Fall 2023 / Issue 8

Program Spotlight: Texas Heritage Museum

This summer, Hill College’s Texas Heritage Museum achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums. Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum and cultural communities as well as government organizations, funders, and other agencies.

The accreditation process is rigorous, it requires a great deal of time and dedication. The museum, specifically John Versluis, executive director and chief curator of the museum, has been working toward this goal for nearly 10 years, a fitting achievement for the college’s centennial anniversary.

“We are immensely proud that the Texas Heritage Museum has received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. This achievement marks an important milestone in the history of Hill College. This affirmation of accreditation represents our unyielding commitment to national standards and best practices of museums. Our museum staff and colleagues from across the Hill College community worked tirelessly to achieve this highest national recognition and look forward to continued success in the future,” said Versluis.

Alliance accreditation recognizes a museum’s commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 50 years, the Alliance’s accreditation program is the field’s primary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation, and public accountability. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely, and remain financially and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

In addition to national recognition in the museum community, accreditation provides increased credibility with funders, donors, and lenders, and can be a valuable tool in lobbying support from local and state governments. It shows fulfillment for public trust obligations, fosters organizational development and improvement, and conveys to insurance agencies that the museum cares about its collection and reputation.

Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only 1,102 are currently accredited. The Texas Heritage Museum is one of only 53 museums accredited in the state out of an estimated 2,400 museums.

KEEP READING

Alumni Spotlight: Ainslee Morris

Former Hill College student and athlete Ainslee Morris

“I met some of my best friends while attending Hill College. I will carry those memories with me for a lifetime.”

Ainslee Morris graduated from Hill College with an associate degree in liberal arts, majoring in aviation science, in the spring of 2023. In addition to her academic pursuits at Hill College, Morris was also an accomplished member of the college’s rodeo team, competing in breakaway roping and goat tying.

After graduation, Morris began working toward her bachelor’s degree in aviation science at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, to pursue a career in aviation. Morris credits her love of aviation to her grandfather, who would take her flying as a child. “I enjoyed those memories so much and want to keep them going! Getting my degree in aviation is my way of holding on to that,” she said.

During her time at Hill College, she enjoyed traveling to college rodeos with friends, making new ones, and creating memories. “I met some of my best friends while attending Hill College. I will carry those memories with me for a lifetime,” said Morris.

She credits her success to her many supporters. “Paul and Traci Brown were a tremendous resource during my time there. They were so supportive and continue to be so even now.”

Other professors include her English instructor, Kathy Hilbert, who took an interest in Morris’ post-graduate plans, and Jason Abbott, her government instructor, who ignited her interest in politics.

Morris graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Hill College’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Nu Xi, in the fall of 2022. When asked how she balanced rodeo and academics, she said “I tried to use any of my free time to work ahead in my classes. Even during rodeos, I would do schoolwork when I wasn’t competing.”

KEEP READING

Community Spotlight: Kayla Hoffman

Kayla Hoffman, Assistant Vice President Loan Officer, Ciera Bank

“As someone who grew up in a small town that did not offer many scholarship programs, I am grateful to be part of an organization that provides free tuition to young students who may not be able to reach their career goals otherwise.”

Kayla Hoffman is the assistant vice president loan officer at Ciera Bank in Burleson, Texas. She also serves on the board of the Burleson Opportunity Fund as treasurer. The Burleson Opportunity Fund is a scholarship program open to all high school graduates who live or graduated from high school in Burleson, Texas. The organization raises funds for college scholarships to provide students who want to get their college education at Hill College’s Burleson Higher Education Center the financial assistance they need.

Kayla grew up in Valley Falls, Kansas. After graduating high school, she took a position as a bank teller in Topeka, Kansas, and gradually moved her way up to becoming a personal banker for new accounts after moving to Burleson in 2014. She then continued to advance into an administrative position as a lending assistant before moving into her current position with Ciera.

While establishing her career, Kayla continued her education, earning both her bachelor’s degree in business and associate degree in marketing at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, in 2019.

In 2022, Kayla was nominated to sit on the board of the Burleson Opportunity Fund (BOF) as treasurer. She began her position in 2023. “It has been such an honor to be a part of this initiative. The impact the BOF is making for our Burleson students who want to attend Hill College is huge. With the completion of the Burleson Higher Education Center in 2023, we have more students than ever seeking to begin their college journey in their hometown and the BOF is helping them achieve that goal. It is rewarding to hear stories from our graduates and learn what they are doing with their careers.

KEEP READING

Support the Centennial Endowment Fund

HILL COLLEGE | www.hillcollege.edu