Our Young People

Dylan Frank accepted into U.S. Naval Academy

Published by admin on Wed, 05/14/2025 - 1:46pm

Custer High School senior Dylan Frank will go down in history at Custer Jr./Sr. High School as the eighth student to ever be accepted into a military academy.
Frank, the son of Chris Frank and Tracy Clark, has attended school in Custer for his entire life. During that time, he has been active in sports like cross country, track and soccer as well as academics by taking dual-credit classes and becoming the president of the National Honor Society.

Buehler leaves legacy Hill City won’t soon forget

Published by admin on Wed, 05/14/2025 - 10:07am
Hill City senior Devin Buehler didn’t just leave his mark in Hill City, he graffitied his name all over the record books — figuratively of course. 
Buehler, the son of Dan and Meagan Buehler of Hill City, has attended Hill City school since kindergarten and is knocking at the door of graduation this Sunday. But it’s not the time that he has spent here that is impressive; it’s what he did with it.

Branding day on the Paulton Ranch

Published by admin on Wed, 05/07/2025 - 10:18am

The smell of cinnamon rolls filled the house with a sweet, delightful smell. I woke up ready for the big day ahead. It was branding day at the Paulton Ranch, and I was ready for my favorite day of the year, our branding.
Outside my pony stood saddled, ready for the morning gather. The air was crisp and cool as we rode to the hay yard to meet with the other riders. Once in the pasture, the cows mooed for their calves, and the horses pranced through the pine trees and across the open meadows as we gathered the pasture.

Learn more about local 4-H Saturday

Published by admin on Wed, 05/07/2025 - 10:17am

Custer County children have an opportunity to learn about 4-H this Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Custer County Library.
Both current 4-H members and club leaders will be on hand to share about 4-H with the community.
Booths will be set up in the Pine Room with 4-H information and participants can visit with 4-H kids and learn how to make green slime and a 4-H friendship bracelet.

Boys State sign-up deadline Saturday

Published by admin on Wed, 04/30/2025 - 12:12pm

The 82nd session of American Legion Boys State of South Dakota is taking place June 2-6, and three Custer County boys have the opportunity to participate through the sponsorship of the Custer American Legion Post No. 46. The deadline to sign up is Saturday, May 3, and two sponsorship spaces are still available.
Boys State is an opportunity for high school junior and senior boys in South Dakota to gather for a week in the summer to participate in government role-playing from township to state level.

Hill City seniors ignite potential at SkillsUSA

Published by admin on Wed, 04/23/2025 - 1:08pm
Two students represented Hill City for the first time ever at the State SkillsUSA competition at Mitchell Technical College April 11. This year’s theme was “Ignite Your Potential,” and that is exactly what the students did. 

Hill City High School jumping into prom

Published by admin on Wed, 04/02/2025 - 9:38am
It’s time to dress to impress and polish up those dance moves. Prom is upon us this Saturday, April 5.
This year’s theme for the Hill City High School prom held at the Diamond Spur Event Center will be “A Night in Greece.” Grand March is at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and a dance from 8-10:30 p.m.
Once the formal event is finished, it’s time to let down those up-dos for some post-prom fun. 
The committee has been hard at work planning, fundraising and collecting donations for the event. 

Quinn Lewison is a Star of The West finalist

Published by admin on Wed, 03/19/2025 - 12:22pm

Custer High School senior Quinn Lewison is the third finalist in KOTA Territory’s FOX’s Rising Star of the West Scholarship contest. Lewison competed with four other Black Hills high school students the week of Feb. 24 on KOTA Territory News on FOX. Lewison’s commentary on the importance of reading was rated the best of the week by a combination of viewers on kotatv.com and a KOTA Territory panel of judges. She will now be back on the air in late April and May competing with the other three finalists for a total of $7,500 in scholarship money from Black Hills FOX and Monument Health.

Student screen background design contest

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 1:40pm
The Hill City School District will perform background checks…but not how you might think. 
The school will run a design contest, challenging students to incorporate both the use of technology as well as their art skills while designing a computer screen background. 
Students will submit original artwork that will be considered by a panel of judges. The selected artwork will become the lock-screen and background for every computer in the school district for the 2025-26 school year. 

Hill City school to host student job fair

Published by admin on Wed, 03/12/2025 - 1:39pm
The Hill City School District will once again hold its annual job fair over the lunch hour in the Bob Burden Gymnasium March 19. 
The event is geared toward eighth grade through senior students and involves local businesses from Hill City, Custer, Keystone and Rapid City. 
Each business has a table with information about their business and available employment opportunities. Students have one hour to walk around the room and visit with representatives from the different businesses.