The Hub for Innovative Learning & Leadership

The HILL takes on Nationals! 🏆🌎✨Our students just returned from the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and they officially proved that the talent at The HILL is among the best in the entire United States!

Reaching the pinnacle of their Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), these elite individuals earned their way to the grandest stage of all from June 1st through 5th. They did not just show up; they represented our school and the entire state of Kentucky with ultimate pride on the national competition floor.

Huge shoutouts are in order for our national competitors and leaders:

👮 Simon Yamada (Criminal Justice Competition): Simon went head-to-head with the best of the best in intense competition simulations judged by active industry professionals, earning an incredible 4th place in the Nation!

🗳️ Hailey Hardin (State Officer Delegate): Serving as the SkillsUSA Kentucky State Parliamentarian, Hailey represented our state as an official delegate. She worked directly alongside SkillsUSA National Officers to share ideas, cast votes, and map out crucial priorities for national student growth.

Beyond the competition floor, our students immersed themselves in life-changing history and cultural learning with a deeply moving visit to the National Civil Rights Museum.

Whether they were demonstrating elite technical skills or commanding the room in critical leadership roles, these students showed up, put in the work, and set a national standard. We are so incredibly proud of you both! 🦅🔥

Fayette County Public Schools

Happy Retirement to an absolute legend, Bob Lankford! 🔌🎖️🏡 We want to celebrate a monumental milestone for one of our most beloved educators. After 20 incredible years of dedicated service across Southside and The HILL, our Electronics instructor, Bob Lankford, is officially retiring!

Mr. Lankford is the true definition of a servant leader. As a military veteran, a local realtor, and an absolute expert in the electronic and home safety fields, he brought a wealth of real world knowledge straight into our labs. For two decades, he has used his vast industry expertise to shape, mentor, and inspire the next generation of technical professionals in our community.

His impact goes far beyond the circuit boards and wiring diagrams taught in his classroom. Mr. Lankford has been a cornerstone of our school culture, a trusted mentor to his fellow staff members, and a champion for student success. He has left an undeniable mark on the hearts of our students, the strength of our school, and the workforce of Lexington.

Thank you, Mr. Lankford, for your unwavering dedication, your wisdom, and your 20 years of transformative service to career and technical education. We wish you the absolute best as you step into this next well deserved chapter of relaxation and new adventures. You will always be a part of the family at The HILL!

Building the future of local healthcare! 🏥🚑🌟Our final spotlight on the Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, and EMT pinning ceremony is all about the incredible future ahead for these certified students. The skills they mastered at The HILL are exactly what our local hospitals, emergency response teams, and medical facilities need right now.

When their families stepped on stage to pin their gear and place their HILL stoles on their shoulders, it represented the start of an exciting new chapter. With their SRNA, NREMT, and NOCTI credentials locked in, these graduates are stepping directly into high-demand, life-changing career fields.

Thank you once again to the amazing parents, families, and instructors who cheered our students on every single step of the way. We are incredibly honored to have been part of your medical journey!

📸: Sara Tracy & Dr. Eric Maul

The blueprint of a medical professional! 🩺📈❤️ Our Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, and EMT students have shown us all what it truly means to be a professional this year. From perfect safety protocols in the medical labs to logging intense clinical hours, they have approached their education with incredible maturity.

Watching our students receive their program pins and graduation stoles from their families was the perfect culmination of all that effort. By passing their SRNA, NREMT, and NOCTI exams, these students have officially transformed from high school students into verified, career-ready professionals.

We love celebrating these major milestones, but we love seeing the tight-knit community our medical students built with each other and their instructors even more. Congratulations to everyone honored at this year's ceremony!

📸: Sara Tracy

Officially pinned and ready to make a difference! 🏥🚑✨We are wrapping up our pinning ceremony spotlight with a massive shoutout to the incredible families, friends, and instructors who made this milestone celebration so unforgettable.

The tradition of the pinning ceremony marks a sacred transition from student to practitioner. Watching parents, siblings, and mentors step onto the stage to pin our Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, and EMT students was a beautiful reflection of the community it takes to raise up the next generation of medical leaders.

With their SRNA, NREMT, and NOCTI technical credentials officially locked in, these students are leaving The HILL with more than just a certificate. They are entering the medical field with a proven stack of industry-level skills and the confidence to handle any frontline scenario.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our healthcare pathways. To our students, thank you for your relentless work ethic this year. We cannot wait to see the incredible impact you will make in healthcare!

📸: Sara Tracy

The ultimate test of dedication and skill! 🩺🚑💪Behind every single program pin and graduation stole you see in these photos are countless hours of intense clinical prep, rigorous skills testing, and unwavering determination.

Our Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, and EMT students did not just learn about healthcare this year, they lived it. By securing their SRNA, NREMT, and NOCTI certifications, they have proven to the entire Lexington medical community that they possess the elite technical skills needed to save lives and care for patients.

During our pinning ceremony, it was an absolute honor to watch these future healthcare professionals stand tall as their names were called. Seeing their families step up to pin them and place their HILL stoles on their shoulders was the perfect reminder of the massive support system behind our students.

Congratulations to our newly certified healthcare heroes. The workforce is waiting for you, and we know you are going to make us so proud!

📸: Sara Tracy

A milestone moment for our future healthcare heroes! 🩺🚑✨There are moments in a student’s technical journey that change everything, and our recent Pre-Nursing, Pre-Pharmacy, and EMT pinning ceremony was exactly that.

We gathered to celebrate an elite group of future medical professionals who have officially secured their industry-recognized credentials - including their SRNA (State Registered Nurse Aide), NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians), and NOCTI technical certifications. Earning these stackable credentials proves they are 100% career-ready to step onto the frontlines of healthcare.

Swipe through to see the heart of the ceremony: the incredibly moving tradition where our students' families stepped forward to place their program pins and graduation stoles on them. Having the very people who supported them from day one participate in this crowning achievement brought all the emotion to the room!

A massive congratulations to these dedicated students - you didn't just pass a test; you officially unlocked the door to your future careers in medicine. We are so incredibly proud of you! ❤️🏥

📸: Sara Tracy

And that is officially a wrap on our first annual Awards Days - and what a way to close out the series! 🎬🏆🎉If these smiles tell you anything, it’s that we have absolutely loved every single minute of our historic inaugural year at The HILL. From the very first day the garage doors rolled up to these final, joyful group photo sessions, this campus has been bursting with hard work, community, and unforgettable memories.

Looking out at these groups, we don't just see students who mastered advanced technical skills - we see lifelong friends, future industry leaders, and the incredible foundation of our school culture. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making Year One an absolute masterpiece.

The labs are quiet for now, but the standard has been set. Have an amazing summer, everyone! 🛠️☀️🌊

Fayette County Public Schools