Submitted
HILL CITY — The Hill City High School Alumni Scholarship Program (HCHSASP) has announced that this year’s winner of the annual Edna Dean Harrell Family Scholarship is Hannah Lee.
She is a 2025 graduate of Hill City High and was awarded $5,000 to support her continuing education. She received the initial award this summer and will receive additional money in the following semesters. Under the rules of the Alumni Association, Lee must maintain a 3.0 grade point average to receive continuing assistance.
The scholarship winner is chosen annually by the HCHSASP and Mrs. Harrell’s son, Dan Harrell. The scholarship was established in 2009, just weeks after the passing of Mrs. Harrell, making Lee the 17th winner so far.
Originally established as a yearly $1,000 scholarship for a deserving Hill City High graduate to continue their education, the amount has increased steadily to its current award of $5,000 annually. In total, the scholarship has provided the 17 winners with more than $60,000 in educational assistance so far.
Lee commuted more than 25 miles round-trip to Hill City for school from Morland, her hometown. She also worked as an aide at Dawson Place (a retirement community in Hill City) and was a lifeguard at the local pool for several years.
Lee was exuberantly thankful to learn she had won the scholarship. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to receive this scholarship,” she said. “I am planning to attend Fort Hays State University in the fall, where I will study Human Health and Performance and get my bachelor’s degree. After I get my bachelor’s degree, I plan on pursuing physical therapy.”
Announcing the award, Harrell said, “In the end, Hannah emerged as the clear winner. She exemplifies the values and purpose that the Harrell Scholarship stands for – love of education, constant striving to be and know more, giving back to the community, and wanting to follow a career path that serves others. Her pursuit of a healthcare career gave her an added advantage as that path most honors my mother’s lifelong work.”
Hannah is the daughter of Barnaby and Melissa Lee.