This year 76 students will graduate from Hidden Lake High School, the alternative high school in Adams County School District 50.

Of those 76, 19 students actually graduated early.

Principal James Steward said this past school year has been an exciting one, with many students volunteering in New Orleans to rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina, and students visiting New York City on a cultural field trip.

“We had two seniors, LiAnna Taylor and Amber Waterhouse experience life outside Colorado for the first time while visiting New Orleans,” Seward said. “The work was laborious and the temperature and humidity extreme, yet LiAnna and Amber and their team worked daily to paint and restore the New Orleans home of an 80-year-old man. They witnessed the power of individuals changing a life, and in turn changed their own.”

Steward said this year Hidden Lake seniors were also busy taking college courses in a new concurrent enrollment program, which allows students to take college courses along with their high school schedule in order to gain college credits.

“Three graduating seniors have taken advantage of concurrent enrollment and are well on their way to earning their associate's degree from Front Range Community College,” he said.

A first this year for Hidden Lake High School was a boys' basketball team that played in the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District league. Many seniors played on the team including James Sanchez and Alstein Lor.  Steward said not only did Hidden Lake have a team, they won the first game played in a close contest.

“What made this an exceptional accomplishment was that Hidden Lake High School played against men several years older and more athletically experienced than themselves, “ he said. “HLHS men's basketball team played with heart.”