School News

Hockaday’s Model UN recently attended the Dallas Area Model United Nations (DAMUN) tournament, competing against top schools from the Dallas area. 

Congratulations to the four seniors who signed athletics agreements this afternoon!

Two Upper School students were honored at the competition.

Hockaday Varsity Volleyball won its third SPC title in four years this weekend after defeating Houston St. John’s 25-19, 25-16, 25-23 in the Southwest Preparatory Conference’s Class 4A championship match.

As part of our ongoing efforts focused on Innovation and Collaboration and our continuing partnership with Southern Methodist University, we are excited to introduce the Hockaday Research Fellows Program. 

Senior Isla McKenna’s film, "Reality Check," has been accepted and screened at the Austin Film Festival as part of the Young Filmmakers Showcase. 

Hockaday's Track and Field athletes were honored to meet Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone this week!

At the Alumnae Fall Cocktail Party on Wednesday, October 30, Immediate Past President Alumnae Association and Event Chair Abby Hoak Morton '05 presented the Ela Hockaday Distinguished Alumna Award.

Upper School students along with Eugene McDermott Head of School Dr. Laura Leathers and Upper School faculty members Karen Sanchez and Candace Townsley headed to Pegasus Park to meet OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar.

Upper School students modeled their civil discourse training at an assembly in October.

Dallas ISD District 2 Trustee Sarah Weinberg visited Upper School government, a Social Impact class, to engage students in a discussion about the vital role of school board governance, the interplay between local, state, and federal government in shaping education policy, and practical ways for students to get involved in addressing educational issues within the Dallas community.

Anya Ahuja (Class of 2025) will be featured as part of the 2024-2025 curriculum in all public schools in the State of Georgia through her radio show!

Hockaday recently welcomed Winslow Huth, Data Scientist at AT&T, to campus to speak to students about emerging technologies and her experience in data science.

The annual Student Research Program Poster Symposium was held yesterday in Ownby Lobby.

Twenty-one students from the Class of 2025 have been selected as Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship program. 

Naisha Randhar (Class of 2027) was named Youth Poet Laureate for the City of Dallas and will hold the title for one year.

In partnership with Close Up, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that informs, inspires, and empowers young people to become active citizens, Hockaday hosted more than 90 students at the ISAS and Close Up Student Facilitation Training on Friday, September 20.

Upper School Writing Center interns are beginning their social impact work for the year! 

Congratulations to Vivian Hu ’11, who was named a 2024 National Endowment for the Arts Fellow! 

Congratulations to the students who were recognized for their work by the Poetry Society of Texas in its annual Student Awards.

Thirteen seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, a national academic competition for recognition and scholarship that began in 1955. 

Several Class of 2025 students were recognized for excelling on College Board assessments and in their classrooms.

Hockaday’s Upper School held a Dress Swap last week in preparation for upcoming dances and mixers! Around 90 dresses were donated by students, and their peers could come and “shop” for a free new dress.

Lisa Dwinal, Middle School faculty member, is one of 26 educators from across the country, and the only teacher from Texas, to be accepted into the 2024 Peace Teachers program at the United States Institute of Peace.

Please join us in welcoming Hockaday’s newest faculty and staff members!

Hockaday's Debate Team competed this spring in the National Debate Coaches Association National Championship.

Hockaday Rowing qualified six boats in five events for USRowing's Youth National Championships in May. All five boats advanced to the "A" Final at the four-day Youth Nats Regatta in Florida in June, where the top eight boats race for a National Championship.

Jaden Thomas ’24 was named the 2023-24 Gatorade Texas Girls Soccer Player of the Year! Thomas is the first Gatorade Texas Girls Soccer Player of the Year to be chosen from The Hockaday School.

Congratulations to Dithyae Devesh (Class of 2025) who was one of 29 students nationally to win the Princeton Prize in Race Relations, which recognizes and rewards high school students who, through their volunteer activities, have undertaken significant efforts to advance racial equity and understanding in their schools or communities.

Hockaday's Varsity Lacrosse team won the state title for the fourth year in a row, defeating the Frisco Fury on May 12.

Upper School artists were recently recognized for their pieces through a local competition. 

Congratulations to five Upper School students who were recently recognized for their work in scouting! 

The Hockaday School Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Rosalind “Roz” Redfern Grover ’59 has been elected Life Trustee.

Hockaday inducted members of the Class of 2024 into its Cum Laude Society this spring.

Congratulations to Vibrato, Hockaday’s resident literary magazine, which recently won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's Gold Crown Award!

In April, the School received a gift from the Edward and Wilhelmina Ackerman Foundation to endow a sixth distinguished teacher position, The Ackerman Family Distinguished Teacher.

Hockaday won its third straight — and seventh overall — SPC girls lacrosse crown in April, defeating St. John’s. The Daisies led 13-3 at halftime.

Tymesia Smaw and Sabrina Kessee were named Hockaday Honorary Alums at the Alumnae Day Luncheon in April. 

Congratulations to the Middle School Track and Field team, which won the Metroplex Middle School Championships!

Cecilia Chen (Class of 2027) was recognized for her artwork in a national competition.

Hockaday is proud to announce that Lower School Science Teacher Amy Banks will serve as The Barney Young Distinguished Teacher, effective July 1, 2024. 

Eleven members of the Class of 2024 will continue their athletic careers in college, adding to the 76 collegiate student-athletes who have graduated from Hockaday in the past seven years.

The Hockaday School is pleased to announce Shanda H. Blackmon ’87 MD, MPH, FACS, as the 2024 Commencement Speaker. 

This March, Hockaday named four seniors as the recipients of this prestigious award.

Congratulations to Alyssa Anderson (Class of 2024), who was awarded the Congressional Award Gold Medal – the U.S. Congress’ highest honor for youth – and invited to an event in the award winners’ honor in Washington, DC!

This spring, Hockaday dedicated a new crew boat, the Teal Cohen ’17.

The Hockaday Upper School orchestra is proud to announce that three students were selected as members of the TMEA All-State Orchestra ensembles.