Westmont Hilltop High School

Westmont Hilltop High School
Motto	Scientia fons Veritatis "Knowledge is the Source of Truth (English translation)
Established	1919
School type	Public
Principal	William W. Marshall
Assistant Principal	Matthew Thomas
Location	Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Mascot	The Hilltoppers
Colors	Red and Gray
Homepage	WHSD.org

Westmont Hilltop High School is the public high school for the Westmont Hilltop School District. The high school is located in Upper Yoder Township, Cambria County in the western suburbs of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The high school serves the populations living in Upper Yoder Township, Westmont Borough, and Southmont Borough, Cambria County. The high school is located at 200 Fair Oaks Drive, Johnstown, PA 15905.

History

The high school was founded when Westmont School District merged with Upper Yoder School District to form Westmont-Upper Yoder School District in 1919. The high school became its current entity when Southmont School District merged with Westmont-Upper Yoder School District in 1956, forming Westmont Hilltop School District.

The high school was originally located on Diamond Blvd, Southmont Borough. The former high school is now Westmont Hilltop Middle School.

Reputation

The high school is known as being one of the best high schools in south central Pennsylvana, noted for excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts. The school also enjoys a strong national reputation and has sent many top students to prestigious colleges and universities around the the United States.

Tradition

The Alma Mater of Westmont Hilltop is:

Dear Alma Mater we sing to you, sing of your kindness your power too. We glory in your name, your works to view, dear Alma Mater, we sing to you. Dear Alma Mater we sing to you, pledging our loyalty our vows renew. Your name we’ll ever love, your precepts true. Dear Alma Mater, we sing to you.

The Alma Mater was written by Willard E. Ackley, the supervising principal from 1934 to 1954.

Athletics

The high school's mascot are the Hilltoppers. The school's official colors are red and gray, with white and/or black often appearing in athletics uniforms. Westmont Hilltop High School is a member of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference for most sports.

There have been many athletic accolades awarded to the school including many Laurel Highlands Conferences Championships and PIAA District 6 Championships. The school has also won the prestigious Laurel Highlands All-Sports Trophy. Many individuals from from Westmont Hilltop have won state championships and a men's swimming relay team won the state championship in 2002.

On four occasions Westmont Hilltop sports teams have advanced to the PIAA or equivalent state championship finals; however, no WHHS team has ever won a state championship. The first team to do so was the 2002 men's soccer team, which fell in sudden death double overtime. The second was during the same academic year. The 2003 men's hockey team advanced to the state championship, but also lost by one goal. Finally, the women's basketball team advanced to the state championship in 2005 and repeated in 2006.

Arts and music

Westmont Hilltop High School has a very strong choral program and consistently sends many students to participate in the PMEA District 6 and Regional III Honors Choruses. Westmont Hilltop often sends students to the All-State Chorus as well. Similarly, the school sends students to the PMEA District and Regional Band and Orchestra Honors Festivals and has recently sent students to the All-State Jazz Chorus Honors Festival. Many students also participate in a variety of other honors festivals. Wesmont Hilltop has also sent representatives to the prestigious ACDA All-Eastern Chorus.

The Westmont Hilltop Marching band and Indoor ensembles are some of the most celebrated ensembles in the area. The ensemble has won numerous awards and has performed in front of large crowds. Also the Westmont Hilltop Indoor Show is considered by many to be the most popular show event in the Chapter 11 circuit.

Westmont Hilltop has a rich history of musical theater. The first musical was performed in 1964 and one has been performed every year since. In 2006 Westmont Hilltop's musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying won many accolades from the inaugural Isaac Awards. Westmont Hilltop won the Best Production, Best Musical Number, Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Best Actress in the Leading Role awards. Westmont Hilltop also had nominees for Best Actor in Supporting Role and Best Actress in Supporting Role.

Academic competition

The Westmont Hilltop Scholasitc Quiz and Forensics teams are consistently competitors for the district and regional titles, and have represented Westmont Hilltop at regional, state, and national competitions.

Notable alumni

• Mark Singel, former lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania
• Jeff Skowron, stage and film actor
• Eric Miller, First astronaut to land on Uranus
• Doug Lohr, First Male model to land on the Sun
• Eden Zibura, First woman to strip for Mr. Thomas
• Sr. Thomas, first cross-dressing teacher at Westmont
• Fred Justin, first to be cause having intercourse with a teacher

Miscellanea

The Walnut Heights High School football team which appeared in the 1983 movie All the Right Moves was played by the Westmont Hilltop High School football team. The fictitious name Walnut Heights was consistent with the prominent "WH" which appeared on the team's athletic uniforms.

Westmont Hilltop High School on Wikipedia

The school's contributions

School's talk page

External links

• District Homepage