When the Student Becomes the Teacher

The Highland Park motto "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve"

was always in the mind of two HP graduates who both decided to return to serve as teachers and coaches in the district that helped shape them into the person they are today.

Travis Snowden '00

Travis Snowden '00 coaching a varsity men's

basketball game

Travis with his dad, Coach Bo Snowden, on the HP bench during a game in the early 1980s

HPISD Student Career: Travis attended Hyer Elementary for kindergarten through 3rd grade and Bradfield for 4th and 5th grade. He attended McCulloch Middle School for 6th and 7th grade and was in the first 8th grade class at the new Highland Park Middle School. Travis played basketball at HPHS and graduated in 2000. Travis remembers the incredible influences from his friends and their parents, many of whom he still has close relationships with to this day.

College Career: After graduation in 2000, Travis attended Baylor University, majoring in History. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, played intramural sports and enjoyed attending Baylor sporting events.

Path to Teaching: After graduating from Baylor in 2005, Travis began his teaching and coaching career at Springtown High School where he taught World Geography and coached football, basketball and golf. In 2009, Travis returned to Highland Park to teach and take on the role of HP Men's Basketball Varsity Assistant Coach. He is in his 15th year as an educator in HPISD and has earned his Master's in Education of Differentiated Instruction. He credits his dad, Bo Snowden, as his inspiration to join the ranks of education as it was always special for him to witness the impact his dad had on so many people. Travis' dad, Bo Snowden, was the HPHS Men's Basketball coach from 1967 until 1984 when he took on the role as HPISD Athletic Director until 1996 when he retired from HPISD.

Why return to HPISD: Entering to learn and going forth to serve were always the main takeaways from his time at HPHS, but he also felt fortunate to live in a community like the Park Cities. It was always a dream of his to come back to HP, but he never thought it would happen just four years out of college. HP Men's Head Basketball Coach David Piehler brought him aboard in 2009 which Travis said "was a really special reunion because my dad was able to see me coach for a few months before we found out he had Multiple Myeloma and we lost him that first year that I came back. It was truly a blessing from God that I got to be back home for his last few months and I’m forever grateful for that time."

Meg Korby Bassett '93

Meg Korby Bassett '93 with MIS student

Julie Magusiak, Lynn Simoneaux,

Meg Korby Bassett '93, Olivia Martin

HPISD Student Career: Meg's family moved to HPISD when she was in 5th grade. Meg attended Armstrong Elementary, McCulloch Middle School and HPHS, graduating in 1993. Meg was a cheerleader, played soccer and was a peer tutor in high school. Meg loved growing up in HPISD and says friends she made in 5th and 6th grade are still some of her closest friends 40 years later.

College: After graduation from HPHS, Meg attended Texas Christian University and studied Special Education and studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic for a semester.

Path to Teaching: After graduating from TCU in December 1997, Meg accepted a long-term sub position at McCulloch Intermediate School. The following year, Meg was hired full time and completed her Master's degree in Educational Diagnostics. She taught 5th through 8th grade resource and co-taught for 6 years until her twin girls were born. For the next 12 years, she cared for her three daughters and was involved in several small business ventures. When her girls reached middle school age, Meg returned to MIS as a 6th grade ELA teacher. This is Meg's 8th year back teaching in HPISD, 14th year total.

Why return to HPISD: Meg always valued how supportive and involved the community was in the success of the students, so when an opportunity presented itself to return, she says "it felt right". She also realized that even in Highland Park there are many needs. All student and children need a cheerleader - someone who believes in them, encourages them and loves them. Someone who pushes them to be the best they can be. She says she is "proud and honored to be able to positively influence the lives of these precious young people. It takes a village!" Meg also enjoys how supported she feels at MIS and adores and respects her colleagues.

Ellie Bassett '22, Blake Bassett, Brynn Bassett '24, Meg Korby Bassett '93

and Caroline Bassett '22

Travis and Meg, with their own unique stories, are only two of many alumni who teach across HPISD, and continue to make an impact on the next generation of students. In this season of celebrations, we celebrate all those who make a difference in our

HPISD community and beyond.

Once a Scot, Always a Scot!

Alumni News

HPHS Men's Basketball Alumni Weekend

The 1st HP Men's Basketball Alumni weekend took

place December 15th and 16th. The weekend was kicked off with John Saalfield '91 speaking to the current varsity team about what it means to be part of the program now but also for a lifetime. That evening, 40 basketball alums gathered for holiday cheer at Dunston's to share stories. Players and Captains from every decade were represented, going back to the 1960s! The group then attended

HP's district opener where they were honored at half time. The weekend culminated with the alumni game featuring former players

as far back as 1987!

Men's Basketball alumni honored at halftime of Varsity game on December 15

Chad Randolph '88, Thomas Hocker '87, Scott Sexton '88, Ted Lange '88,

Mike Wharton '87, Chris Warrick '87

Finn Corwin '19 defending against

Jeremy Rubin '20

Michael Egenes '21

Worthey Wiles '21 firing off a three pointer

Mitchell Carew '21, Worthey Wiles '21 and Thomas Hocker '87

HP Men's Basketball Alumni Game

Michael Egenes '21, Grant Needleman '19, Worthey Wiles '21, Finn Corwin '19, Reilly Seebold '19, Scott Sexton '88, Thomas Hocker '87, Mike Whorton '87, John Saalfield '91, Mike Lucas '84, Elijah Hodges '21, Mitchell Carew '21, Jeremy Rubin '20

HPHS Hockey Alumni Game

The annual HP Hockey Alumni Game had a great turnout on December 18th at The Stars Center in Richardson.

Left to right: Max Breon, Spencer Dittrich '20, Jack Gurley '20, Coach Lewin, Christian Lee '20, Jordan Gachman, Robby Sours '20, Chris Hickey '20,

Sam Haynes '20

HPHS Baseball Friends and Fans

Dinner and Jersey Retirement Ceremony honoring

Clayton Kershaw '06 and Chris Young '98

January 31, 2024

To purchase tickets, tables and sponsorships, please visit

hpbaseball.muradbid.com. All community members are invited to attend. Please visit the website for additional information.

What a Coincidence!

Charles Leary '00 and Erin Trieb '00 bumped into each other in the customs line in Northern Iraq in November. The two were both there for work -- Charles in the oil industry and Erin as a photojournalist. You never know who you'll run into when traveling!

You also never know when you'll run into an alum with the

same name, wearing the same plaid! Meg Jones Boyd '96 and

Meg Brosseau Johnson '01 recently watched their sons, coincidentally named Charles and Charlie, play in a 7th grade HPMS basketball game in McKinney wearing the same plaid.

They are Mad for Plaid!

Alumni Cafeteria Volunteers

Did you know that cafeteria volunteers save HPISD $400,000 per year?! Cafeteria volunteers allow the district to use its money for other essentials, including teacher salaries.

This group of HPHS alumni volunteer in the high school cafeteria together on the first Wednesdays of the month. They model the school motto "Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve".

Back row: Elizabeth Ward Miller '91, Jennifer Mason Prather '93,

Meredith Willingham Mabus '91, Amy Means Bales '90,

Jennifer Lyke Sorrells '86

Front row: Mary Katharine McCulloch Gill '96 and Jenni Reedy Jackson '95

HPHS Alumni Awards

The HPHS Alumni Association and the Highland Park Education Foundation are pleased to announce the

2024 HPHS Alumni Awards distinguished honorees!

Please join us in congratulating the honorees and their families. We are thankful for the many people who submitted nominations. We have so much

to celebrate in our community, with so many deserving people doing wonderful things. We hope you can celebrate with us in April!

Alumni Association Board

Get to know new HPHS Alumni Board Members

Alumni Happy Hour

2023 Mad for Plaid Leadership

Thank you to the Mad for Plaid Leadership for their amazing efforts in raising the critically needed funds for our teachers.

Pictured left to right, Libby Johnson, Natalie Metzger Lesikar '03, Melinda Smith, Martin & Mary Katharine McCulloch Gill '96, Chris Palmer & Terry Steger, Claire Skinner Baker '97, Kamela Hollis Aboussie '98 & Kenneth Aboussie, Ann Melson Higginbottom '02, Tara Cosgrove, and Amanda Cejka. Not pictured: Andy Baker and Rachel Reed

Mad for Plaid- Match!

Clements Foundation and La Fiesta $100,000 match launches!

The Highland Park Education Foundation is excited to announce that the Clements Foundation and La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas have issued a generous $100,000 match to challenge our community to give! Every dollar you donate to Mad for Plaid between now and Jan. 5 will be DOUBLED up to $100,000. Mad for Plaid raises support for HPISD's critical budget needs, and currently, that critical need is raising the bar for teacher and staff salaries districtwide.

Every gift, no matter the size, will help us gift $1.7 million to HPISD for compensation increases. Your donation allows us to do more for our educators now, and we hope you don’t miss the chance to have your gift doubled by giving at https://hpef.org/supportmadforplaid.

Thank you to the Clements Foundation – established by Gov. Bill Clements, HPHS Class of ’34 – and La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, for their continued generosity and passion in challenging our community to support every student, every teacher, and every school. Together we can ignite every future! Give today!

Make a Donation Here!

Lead for Tomorow Endowment Campaign

As the end of 2023 approaches, many donors are looking for ways they can support the Highland Park Education Foundation. In addition to our annual "Mad for Plaid" campaign, we are also fundraising for “Lead for Tomorrow,” a multi-year endowment campaign with the goal of raising $40 million in new funds for our Tartan Endowment

by the end of 2026.

Learn more about the campaign in this video below featuring

Stark Sands '97, and see how you can establish a legacy fund to support the future needs of HPISD. For more information, visit leadfortomorrow.org or contact Allison Vanderwoude '00 with the HP Education Foundation at allison.vanderwoude@hpef.org.

Reunions

Reunions for 2023 have come to a close but the memories made and renewed friendships will continue. Once a Scot, Always A Scot!

Over 1,700 HPHS Alumni gathered for their reunion weekend in the fall and took high school tours, attended Scots football games and reunion parties! Thank you for your continued support of your class and the HPHS Alumni Association!

Class reps from the classes of 1954, 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014 will begin prepping for their reunions in January and February. Some classes might be celebrating a 5 year, 15 year,

25 year etc. reunion as well.

Stay tuned for reunion information posted on our website at hpef.org/reunions.