Ever Forward debuts HHS VR Experience
(Submitted photos)
Ever Forward is pleased to announce the launch of the HHS VR Experience, a multiyear endeavor that brings the old Hillsboro High School back to life in Virtual Reality (VR).
Ninety years after the school was constructed and 16 years after its demolition, the Experience allows alumni and community members to once again take in its sights and sounds and relive its memories.
The one-of-a-kind project, crowdfunded by the Hillsboro community and meticulously constructed by the talented team at McCarty Associates, restores the beloved landmark in a 3D environment and reintroduces it to a whole new generation.
The HHS VR Experience debuted at the 2025 Festival of the Bells but went live to the general public on Friday, July 18 at 9 a.m. on the Ever Forward Facebook page (Ever Forward - Hillsboro OH - https://www.facebook.com/everforwardhillsboro). It is free to access and can be viewed on a VR headset, phone, tablet and/or web browser.
This project would not have been possible without the time, talents and resources of the McCarty Associates team, whose faith and commitment brought it to life. The project was led by McCarty partner Dallas Puckett, designed by HHS grad Riley Stratton (Class of 2022) and brought to life by VR Lead Courtney Whalen and Lead Designer Jackson Karnes.
Ever Forward would like to extend a special thank-you to the "HHS Virtual Reality Build Project" Facebook group who breathed life into this project and offered encouragement and support every step of the way. We are immensely proud of how our community rallied to "bring back what we lost."
Ever Forward has launched a final "Days of Gratitude" campaign to pay for the remainder owed on the project. Tax-deductible donations can be made at www.forwardhillsboro.org/donate.
