Welcome Maddie Hill, QHS Class of 2021, QPSF Communications & Administrative Specialist!

Blue Devil Alumni & QPS Foundation Staff Spotlight: A Q&A with Maddie Hill ’21, QPSF Communications & Administrative Specialist

We’re excited to welcome Quincy High School alumna Maddie Hill, QHS Class of 2021, to the Quincy Public Schools Foundation team as our new Communications & Administrative Specialist! A proud Blue Devil with a passion for community, marketing, and student engagement, Maddie brings fresh energy and creativity to the Foundation. In this Q&A, get to know more about her time at QHS, the educators who influenced her journey, and what she’s most excited about as she helps support current and future students.

Maddie Hill, QPSF Communications & Administrative Specialist.

Tell us a little about yourself!

My name is Maddie (Madison) Hill, and I am Class of 2021 QHS graduate! I recently moved back to Quincy from Alabama, although while living there I could never seem to stay away from my hometown. I have just joined the QPSF team as an Administrative & Communications Specialist. I also do website design and serve as a project manager for a marketing agency called Productive I.T., and I still pick up Carter’s Coffee Bar shifts when I have the time, of course.

Right now, I am into taking 30hot Studio classes, hanging out with my family, and going to local markets and events like the Maker’s Market.

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities while you were at QHS?

During my time at QHS, I was a four-year varsity letter winner in girls soccer and also played volleyball my freshman and sophomore years. Outside of athletics, I wasn’t heavily involved in clubs, but I was very involved in school spirit.

I loved being part of the student section and rarely missed a home basketball, football, or soccer game. Being there to support my classmates and take in the school energy was one of my favorite parts of being a Blue Devil.

Maddie Hill, QHS Girls Soccer Varsity Goalie. — Maddie Hill, QHS Girls Soccer Team.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at QHS?

One of my favorite memories from my time at QHS was senior year, when we became (to this day) the only class to have their prom on Flinn Stadium! It was concluded with a firework show over the trees (though I’m not sure Mr. Steinke or Roy Webb planned for that one!) Even with the challenges of an A/B day schedule during COVID, our class still found ways to make incredible memories together.

Who was a teacher, coach, or staff member that made a lasting impact on you, and why?

Mr. Dombroski and Mrs. Megan Williams were staff members who made a HUGE impact on not just who I was as a student, but as a person. I had Mr. Dombro all four years of high school and intentionally enrolled in every class he taught, including Leadership. He challenged me to think critically and have better attendance! Mrs. Williams was constantly encouraging me to aim higher. I’ll never forget her trying to convince me to enroll in all AP courses. She always saw my potential and pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and strive for more, even when I wasn’t convinced I could do it myself.

Maddie Hill, pictured at her QHS graduation ceremony with fellow graduate and QHS teacher Ben Dombroski (“Dombro”), 2021.

Maddie Hill, pictured at her QHS graduation ceremony with QHS teacher Ben Dombroski (“Dombro”), 2021. — Maddie Hill, pictured at her QHS graduation ceremony with fellow graduate and QHS teacher Ben Dombroski (“Dombro”), 2021.

What is one lesson or experience from QHS that still influences you today?

One lesson I still carry with me from my time at QHS is the importance of being a friend to everyone. One of the great things about QHS is the diversity of people you meet in the hallways and classrooms. High school taught me that you can find connection and friendship in anyone if you simply put yourself out there and take the time to reach out.

Speak to the quiet student. Introduce yourself to someone new. Include people. I just wanted people to feel seen and welcomed, even if it was just being a friendly face in the hallway.

That’s an experience I still carry with me today. I try to be a friendly face, make people feel welcomed, and give everyone a chance because you never know what a small act of kindness or conversation can mean to someone.

What’s one thing you miss most about being a student at QHS?

I miss the student section, and student section themes. There was always so much excitement on Fridays when the football players and cheerleaders showed up to school in their jerseys and uniforms, ready for game day. Lunchroom conversations were about what everyone was wearing to match the student section theme that night. School spirit was always at an all-time high, and I definitely miss being a part of that!

What has changed the most at QHS since you graduated?

I would say one of the biggest changes at QHS since I graduated is how traditions died or shifted after COVID. It felt like a lot of the normal school traditions and routines were harder to maintain for a while, just because so much had changed.

That said, I’ve really enjoyed seeing the more recent classes bring a lot of that spirit back. Students have been rebuilding traditions, re-engaging with school pride, and even starting new ones like Senior Assassin, which is really fun to see. It feels like QHS is finding a strong balance between honoring what was there before and creating new traditions of its own.

What does being a “Blue Devil” still mean to you today?

For me, being a Blue Devil means being apart of a community. And a community that takes pride in our school, athletics, and supports each other. It is being proud of where you came from, proud to be an alumni, etc.

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I just recently started branching out and trying new foods. For example, I just tried lemonade a couple years ago, and I can’t believe I went so long without it! I’ve also never had soda before, which surprises a lot of people.

What made you want to come back and be involved with QPS/QHS?

I wanted to come back and be involved with QPS and QHS because I’ve always been an advocate for this community and our schools. There’s often a belief that you need to leave your hometown to grow or that you would never want to relive high school, but I would actually say the opposite has been true for me.

I’ve always felt at home in Quincy, and I’m grateful for my experience at QHS. Having spent time living other places, being away has only given me a deeper appreciation for where I came from. I believe Quincy has a lot to offer, and your experience here is what you make of it. That’s what makes me want to stay involved and give back.

Maddie Hill, QHS Class of 2021, pictured with fellow classmates. — Maddie Hill, QHS Senior, Class of 2021.

What are you most excited about in your new role?

I’m most excited to lean into my degree and put to use everything I’ve learned during college. This role feels like a perfect fit for me because it combines my passion for the Quincy community and QHS with my career interests in communications and marketing.

I’m especially excited about the opportunity to help future QHS students have a fun, meaningful experience just like I did. I’m ready to jump in, hit the ground running, and contribute in a way that supports both the schools and the community! (Go like our new tiktok, btw! @qpsfoundation)

What impact do you hope to have on current and future QHS students?

I hope to serve as a voice for students and help them feel supported in everything they do. I also want to help students understand what the foundation represents and how much we care about their experience.

Most importantly, I want to show both current and future QHS students what a wonderful place it is and that school can be FUN and full of positive experiences when you lean into it.

What does “DREAM BIG” mean to you?

DREAM BIG to me means never get too comfortable, and as Coach Dinkheller would say, “never settle”. It means always striving for more and pushing yourself even when it’s uncomfortable. You deserve to have big dreams for yourself and want the most for yourself!