Hawks celebrate successful history during golden anniversary event

May 26, 2026

Cora, Jenna and Zeke symbolized the high-flying academic success that Hill Elementary School students have displayed for 50 years.
 
The three Hawks joined dozens of Hill students, staff and alumni this spring at a celebration for the school’s 50th anniversary. The fifth graders shared information about the building with interested adults throughout the afternoon. The Student Council representatives led them past shelves full of historical artifacts, spoke about several facility updates and showed many alumni their former classrooms.
 
“We walked around the school and we gave tours to people,” Cora said.
 
“I had fun doing it,” Zeke said.
 
Hill Principal Emily Wiebeck said she was thankful for the celebration’s community engagement. Every tour guide remained busy because of the large crowd that came to campus. Many people in the audience were impressed with the event’s organization, which included speeches, food, vintage photos and many joyful hugs.
 
“Thank you so much for being a part of this special day,” Wiebeck said. “So many people have put in countless hours to this event to make it a reality, and I couldn’t be more grateful for each and every one of you.”
 
Lincoln Board of Education member Marilyn Johnson-Farr welcomed visitors to the celebration from her spot on the outdoor classroom stage. She said the school has been an important focal point for the neighborhood during the past five decades.
 
“It is my pleasure to join in celebrating your 50-year milestone, the endurance and resilience that has helped this building stand tall,” Johnson-Farr said. “It makes me incredibly proud to represent this school on the Board of Education. The students, parents, teachers and administrators have brought their seeds of wisdom to the table, and we see it sprinkled not only inside this space, but overflowing into our community and beyond.”
 
Roscoe Hill, the son of school namesake Ruth Hill, provided a detailed history about his parents and grandparents to the audience. He also spoke about his mother’s dedication to the community. She supported thousands of local students in her role on the Lincoln Board of Education from 1946-63.
 
“Over many years, she attended many daytime and evening meetings at schools in the community,” Hill said. “As I was growing up, there were countless times she rushed through supper and went out for an evening meeting. She was a tireless advocate for better schools in Lincoln.”
 
Lincoln Public Schools administrators began planning for a new elementary school in 1971. They decided to name the building after Hill, who was the first woman to serve on the Lincoln Board of Education. Hill Elementary opened its doors to students on Jan. 26, 1976.
 
The school was officially dedicated on May 23, 1976. Ruth Hill attended the ceremony along with LPS Superintendent John Prasch, Hill Principal Ruthelen Sittler and Lincoln Board of Education President Louis Roper.
 
This spring’s celebration capped a full year of festive 50th anniversary events at Hill. Wiebeck spent last summer searching for school memorabilia to display in glass cases in the cafeteria. She and other school leaders invited guests, ordered food and asked Student Council members like Cora, Jenna and Zeke to participate in the anniversary program.
 
Zeke said he was happy to help spread the word about Hill’s history to visitors. He said he has made a lot of memories during his time as a Hawk.
 
“It’s the best school that I’ve been at,” Zeke said.
 
Wiebeck said the LPS Operations Department played a key role in the afternoon’s success. They finished many landscaping projects and arranged benches, chairs and picnic tables outside the building. They also inserted personalized commemorative bricks on a pathway through the outdoor classroom.
 
“They were pivotal in bringing our vision to life,” Wiebeck said. “From designing the plans to working tirelessly on site, whether it was setting up benches, laying the personalized bricks, grading the land or laying mulch, their hard work and commitment made this project possible.”
 
Wiebeck also thanked the Hill Parent-Teacher Association for helping families have an even more enriching elementary experience. PTA members assist Hill teachers with outdoor classroom activities, serve as chaperones on field trips and raise funds for many school projects and learning opportunities.
 
“They don’t just support us. They make our dreams a reality,” Wiebeck said. “They are the reason that our outdoor classroom is now a functional, vibrant learning space. Their dedication to our school has truly transformed the way we learn and grow together.”
 
Wiebeck said she has “the absolute privilege and honor” of being Hill’s principal. She said it is satisfying to witness the high-flying academic achievements that Hill Hawks make in their classrooms every day.
 
“We would not be here today without our students, teachers and families who have been an integral part of the Hill family over the last 50 years,” Wiebeck said. “You are the heart of this school, and we are so grateful for each of you who has contributed to the success of this community.”
 
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