This year’s Blanket Award recipients spent their time at Highland Park High School working to bring out the best in themselves, their school, and their community.
Graduates Caroline Scott and Reece Tiffany were recognized for their outstanding leadership and community service in a surprise announcement on May 22 at the conclusion of Highland Park’s Honors Assembly.
Together, they dedicated about 1,250 hours to serving the community and were involved in almost every activity available at Highland Park High School.
And despite the time they spent sharpening sports skills, developing as leaders, and giving back to the community, they were both outstanding students. Tiffany graduated Cum Laude, and Scott earned Summa Cum Laude status.
“Coaches, teachers, and sponsors of the two Blanket Award winners characterized them as a class leader, model of integrity, selfless, disciplined and dedicated, humble, respectful, hardworking, compassionate, and the perfect representative of what it means to be a Scot,” president of the Class of 2025 Jack Morse said during the assembly.
In interviews with Park Cities People, the Blanket Award recipients called their service to the school and community a reward in and of itself.
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“I’ve had the best time in high school,” Caroline Scott said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Scott served for two years as a member of the student council, including as junior class treasurer and a member of the executive student council.
She ran varsity cross country and track for multiple years and played varsity soccer as a senior. During her sophomore year in track, she ran on a team that set a new school record in the distance medley relay.
Scott served for two years on Highland Park’s community service council, and as a sophomore was selected as one of two Highland Park student ambassadors to attend a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar.
Her favorite service activities have included working as a counselor at Camp Barnabas and with Highland Park’s Amigos Club.
As president of the club while a junior and senior, Scott started a tutoring program for underserved, Spanish-speaking youth. She established a meaningful connection with a 9-year-old girl learning English with her help.
“I’m inspired by the work ethics and greatness around me and have had so many important mentors and leaders in my life that I strive to be like,” said Scott, who will major in neuroscience on the premed track at the University of Texas at Austin. “And I hope to be that same mentor to those who come after me and look up to me.”
Reece Tiffany said that his community service journey started thanks to his older sister, who dragged him to volunteer with her at The Table, a ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church at the Austin Street Center.
“Something changed when I went there,” he said. “I eventually found joy in helping others, and started to go back on my own, and with some of my friends.”
One of Tiffany’s favorite activities was starting the ‘If Not Me, Then Who HP Club,’ which supports the Travis Manion Foundation, a nonprofit that works to empower veterans and their families. Tiffany has also contributed his efforts to the ‘HP Service Team,’ a group he and friends organized to assist with service events.
Football fans may have seen Tiffany in Highlander Stadium this fall. He played football throughout high school, became a member of the varsity team as a junior, and was starting kicker this year.
Off the field, Tiffany was one of six officers in the National Honor Society, and a member of student council for three years. As a senior, he participated in HP’s ambassador program, which aims to help new students feel welcome at their school.
“I knew I was making an impact and helping someone in need. That’s what kept me going,” said Tiffany, who will study business with a focus in finance at the University of Georgia. “I also tried to surround myself with people who would push me to be my best.”
