Harry Hustle 2026: Building Confidence and Community at Hickory Hill Academy

On Thursday, October 8th, our campus here at Hickory Hill Academy was filled with runners, cheering families, and students encouraging one another at our annual Harry Hustle! This favorite tradition brought our Early Childhood Program and K–8 community together for a morning of movement, connection, and fun.

As an independent school in Madison, Wisconsin, serving infants through 8th grade, we value the relationships that grow across ages, classrooms, and campus. This year’s Harry Hustle gave us a special opportunity to celebrate those connections with the debut of our Campus Buddies!

Older and Younger Students, Growing Together

Each grade had the opportunity to cheer on their buddies, making encouragement a meaningful part of the morning. Students had someone special to support and someone cheering them on as they took their turn on the course.

For younger students, an older buddy offers a familiar face, a role model, and another person who helps them feel they belong.

For older students, being a buddy creates opportunities to practice empathy, responsibility, and leadership. Their attention and kindness can make a big difference in a younger child’s day

.

These connections reflect Hickory Hill Academy’s mission of cultivating compassionate leaders. Students practice leadership through everyday actions: showing up for others, offering encouragement, and celebrating someone else’s effort. We look forward to watching these relationships grow throughout the school year!

Learning Beyond Four Walls

The Harry Hustle also reflects our belief that meaningful learning happens throughout our campus. Students practiced perseverance and built confidence as they completed distances designed for their ages. Across our early childhood education, preschool, Pre-K, and K–8 programs, there were opportunities to participate, encourage others, and celebrate effort. Our Pre-K students extended their morning by cheering on Kindergarten, touring the Big School, and sharing a special lunch in Highlander Hall. These experiences help build familiarity and connection as children explore the next steps in their HHA journey.

Campus, Community, Curriculum At Hickory Hill Academy, our campus, community, and curriculum work together to create a place where children feel safe and supported. The Harry Hustle brought that vision to life through shared experiences, caring relationships, and opportunities for students to grow.

Thank you to Mr. Clay and Miss Lexi for helping our students prepare, to our teachers, staff, and volunteers for bringing the morning together, and to every family who joined us to cheer!

Most of all, thank you to our Highlanders for encouraging their buddies and one another. You showed how kindness, effort, and connection make our whole campus stronger.

One campus. One community. Growing compassionate leaders together.