
We are so proud of every single participant who took the stage this weekend. From confidence and poise to kindness and encouragement behind the scenes, our students represented the very best of Horse Creek Academy.
✨ While we celebrate our winners, we truly believe each participant shined in their own way — and that’s what makes this event so special.
🌟 Congratulations to our 2026 Miss HCA Winners
-High School
Miss Horse Creek – Skyler Kanagy
Miss Senior – Kaylee Fulghum
Miss Junior – Lily Cameron
Miss Sophomore – Madison Morris
1st Runner Up – Kenleigh Wade
1st Runner Up – Lilian Sintich
2nd Runner Up – Allison Visnyai
-Middle School
Junior Miss Horse Creek – Maeline Lambert
Miss Eighth Grade – Ellie Rodriguez
1st Runner Up – Elissa Gomez
2nd Runner Up – Sage Young
Miss Seventh Grade – Callen Lee
1st Runner Up – Kensley Walker
Miss Sixth Grade – Harper Price
1st Runner Up – Adalyn Tibbs
-Elementary School
4K–5K
Tiny Miss Horse Creek – Coraline Busbee
1st Runner Up – Brogan Perry
2nd Runner Up – Arabella Busbee
1st–2nd Grade
Petite Miss Horse Creek – Piper Lee
1st Runner Up – Lillian Massotti
2nd Runner Up – Harper Jackson
3rd–4th Grade
Little Miss Horse Creek – Rowan Dabbs
1st Runner Up – Nadia Toole-Felton
2nd Runner Up – Felicity Deloach
5th Grade
Elementary Miss Horse Creek – Madelyn Barden
1st Runner Up – Anniston Johnson
2nd Runner Up – Sydney Garrett
📣 A special shoutout to our Middle School Cheer Team for hosting such an incredible event! Your energy, organization, and school spirit made the entire event unforgettable.
👏 And thank you to Ms. Heath and Ms. Watson for your leadership and the time and care you poured into making this event such a success—we appreciate you more than you know!
📸 Check out a few pics from the weekend below!
Thank you to our participants, families, judges, and staff who made this such a special event. This is what it looks like when confidence, courage, and community come together.
We are so proud of you all… truly the heart of our Village. 💙💛










Calling all future golfers! Golf Squad is returning to Horse Creek Academy this spring, and spots are almost gone — only 6 spots remain!
This after-school club for K–5 students meets once a week with a local golf professional to learn the fundamentals of golf while building confidence, coordination, and having fun with friends. No experience needed!
📅 Session Dates: March 26 – May 7
🕒 Time: Thursdays | 3:00–4:00 PM
📍 Location: Soccer Field
💲 Cost: $135 for the full session
All equipment is provided, and students even receive a Golf Squad handbook and visor/hat to keep.
⚠️ Spots are first come, first served and nearly full!
👉 Register here: https://golfsquad.com/class/horse-creek-academy-s26

🌟 This past weekend, Ellie Rodriguez (8th Grade) was inducted into the Terry McCoy Hall of Fame at the South Carolina Student Council Conference!
🏆 This prestigious recognition honors outstanding student leaders across the state who demonstrate exceptional dedication to leadership, service, and student voice within their schools and communities. Being selected for the Terry McCoy Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor, and Ellie represents Horse Creek Academy with pride.
🏇🏻 At HCA, we believe in developing leaders who serve others, and Ellie is a shining example of what that looks like in action. Her commitment to Student Council and her positive impact on our school community truly reflect the spirit of the Village.
💙💛 Congratulations, Ellie! We are so proud of you!

This week includes Lucky Day Free Dress tomorrow, important information about upcoming campus safety drills, Read-a-thon prize updates, yearbook last-chance orders, Fun Run shirt distribution, and a ton more Village news.
👉 Read the full update here: https://aptg.co/Y7GC5K
⛈️ We hope everyone across the Village managed the storm safely and had a chance to stay warm and dry today. We’re grateful that it appears the weather was not as severe as originally expected.
⏰ With that said, Horse Creek Academy will return to our normal schedule tomorrow. We look forward to welcoming all of our students and staff back on campus and getting back into our regular routines.
🍀 Reminder: Tomorrow is Lucky Day, so students are welcome to enjoy free dress and wear their green to celebrate!
Note: All afterschool games, practices and activities are still cancelled for today. Thanks! 💙

⛈️ After continuing to monitor the severe weather forecast and reviewing information from the National Weather Service and local emergency management officials, Horse Creek Academy will operate on an eLearning Day tomorrow, Monday, March 16 in order to keep our students, families, and staff safe.
💙Horse Creek Academy serves families across multiple counties, and many of our students and staff travel from areas that may experience higher storm impacts. Moving to an eLearning day also helps reduce travel risks across our broader Village.
⚠️ All after-school practices and games scheduled for tomorrow are also cancelled.
👇 Because this situation developed after students left campus on Friday, Chromebooks and paper packets were not sent home. Teachers have provided learning plans that can be completed with or without a device.
📚 Full eLearning plans and assignment details can be found here:
👉 https://aptg.co/ZTBCK5
🗓️ Assignments for all elementary, middle, and high school students will be due Monday, March 23 to give families flexibility due to this last-minute weather change.
Spring weather in the South certainly keeps us on our toes! Thank you for your flexibility and partnership as we work to keep our Village safe.
💙 Stay safe tomorrow, and thank you for being part of the Village.

❗️UPDATE AS OF 4:30PM ON 3/15/26:
HCA will have an eLearning Day on Monday, 3/16. Check out our most recent post for full information!
🌦️ Weather Update for Our HCA Village
🏇🏻 We are closely monitoring the projected severe weather for tomorrow. At this time, school is planned to operate on a normal schedule, but our team is taking several precautions to ensure a safe day for students and staff.
⚠️ Out of an abundance of caution, we will be:
• Moving students who typically learn in modular classrooms inside our main buildings during the day
• Limiting travel between buildings and outdoor movement as much as possible
• Planning carefully to ensure safe morning arrival and afternoon dismissal during car line
☀️⛈️As many of you know, spring weather in the South can change quickly, so our leadership team will continue monitoring conditions closely. If any changes become necessary, we will communicate with families right away through our usual channels.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe; have a happy Sunday!

😅 Our blog may have been hibernating a little during the winter months, but we’re excited to say it’s officially back with a brand new post!
💡 In our latest article, Chief Impact and Communications Officer Sarah Morris reflects on the idea that every child learns differently and why strong communities benefit from a variety of educational pathways. From traditional public schools to charter, private, and homeschool environments, the post explores how helping families find the right fit for their child ultimately strengthens the entire community.
🏇🏻At Horse Creek Academy, we’re proud to be part of that conversation as we continue working to serve students through our pillars of flexibility, service, and connection.
Take a few minutes to check out the latest post below 👇
https://www.hcacs.net/article/2755089
🌉 The Bridging the Divide: Youth Justice & Unity Initiative officially launched on March 1, 2026, bringing together youth and law enforcement to strengthen relationships, develop leadership skills, and build greater trust across our community. This year-long initiative is funded through a $25,000 National NAACP BUILD Grant and is designed to empower young leaders to be part of meaningful community conversations.
🎓 Now Recruiting Youth Ambassadors
High school students from across Aiken County — including students from Horse Creek Academy — are invited to apply to serve as Youth Ambassadors. Participants will help lead discussions, collaborate with community leaders and law enforcement, and gain valuable leadership and civic engagement experience.
🌟 What the Initiative Includes
• Regional community town halls
• Youth and law enforcement workshops
• Leadership development programming
• A youth-led media project
• A countywide retreat
📅 Important Dates
Youth Ambassador Application Deadline
March 19, 2026
Apply at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdom05xGgtenSGkToC-z5uQZ7ONk-otAw3pVlfCDENhNQqZ1w/viewform
Youth Ambassador Meet & Greet
March 26, 2026
Aiken High School Cafeteria
📣 Get Involved
Students interested in leadership, community engagement, and making a positive impact in Aiken County are encouraged to apply. Community organizations are also invited to support the initiative as mentors, facilitators, host sites, or advisory partners.

⚠️ UPDATE:
We are happy to share that the tornado warning for our area has now been lifted.
Students have safely returned to their classrooms, and we will continue to monitor weather conditions and emergency channels throughout the day. As an added precaution, all outdoor activities will remain canceled for the time being. Out of an abundance of caution, students from our modular building will spend the morning learning in the elementary building until 11am.
Thank you for your patience and support as our staff worked quickly to follow our safety procedures and keep students secure during the warning.
As always, the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. We will continue to keep a close eye on conditions and will notify families if any additional updates are needed.

⚠️UPDATE AS OF 10:02AM; TORNADO WARNING FOR AIKEN COUNTY HAS EXPIRED. SEE OUR MOST RECENT POST FOR MORE DETAILS.
---------------------
HCA Families,
We wanted to provide a quick update as severe weather, including a tornado warning, continues to move through our area.
As a precaution, all outdoor activities and any movement between buildings have been canceled. Students who were in our modular cottage have been safely moved into the main building.
At this time, all students are in the designated secure hallway areas that we practice during our tornado drills. Our staff is with them, and students are safe and calm.
Our team continues to closely monitor weather conditions and local emergency channels. The safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority, and we will continue to take any necessary steps as conditions evolve.
We will provide another update once the weather threat has passed and we are able to return to normal activities.
Thank you for your continued support and we will be back in touch soon.

Horse Creek Academy Juniors and Seniors — it’s time to start counting down to one of the most memorable nights of the year! Prom 2026, Enchanted Evening, will take place on Saturday, May 2 from 7–11 PM, and planning is already underway to make it a truly magical night for our students.
💙 Want to help make it amazing?
We’re currently gathering donations to help create a beautiful and memorable prom experience. If you’d like to contribute decorations, supplies, or other items, you can sign up here:
➡️ Donation Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A48A9A62AA4F58-61777886-prom#/
🎟 Prom Tickets
Tickets are currently $40, but prices will increase again in April, so students are encouraged to grab theirs early!
Our goal is to sell at least 50 tickets by March 20 so we can move forward with the full prom experience we are planning. Prom is such a special tradition, and we would love to see strong participation from our students so we can make the night everything it should be.
✨ Purchase Tickets: https://gofan.co/event/5847759?schoolId=SC100404
✨ Guest Form for Non-HCA Students: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4559/Hca/540b572c-41e4-412c-8738-74b2dfe4bbc1/Prom-Permission-Form.pdf?disposition=inline
Let’s make Prom 2026 an Enchanted Evening to remember! 💫

🐎 Get ready to celebrate a little Stallion-style luck! On Tuesday, March 17, we’re inviting all students and staff to join the fun for Lucky Day at Horse Creek Academy.
💚Everyone is welcome to enjoy free green dress for the day — so pull out your favorite green outfits and join in the fun!
🍀 It’s always a lucky day when you’re at HCA!

📚 A limited supply of yearbooks are now available first come, first served — and once they’re gone, they’re gone!
💙 These books capture the moments that make Horse Creek Academy special: friendships, events, accomplishments, and memories your student will look back on for years to come.
👉 Order Elementary Yearbooks at https://tinyurl.com/hca26elemyearbook
👉 Order Middle/High Yearbooks at https://tinyurl.com/hca26mshsyearbook
🔎 Not sure if you already ordered one? You can check your order status at https://www.jostens.com/customer-service/yearbook-order-tracking
Don’t miss your chance to hold on to this year’s memories! 💙💛

🐎 As Horse Creek Academy continues to grow, so do the opportunities for our students. This spring, we will celebrate our third graduating class, and with our high school program expanding each year, we are excited to launch a new initiative: HCA Senior Scholarships.
💙 We are inviting local businesses, organizations, and community members to sponsor a scholarship for a graduating Stallion. These scholarships can support students pursuing college, technical school, or workforce certification programs, helping with expenses like tuition, books, or training fees while recognizing the leadership, service, and academic achievements of our seniors.
🚀 Supporting a scholarship is a meaningful way to invest in the future of a local student and be part of their journey beyond Horse Creek Academy.
If you or your organization would like to sponsor a scholarship, you can submit one here:
👉 https://forms.office.com/r/j5xUGxkRGV
💬 Know a business that loves supporting students and community? Tag them in the comments! They might be the reason a Stallion’s dream takes flight. ✈️
Thank you for helping our students step confidently into their future. We are the Village. 💙

🌻 One of the most exciting times of the year is officially underway — spring sports are kicking off at Horse Creek Academy! Our fields are coming back to life, our student-athletes are ready to compete, and our Stallion fans are gearing up for some great evenings cheering on our teams.
👇 To make your game nights a little easier, we’ve included a handy campus map to help you find where you need to go.
🚗 Spoiler Alert: Athletics parking is located in our back parking lot, so be sure to head to the correct entrance when you arrive! This will help keep traffic flowing smoothly and get everyone to the games faster.
Grab your lawn chair, bring your Village spirit, and come support our Stallions this spring. We can’t wait to see everyone out there! 🐎💙💛

✨We are so excited for one of our favorite events of the year — the Miss Horse Creek Pageant!
⭐️ High School Pageant: March 13th at 5:30pm
⭐️ Elementary School Pageant: March 14th at 12pm
⭐️ Middle School Pageant: March 14th at 5:30pm
🎟 Please note: Tickets must be purchased separately for each day, so be sure to grab the correct ticket(s) for the event you plan to attend. Tickets for the 14th are valid for both events!
🎟 High School Tickets: https://gofan.co/event/6121474?schoolId=SC100404
🎟 Elem/Middle School Tickets: https://gofan.co/event/6121512?schoolId=SC100404
Come out and support our incredible students as they take the stage! We can’t wait to see you there! 💙✨

👋 Looking for a meaningful way to spend part of your Teacher Workday on Friday, March 20? Come serve with us at Horse Creek Academy from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM as we work together to care for both our campus and our community.
We’ll have two teams in action:
🚧 Adopt-a-Highway Team (Toolebeck Rd.)
Helping clean up litter along our assigned Adopt-a-Highway sections.
• Students must be 13 years or older
• Students ages 13–14 must have a parent present
• Students 15 and older may participate without a parent (adult supervisors will be assigned to each section), but students shouldn't be dropped off (they can drive themselves here if they have a license!)
🌿 Campus Clean-Up Team (HCA Campus)
Perfect for all ages, helping beautify our campus through litter clean-up and small improvement projects.
• Students 14 and under must have a parent/guardian/chaperone present
🎶 We’ll have music, great company, and the 2 Spicy Mamas Food Truck on site (yum!) — so come serve and grab some lunch while you're here.
👉 Sign up at the link below and join us!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050448A9A828A5FF2-62544771-hcaadoptahighway
🌻 At Horse Creek Academy, service is one of our pillars — and this is a great chance for students, families, and staff to live it out together.
💙 We are the Village.

💙 Our High School DECA students are leading a donation drive to support the SPCA from March 9–March 19, and we would love our Village to rally behind them!
🐶 This drive will run through our Middle School and High School homerooms, and MS/HS students may bring donations directly to their homeroom teachers during the collection dates.
Items most needed include:
• Towels
• Hand soap
• Cat treats
• Kitten/Puppy formula
• Any dry cat or dog food
• All-purpose cleaner
• Kong chew toys
💛 This is a meaningful way for our ms/hs students to live out our pillar of Service while supporting a wonderful local organization that cares for animals in need.
Let’s show our community what the Village can do. 💙🐾

If you're looking for a fun family activity this evening, come join us at HCA Literacy Night happening right now from 6:00–7:30 PM!
There are literacy games, activities, food trucks, and plenty of Village fun happening across campus. It’s a great night to celebrate reading together!
👀 Bonus: The PTO is also launching their brand-new Elementary competition — “Stuff the Stallion!” tonight. We’ll share full details in next week’s Weekly Update, but if you’re on campus this evening, be sure to stop by and check it out!
Come enjoy the fun with us — we’d love to see you here! 💙📖