ball hit the floor without a fight. The 28 recorded assists reflected players creating opportunities for teammates. The 12 blocks demonstrated a determined presence at the net. And the serving accuracy revealed a team increasingly capable of executing fundamental skills under competitive pressure. Together, those numbers tell a story about something much bigger than individual performances. They describe a team learning to trust one another.

10/09/2026

We have a couple more weeks left in the first quarter, but these are a couple moments that are sticking in our minds today

Throwback Thursday — Rascals & Memories!Oh, the things we did at Hillcrest!Swipe through these 10 snapshots of Hillcrest...
10/08/2026

Throwback Thursday — Rascals & Memories!

Oh, the things we did at Hillcrest!

Swipe through these 10 snapshots of Hillcrest rascals from the ’60s through the 2000s. A little mischief, a lot of personality - making friendships that last a lifetime.

Recognize anyone? Have a story to tell? We want to hear it!

Before students got too deep in their math books, studied history, analyzed a sentence, or explored the created world to...
10/08/2026

Before students got too deep in their math books, studied history, analyzed a sentence, or explored the created world today, they heard from the sixth graders who stood in Chapel and reminded the middle school where all learning begins. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The students recited John 1, a passage they have been working to memorize and understand. But this is more than a memory exercise. These words are becoming part of the framework through which they are learning to understand the world. That matters because John does not begin his Gospel with a list of rules or even with the story of Jesus’ birth. He takes us all the way back to the beginning. Before creation, there was the Word.

Before there were mountains to study, numbers to calculate, languages to learn, people to understand, or histories to record, there was Christ. “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” For young minds learning to make sense of a complicated world, there may be no more important starting point. Students understand this conviction that the world is not random from their classes at Hillcrest. Creation has an Author and truth has a source. Human beings have a Creator, and their knowledge is not simply a collection of disconnected facts; everything students study and interact with in classrooms and in real life belongs to a world God designed, ordered, and sustains.

That means these sixth graders leading chapel come to the stage after studying mathematics is discovering patterns in a world God ordered and that science is examining a creation God spoke into existence. History is the study of real people, each bearing God’s image, making choices within God’s world. Even the ability to think, reason, ask questions, create, and communicate points young people back toward the One through whom all things were made.

This is why memorizing Scripture is so powerful, and the recitation of the sixth graders is so formative. Students are not simply putting words into their minds. They are placing truth somewhere it can accompany them. Words learned alongside classmates and teachers can become an anchor when the world begins offering competing explanations about identity, purpose, truth, and meaning. God’s Word gives students something solid from which to ask their questions.

John 1 gives students a remarkably large foundation. It teaches them that Jesus is not merely one subject among many. He is the One through whom everything else exists. This changes the posture of learning. Students can approach the classroom with curiosity because creation is worth discovering. They can ask difficult questions without fearing that truth will threaten their faith, because all truth ultimately belongs to the God who made the world. They can work diligently because developing their minds is one way of stewarding what God has given them.

Today, a group of sixth graders stood before their school and recited words Christians have repeated for nearly two thousand years. “In the beginning was the Word.” Those words are becoming more than something they can recite; they are becoming a starting point. Because when young people know where the world begins, they are better prepared to understand where they stand within it

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is hiring a part-time Maintenance Technician to help care for our campus and support the dail...
10/07/2026

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is hiring a part-time Maintenance Technician to help care for our campus and support the daily work of our school ministry.

We’re looking for someone who takes ownership, enjoys solving practical problems, works well independently, and wants their work to contribute to something meaningful.

Applications received by October 14 will receive priority consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

Apply here: https://www.ffhillcrest.org/employment
Scroll partway down the page to find the application.

View the full job description:
https://www.ffhillcrest.org/maintenance-technician-ii

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this opportunity with them.

10/05/2026

Back to class today after an incredible homecoming weekend. We’re closer, more connected, and ready to dig into what God has for us after the important homecoming traditions we celebrate at the Castle.

10/04/2026

This was a definite highlight from last nights worship night to cap off homecoming weekend

Address

610 Hillcrest Drive
Fergus Falls, MN
56537

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+12187393371

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