YOUR IMPACT
PROVIDING THE ENHANCED EDUCATION OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY DESERVE.
Please watch the above video for testimonials from teachers whose classes have been recipients of contributions by the Hillmen Foundation.
A SPECIAL THANKS
Your Impact
When a group of Placer High School parents, faculty and administrators joined together in 1989 to create the Hillmen Foundation, they launched one of the earliest public school foundations designed to bridge state funding gaps and enrich educational opportunities for students. Today, more than $900,000 for grants and scholarships have literally made the difference in the lives of Placer students and our community.
Thanks to all of the generous donors, civic groups, and businesses over the years.
1930-1936
The Engle Era
Dr. John F. Engle became principal of Placer High School in 1906 and began a long and illustrious 30-year career in which the school expanded from five teachers in one rickety wooden building to an 800-student faculty boasting five buildings and the creation of a junior college. At the same time the high school developed a reputation throughout the state as one of the finest secondary institutions of the Placer High School District which extended from Loomis to Lake Tahoe.
Several landmark buildings were added during Engle’s stay as principal. During the 1906-07 school years the original Sierra College wooden building was torn down and replaced
1906 Upper Campus Building
by a $40,000 building. The new building was a substantial brick structure consisting of 22 rooms on four levels, including a basement, and a large tin dome. Heating was by an automatic system which regulated both temperature and ventilation in every room. Within a few years statuary, pictures, and potted plants were added to beatify the interior of the school. The library was considered one of the finest in Northern California and the collection of American history in the History department was the best in Northern California.
In 1909 shower baths and lockers for the Athletes were installed downstairs in the new building. In the next few years tennis courts were finished on the site of the old wooden building and a football field and track were installed. By 1918 the school showcased a large wooden gymnasium with sideline seating and a stage. The year 1926, however marked the beginning of a new era for Placer when the music/auditorium and science wings were added and the brick building was plastered over to match the architectural style of the two new wings. The auto shop and bus shed building along Agard Street were also constructed at this time. Ten years later, building began on Placer Junior College buildings, gym and athletic field during the final year of Engle’s administration, 1936.
Athletics began to have an impact on the school during Engle’s tenure as well. In addition of a young coach from the University of California, Earl Crabbe, enabled the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to create a dynasties of legendary significance. Between 1916 and 1920 his girls’ basketball team went 41-1 winning 37 games in succession at one point, compiling four straight undefeated seasons. Beginning in 1923 his boys’ basket ball teams won 16 out of 17 league championships, including 12 in a row. Crabbe also coached his men to eight Central California titles in 13 appearances.
Engle was at the helm as a student endured the tragedy of World War I when a junior Red Cross Club was organized on campus with girls learning to make surgical dressings and the entire school donating over $500 to a war drive. The Engle years also saw the formation of the first high school cadet corps in the State of California under the direction of Captain Fred S. Roumage, a National Guard officer and later captain in France in World War I.
The year 1914 marked the birth of the Placer High School district, thus again changing the names of the school to Placer High School. That same year college level classes were revived after having disappeared several years earlier. However, due to the enrollment drain caused by World War I, the junior college was abandoned by 1920.
Certain ceremonies were now becoming traditional such as the Freshman Reception, the Christmas Jinx, the Junior Prom, the Senior Ball, Senior Picnic, and the Graduation and Alumni Dance. Participation in clubs and organization also grew, beginning with the Agricultural Science Organization which became the Future Farmers of America, the oldest club in existence. During the period of time the Placer Band came into prominence under the guidance of Otto Fox, entertaining the school and the community at various concerts and public performances.
Academics also took on prominence during the Engle principalship. A four year curriculum became the norm with students tracked into Classical, Scientific, or Commercial fields of study. All paths were stiffly challenging with semester finals a dreaded period of time for the students. Miscreant students were dealt with severely and Detention became an unwelcome punishment. Still, Engle and his vice-Principal E.F. Waldo were highly respected by the students and could be seen attending various cultural, social and Athletic events at the school.
OUR FOCUS
ACADEMICS
We empower students, faculty, and staff for enhanced learning through grants, tech initiatives, and scholarships, propelling them into a successful future beyond high school.
ATHLETICS
Hillmen Foundation fuels athletic achievements through grants, enhancing safety, facilities, and community fitness.
ACTIVITIES
We foster holistic education by supporting diverse activities through grants, enriching students' experiences beyond the classroom.
ALUMNI
Placer High's rich history shines through alumni activities, fostering a strong network connecting generations and the community.
SPECIAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Placer High's prime Auburn location fuels community growth, enhancing facilities and programs through strategic grants.
WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
YOUR FINANCIAL IMPACT
Every donation, regardless of size, will positively impact Placer High students, our community, and life on the Hill. All contributions to
the Hillmen Foundation are tax deductible in accordance with state and federal tax laws.
$1,069,484
TOTAL IMPACT AS OF JUNE 2025, INCLUDING...
$736,759
GRANTS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING...
$211,630
ACADEMICS
$110,540
ATHLETICS
$82,694
ACTIVITIES
$27,086
ALUMNI
$304,809
SPECIAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM*
$332,725
TOTAL AWARDED
31
CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
$41,000
FOR 2025 GRADS
*Scholarships include Foundation-sponsored and Endowments with the Hillmen Foundation
SPECIAL THANKS
2024/2025 HONOR ROLL
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous partners and donors for their support. Through your contributions,
the Hillmen Foundation continues to enrich our local high school and uplift our community.
CHAMPION
HILLMEN GOLD
HILLMEN GREEN
HILLMEN BOOSTER
HILLMEN FAN
Grants and Scholarships
Grants and Scholarships
Grants and Scholarships
Grants and Scholarships
Re-Elect Supervisor Cindy Gustafson
Grants and Scholarships
Activities
$Choose Monthly Amount
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✅ This is What it Benefits
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Lists represents donations from July 1 to June 30 of every calendar year.
GET INVOLVED
GRANTS
Students, faculty and staff apply for and receive educational grants for a wide range of needs that are typically not covered by state funding. Every year, thousands of dollars are granted to enrich academics, athletics and activities that directly benefit students, our feeder schools, and community. Examples of these grants include support for:
ACADEMICS
Art Equipment and Materials
3-D Printers
Math Materials, including Specialized Calculators
Band Instruments & Uniforms
Programs for At-Risk Students
DNA Lab Materials
Science Equipment
Field Trips
Microprocessor Kits
Music & Drama Materials
Performing Arts Sound & Lighting Equipment
Journalism Dept. Materials
Special Education Enterprise Programs
Photo Lab Equipment, including Cameras, Lenses, and Filters
AVID Program
Special Curriculum & Materials for Every Department
Career Tech Equipment, including Welding Machines
World (Foreign) Language Programs
Peer Counseling Program
VAULT Program
Faculty Continuing Education
ATHLETICS
General / Multi Athletic Teams
Soccer
Basketball
Tennis
Track & Field
Wrestling
Football
Cross Country
Ski / Snowboard
Volleyball
ACTIVITIES
Assemblies
Grad Night
Enrichment Events
Dance Team
Campus Clubs
Special Programs for Middle & Elementary School Students
Eagle Scout Projects
Community Service Endeavors
Career Day Projects
ALUMNI
Grants for alumni programs help highlight distinguished graduates and their impact in the community and world, as well as connect Hillmen of all ages to their alma mater. These grants include:
Alumni Bricks Courtyard
Alumni Center
All Class Reunion
Centennial Celebration
Placer Hall of Fame
Athletic Hall of Fame
Central Square Tiles in Memory of our Founder Jug Covich and Long-time Board member/Distinguished Alumni Ty Rowe
SPECIAL CAPITAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
Special grants for capital improvements or other major initiatives that enhance both the school and community are a significant hallmark of the Foundation’s work over the past three decades. Here are examples:
Campus Gateway Centennial Arch
Iron Hillmen Sculpture Base
Athletic Complex Campaign
All Weather Track
Stadium Scoreboard
Stadium Sound System & Speakers
Stadium Lights
Stadium Snack bar Roof
Sherbina Water Fountain Restoration
Press Box Renovation
Track Walkway
Earl Crabbe Gym Snack Shack
FOUNDATION - SPONSORED & ENDOWED:
SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, thousands of dollars are granted to graduating seniors to help further their post-high school pursuits. The Hillmen Foundation manages several endowments established by alumni and community members to provide scholarships that honor or memorialize those who have made an impact on the school and community.
We also raise funds for three scholarships sponsored by the Hillmen Foundation:
The Hillmen Foundation Covich Johnson Founders Scholarship awarded to an outstanding senior in honor of our founders, Jug Covich and Tom Johnson; and two Hillmen Foundation scholarships for exceptional graduating students who have excelled in at least one of our focus areas of academics, athletics and activities.
2025 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Hillmen Foundation Covich Johnson Founders Scholarship — Belle Fallis
Hillmen Foundation Scholarship — Abbie Labrecque, Laura Lee
Community Funded Scholarships
Alonzo Hazen Memorial Scholarship, Science — Martin Finn, Josie Keister
Bill Francis Memorial Scholarship — Alexandra Argueta
Chris Reams Honor Scholarship — Emma Clark (Colfax)
Dr. Stanley, Ruth, Eric Chun Memorial Scholarship - Parker Gutierrez, Jarred Roman, Ryan Silva
E. Ken Tokutomi Memorial Scholarship - Lydia White
Jason Rhodes Memorial Scholarship, Art — Jake Dunkle
Jean Coppedge Joye Memorial Scholarship, Art — Lucy Nemeth
Mauel Family Scholarship, First-Generation College Student — Noell Hilty (Confluence), Emilee Roeder (Confluence), Aylin Romero Estudillo, Alexis Vazquez-Ramos, Melinda Gonzalez-Alonso, Hayden Lamb-Wesch
Max Herlehy Memorial Scholarship, Passion for Life — Riley Upton
Rad McCord Memorial Scholarship - Placer Athletic Hall of Fame — Olivia Passafiume
Ruth Johnston Memorial Scholarship — Laura Lee
Stoutenburg Family Career Pathway Scholarship — Angel Espinosa Sanchez, Hudson Lesher
Sutter Independent Physicians - Thomas & Jill Schroeder Scholarship, Health Science — Alexandra Argueta
Vernon McCann/Helen Bale Memorial Award, Journalism — Rylee Yetka
William “Bill” Kirby, MD, Memorial Scholarship, Medical Field — Mikaela Balaban
William “Bill” Kirby, MD, Memorial Scholarship - Placer Athletic Hall of Fame — Sora Lasko, Riley Upton
William Lawrence Greene Memorial Scholarship — Mikaela Balaban, Olivia Passafiume
2023
Awards Ceremony
Photos by Dr. Mark Vaughan
ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP
INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING A SCHOLARSHIP
Interested in establishing a scholarship for Placer High School students? Please contact us at
info@hillmenfoundation.org for more information.
In the best of times, in the worst of times, at all times… It’s great to be a Hillman!
OUR MISSION
The purpose of the Hillmen Foundation is to support Placer High School in the areas of academics, student activities, and athletics, including the staff, students, and alumni endeavors of the school; to stimulate gifts of service, endowments, and bequests; and to maintain an association of persons interested in Placer High School.
FOCUS
Academics
Athletics
Activities
Alumni
Special Projects & Initiatives
Copyright ©2023 All rights reserved
NEWS AND EVENTS
Fresh Updates Await Your DISCOVERY
Explore Placer High School's vibrant academics, activities, and athletics, keeping you connected to the staff, students, and valued alumni, uniting a passionate community supporting the school.
Hillmen Foundation Awarded 2025 Taco Bell Foundation Community Grant
HILLMEN FOUNDATION RECEIVES $10,000 COMMUNITY GRANT FROM TACO BELL FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT NEW BUSINESS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AT PLACER HIGH SCHOOL
The Taco Bell Foundation is awarding a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants in 2025 nationwide. Current award marks the third consecutive year that the Hillmen Foundation has been selected as a grant recipient.
Hillmen Foundation is proud to announce it has been awarded a 2025 Community Grant from the Taco Bell Foundation. The $10,000 grant will help launch a Business Leadership program at Placer High School, a new course that combines and builds on the strengths of the school's peer mentorship and leadership programs, preparing students for success in college, careers, and beyond.
"This grant from the Taco Bell Foundation allows us to launch a program that doesn’t just teach leadership – it creates leaders who care deeply about their school and community, “said Kari Uno, Placer faculty member and head of the new Business Leadership program. “Our students will be engaging in real-world projects that develop their ability to communicate and lead with confidence, proficiency, and purpose.”
Launching this school year, Uno said the Business Leadership program will serve more than 100 students per term from a range of backgrounds. Students will participate in classroom curriculum and projects that build skills in communication, business writing, project management, collaboration, public speaking, and professional leadership. Through activities like peer mentorship, organizing new student orientation and special events, delivering TED-style talks, mock interviews by community members, and spotlighting community heroes and business leaders, the program aims to develop capable, thoughtful leaders equipped with the communication and leadership skills needed beyond high school.
Business Leadership is a dual enrollment program where participants earn high school and college credits simultaneously. This allows participants to complete college requirements faster and at no cost – expanding educational access, improving economic mobility, and preparing students to meet the workforce demands of tomorrow. The new program is also a Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway, allowing participants to take a certification exam through YouScience, a platform that identifies aptitudes and validates proficiency in key business skills. This certification serves as a valuable credential when entering the workforce or pursuing higher education.
The Hillmen Foundation was nominated by 1974 Placer High graduate and area Taco Bell franchise owner Gary Lyon, whose continued commitment to uplifting youth has helped expand access to education, mentorship, and career readiness programs across the community.
“It’s an honor to collaborate with the Taco Bell Foundation and engage our customers in giving back through the Round Up Program,” said Lyon. “The funds we raise go directly toward strengthening youth programs that uplift and empower our local communities. Organizations like the Hillmen Foundation embody the kind of meaningful impact we’re proud to support. This grant reflects the dedication of so many Placer High faculty, staff, volunteers, and neighbors who are committed to helping young people in the greater Auburn area grow, thrive, and reach their potential.”
This is the third consecutive grant to the Hillmen Foundation from the Taco Bell Foundation to support efforts that enrich student leadership education and opportunities at Placer High. In total, the Taco Bell Foundation has provided $25,000 over three years to support Placer High through the Hillmen Foundation.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Gary Lyon and the Taco Bell Foundation for their continued support of the Hillmen Foundation and the students at Placer High School,” said David Odom, Hillmen Foundation Board Chair. “This partnership is a powerful example of what’s possible when businesses, volunteers, and communities come together to invest in young people.”
The Taco Bell Foundation awarded a record-breaking $28 million in Community Grants this year to nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide. The Community Grants program uplifts youth in the communities that matter most to Taco Bell – those of its fans and Team Members. True to the brand’s spirit, the Taco Bell Foundation supports nonprofits that think differently and take bold approaches to creating new opportunities for young people.
“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, Executive Director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”
To learn more about the Hillmen Foundation, please visit hillmenfoundation.org. To learn more about the Taco Bell Foundation and the Community Grants program, please visit: https://www.tacobellfoundation.org/who-we-support/.
$825,375
TOTAL IMPACT TO DATE, INCLUDING...
$594,650
GRANTS PROGRAMS, INCLUJDING...
$160,469
ACADEMICS
$70,105
ATHLETICS
$34,531
ACTIVITES
$24,736
ALUMNI
$304,809
SPECIAL PROJECTS & INITIATIVES
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM*
$230,725
TOTAL AWARDED
17
CURRENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
$29,750