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Hickman Mills C-1 School District is proud to announce the hiring of Marquis Hall, Ed.D., as the new principal of the Brooks-Sharp Sixth Grade Center at Santa Fe for the 2026-2027 school year.

Ruskin High School students once again proved that excellence, leadership, and determination are alive and thriving at HMC-1 during this year’s Youth Lead KC Shining Star Awards. From prestigious scholarships to leadership honors, Ruskin students made an unforgettable impact, showcasing the talent and promise that continue to define the school community.

The Hickman Mills C-1 School District (HMC-1) is proud to announce the appointment of two accomplished and dynamic educational leaders to key principal roles within the district. Ashford Collins, Ed.D., has been named the new principal of Hickman Mills Middle School, and Keyonia Cobbins, Ed.S., will lead Ingels Elementary School.

Superintendent of the Hickman Mills C-1 School District Dennis L. Carpenter, Ed.D., has been selected to serve on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Commissioner’s Advisory Council. Carpenter will participate in his first meeting on Tuesday, April 7, in Jefferson City.

Ruskin High School’s Speech and Debate team is on fire this season, stacking up big wins, building serious momentum, and making their mark on the national stage. Leading the charge? Two standout students who’ve earned double-qualification for the National Speech and Debate Association’s World Schools Debate, putting Ruskin in the spotlight in a big way.

Today, we honor a Hickman Mills High School graduate of 1981, who stayed in the Hickman Mills C-1 School district for her entire elementary, middle, and high school career. Carrie Allison Bates Brown moved on to bigger things after graduation, attending the University of Notre Dame. She earned her Bachelor’s in American Studies with concentrations in Sociology and English, which allowed her diversity within the workforce.

Getting a jumpstart on his future is Zuhair Abuasbah, who has made the most of his experience at Ruskin High School. Throughout his four years, he’s earned a multitude of certifications and honors and has left a lasting impression on the school community. After graduation, he hopes to either become an apprentice electrician in a trade school or to study business at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) and achieve his associate degree. Although he was the author of his own story, he credits Leah La Faver, Ed.D., for having the biggest impact on his journey.

Sean Crawford, a long-time member of the Hickman Mills C-1 School District, graduated from Ruskin High School in 2012 – though he did not fly far from the nest. After graduation, he studied business and ultimately made his way back to Hickman Middle School and Santa Fe Elementary as the Local Investment Commission (LINC) Caring Communities Coordinator, working daily to support student success. In addition, he co-founded a real estate investment and education company, in which he helps individuals and families gain financial literacy, life skills, and access to homeownership–especially in underserved communities

Every year, a few moments remind us just how bright the future can be. This is one of them. Several Ruskin High School seniors are earning major scholarships and honors this spring, recognition that reflects years of hard work, perseverance, and the encouragement of teachers, mentors, and families who believed in them along the way.

“. . . always think of the future! If you want a white house with a picket fence, do everything you can to make sure you obtain that!” answers Ana Melisa Estrada Cruz when asked what advice she’d give incoming freshmen. Ana wasted no time in chasing her dreams of becoming an oncology nurse, utilizing her resources at Ruskin High School to graduate with a variety of market value assets, including but not limited to being HOSA (Future Health Professionals) Vice President, a National Honor Society member, Early College Academy, and her favorite, our Certified Nurse Assistant program (CNA).