The Mountain Home Education Foundation has announced its 2026 Hall of Honor inductees, spotlighting a diverse group that includes a chaplain who served at Ground Zero, a Grammy-winning drummer, two dedicated educators, and two long-time community volunteers. The honorees will be celebrated at the annual Night of Honors event, scheduled for October 1 at the Mountain Home Community Center.
“The Hall of Honor celebrates individuals whose lives reflect the values of excellence, leadership, service, and generosity that define the Mountain Home community,” said Mollie Morgan, the foundation's executive director. “Each of these honorees has left an extraordinary legacy, and we are proud to recognize their contributions.”
Kevin Scherer and Quinn Hill will be honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award. Scherer, a 1985 graduate of Mountain Home High School, has built a career in pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. A former Eastern Orthodox priest with two graduate degrees in theology, Scherer provided spiritual care to survivors, victims’ families, and first responders at significant national tragedies, including the September 11 attacks, and the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University. He has also worked with the International Orthodox Christian Charities Emergency Response Network and as a search-and-rescue team chaplain in Spokane, Washington.
Hill, a 2011 graduate, has spent over a decade as the drummer for Grammy-winning country artist Ashley McBryde. He joined McBryde's band at age 19, touring internationally and earning multiple Arkansas Country Artist Drummer of the Year awards. In addition to his music career, Hill produces and narrates the behind-the-scenes web series “Made For This” and runs Ritual Thread Co., an apparel and lifestyle brand.
Two retired educators, Sondra Hoffmann and Jeff Kincade, will receive the Outstanding Faculty Award. Hoffmann, a 1980 Mountain Home graduate, spent decades in the district as a teacher and served on multiple curriculum and intervention committees. She earned the district's Teacher of the Year recognition in 2024 and offered the baccalaureate address for the graduating class of 2025, many of whom she had taught in second grade. During a break from teaching to raise her family, she also operated a childcare program and offered parenting classes through the Department of Juvenile Services.
Kincade, a 1988 graduate, helped transform Guy Berry College & Career Academy during his tenure as principal, earning the Arkansas Department of Education’s Model Alternative Education Program of the Year award. He implemented hands-on initiatives like student-run chicken coops, community greenhouses, and a boat manufacturing partnership with Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. Kincade also established the Night Flight program, providing adults aged 18 to 21 with a second chance to earn their high school diplomas. His contributions earned him state recognition from Rep. Stetson Painter.
Todd Gilbert and Jodi Strother will receive the Bob Knight Bomber Spirit Award, recognizing sustained volunteerism and support for local education. Both graduates of Mountain Home High School—Gilbert in 1988 and Strother in 1986—have consistently donated their time and resources to the Mountain Home Public Schools, ASU-Mountain Home, Baxter Health, and other charitable organizations.
This year’s Hall of Honor introduces a format change, naming two recipients in each of three categories instead of spreading selections across five categories as in previous years. In 2025, for example, the program included awards for support staff and community partners. The Night of Honors event, which also serves as the foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, raised nearly $30,000 last year, doubling the amount generated in 2024. These funds help support student scholarships and classroom grants, which have totaled more than $485,000 since 2003.
The Mountain Home Education Foundation also manages the Mountain Home Promise, covering most tuition costs at ASU-Mountain Home for eligible graduates. Community support has expanded this initiative, including a $100,000 endowment by 1964 graduate Larry Choate and his wife Kathy to fund STEM scholarships and teacher grants.
For those interested in nominating future honorees, submissions are accepted year-round. More information is available by contacting mhef@mhbombers.com or 870-425-1201.