we are proud to announce the 2016 inductees to the hillsdale high...

Weareproudtoannouncethe2016inducteestotheHillsdaleHighSchoolHallofFame.

JohnHazelhurst[HHS‘78]wasinvolvedinTVproductionandmusicaltheaterwhileatHillsdale.He thenenlisted in theUSAir Forcewherehe served for20 years, specializing in air crew lifesupport and pressure suits for high altitude aircraft (U2 and SR71) while earning numerouscommendations. He then became a NASA contractor for the Shuttle program, serving as aninsertiontechnicianoncloseoutcrewsandworkingdirectlywithastronautsasthe“lastmanout”onnumerousShuttleflights,includingtheill-fatedColumbiamissionin2003.HeisarecipientoftheNASASpaceFlightAwarenessHonoreeAward. Currently,Johncontinueshisworkwith lifesupportsystemsfortheWB57aircraft,ahighaltitudescientificplatformfortheNASAAirborneScienceProgram.ValerieFleming[HHS‘94]wasanhonorstudent,involvedinstudentgovernment,andanawardwinning four sport athlete (track, soccer, softball, and swimming) while at Hillsdale. ShegraduatedfromUCSantaBarbarawhereshewonnumeroushonorsinbothtrackandfield,andthenearnedaMastersdegreefromSt.Mary’sCollege.Valeriebecameinvolvedintwowomenbobsledin2003asapusher/brakeman.Overthenext8yearssheearned21WorldCupMedals,3WorldChampionshipMedals,andaSilverMedalatthe2006WinterOlympicsinTurin.Sheisnow thecoach/managerof theU.S.BobsledandSkeletonDevelopmentProgram. Valeriewashonored in 2010 as one of St.Mary’s 40 InfluentialWomen, and has been inducted into thePeninsulaSportsHallofFame.

KarenKraft[HHS‘87]attendedCalPolySanLuisObispofollowinghergraduationfromHillsdale.There she earned a degree in architecture and was a member of the school’s club rowingprogram.Karen’sinterestandsuccessinrowinggrewasshecontinuedtocompeteinwomen’scoxlesspairs. ShewonWorldCupGoldMedals in ’95, ’96,and ’99,USNationalChampionshipGoldMedalsin’96and’99,aSilverMedalattheAtlantaSummerOlympicsin1996,andaBronzeMedalatthe2000SummerOlympicsinSydney.ShewasnamedUSRowing’sFemaleAthleteofthe Year in 1996 and 2000. Karen and her partner missed the ’96 gold medal by .039 of asecond!KarencontinuedherinvolvementinrowingastheassistantvarsityrowingcoachattheUniversityofWisconsin,andshecurrentlyteachesBikramYogainMadison,WI.

Nick Vanos [HHS ‘81]was a3 year varsity starter atHillsdalewhereheholds the single gamescoringrecord(51pts),wastwicetheCCSleadingscorer,andtwicetheSMCountyPlayeroftheYear.NickthenattendedSantaClaraUniversitywherehefashionedastellarcareer,twicebeingnamed1stteamall leagueandinvitedtothe1984OlympicBasketballTrials. In1985,NickwaschosenbythePhoenixSunsasthe2ndpickofthe2ndround,andwasprojectedtobetheSun’sstartingcenterforthe1988season.Tragically,followingthe1987season,Nickwaskilledinanairlinercrashattheageof24.Nickhasbeenwidelyrecognizedforhisoutstandingcharacterandathletic ability, and has been inducted into the Santa ClaraUniversity and SMCountyAthleticHallsofFame,andhadhisjerseyretiredbothatSantaClaraandHillsdale.

Bill Wilkin [HHS ’64-‘03] began a distinguished career at Hillsdale following graduation fromCapuchinoHS andUtah StateUniversity. He served as a Physical Education Teacher, AthleticDirector, Frosh-Soph Baseball, Frosh-Soph and Varsity Softball, and Frosh-Soph and VarsityBasketballCoach.Over30yearsasVarsityBasketballCoach,histeamswon493games,captured8leaguetitles,wereCCSrunner-upsin’86-’87,andchampionsin’95and’97.The’97teamwasthe Northern California Champion and finished as California Division III runner-up. Bill wasnamedCCSCoachof theyear in1989,was inducted into theSanMateoCountySportsHallofFamein2006andhasbeenhonoredbyHillsdale’snamingofthe“BillWilkinCourt”.Billcoachedbothofhissuccessorsandisrespectedasatruegentlemanwhocoached“theHillsdaleway”.