WHAT BEGAN IN 2020 as a spirited students-versus-staff basketball game has become one of Highlands College’s most cherished and unifying traditions: HC Madness. Initially just a one-night event, this recently rebranded competition has evolved into a multi-week, multi-sport experience now known as the Month of Madness. This tradition creates more opportunities for student participation, character-building, and long-lasting memories. It celebrates the bond of being part of the HC Family, having fun in competitive settings, and forming students into the leaders God has called them to be.

This year’s Madness included student-staff matchups in basketball, volleyball, pickleball, soccer, and softball—reflecting the diversity of student interests and the growth of student-led ideas.

Support for the Month of Madness has grown significantly among Highlands College Teammates. With students creating hype videos, enthusiastic participation from every corner of the HC Family fuels the school-wide tradition. “Even our Pastors play in the games,” said Justyn Benton, Director of Campus Life & Student Engagement. “Our Teammates have gotten behind this. We wanted to create experiences that unite every part of our HC Family.” One of the most memorable parts of the experience is seeing professors and campus leaders step out of the classroom and onto the field. “This is when students see their professors not just teaching in a classroom but competing,” Benton continued. These shared moments break down barriers and deepen the connection that sets Highlands College apart from other institutions.

HC Madness is more than just fun and games; it’s a living extension of Highlands College’s Character Formation Pillar. “Sports is a ministry,” said Men’s Minister Anthony McCall. “It’s where you learn who you are under pressure, how to lead, how to take correction, how to be part of a team. That’s why we do this.”

Tryouts alone aren’t the basis for Madness—the HC Team evaluates students’ behavior in the classroom, on the field, and in their daily lives. “It’s a privilege to be part of this,” Benton added. “It’s a reward for those already living out the values we teach daily.”

From a leadership standpoint, HC Madness is just as much about what happens off the scoreboard as it is on it. Moments of correction become teachable moments. Wins and losses become opportunities to grow in humility, integrity, and resilience. “We’re not training athletes here—we’re raising world-class leaders who will carry these lessons into ministry, families, and organizations for decades to come,” said McCall.

For many students, the experience becomes a core memory. “If we can create a moment so rich that a student can still remember the smell of the gym or who was standing next to them, then that’s a win,” said McCall. “These memories matter. In 10 years, that moment could remind them that they need to keep going.” ■