HCS showcases students in Master Plan 2.0 Connecting the Dots Community Showcase

Hampton City Schools (HCS) held its first Master Plan 2.0 Connecting the Dots Community Showcase on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Kecoughtan High School. The event featured capstone culminating showcase presenters from grades five, eight, and high school.

Hosts of the event were School Board student representative Sophia Harris, a senior in the On Stage: Performing Arts Academy at Kecoughtan High School, and Kaleb Lucas, a junior in the Virginia Peninsula Community College Academy of the College Experience at Phoebus High School. City Council members, School Board members, HCS administrators, staff, students, families,and community members were in attendance.

 

As a school division and a city, we are reimagining teaching and learning by transforming what and how our students learn. With the Academies of Hampton and Master Plan 2.0, we are preparing students for success in college, careers, and life by providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences. This community showcase is an opportunity to see this transformation in action, highlighting how we are empowering students through career pathways, project-based learning, and community-connected experiences.

 

“We know that this important work does not begin when a student enters high school. We can not wait until 9th grade to start preparing our students for life beyond graduation,” said HCS superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes. “This event truly connects the dots between elementary, middle, and high school learning, emphasizing the Portrait of a Graduate PreK-12 Learning Continuum and the impact of the Academies of Hampton.”

Project-Based Learning High School Showcase Freshman and Academies of Hampton 

Students presented their impact projects, competing for the Division Showcase Award.

8th Grade Capstone Showcase

Students presented their capstone projects in a gallery-style exhibit, reflecting on their learning journey and readiness for high school.

5th Grade Capstone Showcase: Reverse Career Fair

Students brought career exploration to life by showcasing their future careers and academies in an interactive experience.

In addition, an exhibit room showcased various elementary and middle school, and high school touchpoints; the 16 high school Academies of Hampton; and a celebration of the HCS transformational approach to teaching and learning, demonstrating how the Academies of Hampton are creating a community-connected education system.

Winners are as follows:

5th Grade Judges’ & Viewers’ Choice

Business & Information Technology Quadrant

Judges Choice: Ayaan Siddiq the Entrepreneur from Bassette Elementary

Viewer’s Choice: Micah Naugle the Aerospace Engineer from Barron Fundamental Elementary

Creative Studies Quadrant

Judges Choice: Karter Hines the Aerospace Engineer from Armstrong School for the Arts

Viewer’s Choice: Ja'Niya Mincey the Veterinarian from Machen Elementary 

Public Service

Judges Choice: Karter Alston the Orthopedic Surgeon from Kraft Elementary

Viewers’ Choice: San'iyah Thomas the Dermatologist from Aberdeen Elementary & Alayanna McGruder from Langley Elementary

Engineering & Technology

Judges’ Choice: Feliza Daniel the Marine Biologist from Phillips Elementary

Viewers’ Choice: Sydney Meeks the Pediatrician from Kilgore Gifted Center (Elementary) 

8th Grade Showcase Winners

1st Place

Bracket A: 1st: “Cultivating Kindness” from Kilgore Gifted Center (Middle)

Liam Patton, Kara Lucas, Mikayla Hairston, and Brooklyn Murray

Bracket B: 1st: “Avoiding Substance Abuse: Peer Pressure” from Phenix PreK-8

Jaelyn Harris, Shakara Clemons, Nazareth Benitez Moncada, Madelynn Torres, and Jillian Hatton

2nd Place

Bracket A: "They Not Like Us, Too Good for Gangs" from Lindsay Middle

Derek Coles, Keimon Freeman, and Josue De la Cruz Lomeli

Bracket B: “Gentrification” from Eaton 

Khloe Blair and Nasir Richardson-Sedgwick

3rd Place

Bracket A: “Teen Suicide: What Do We Do?” From Syms Middle

Gordon Cousins, Justin Greene, Aubrey Kelly, and Michael Ruiz

Bracket B: “Missing Dogs” from Jones 

Olivia Stevenson

High School Exhibitor Showcase Winner

“BHS Safe Space” from Bethel High 

Jurhnee Richardson, Cameron Love, Michael Rinehart, Jr., Arely Lomeli Padilla, and Brandon Bagley

Division Showcase Winners

1st Place

Hampton High: “Hope for Rest”

Dakota Spratley, Destyne Holmes, and Aysia Gilliam

2nd Place

Phoebus High: “Operation Gratitude: Honoring Our Heroes”

Owen Folkerts, Morgan Williams, Jerale McCray, Scarlett Allmon, Braylon Thurmond, Morgan Hanley, and Kadyn Robinson

3rd Place

Kecoughtan High: “Dual Language Literacy Kits”

Abigail Browning, Parker Bourque, Savannah Bilski, and Victoria Scott

Bethel High: “Hampton Future Bike Riders”

Evan Bell and Ryan Goodwin

Congratulations to all of our outstanding students!