Academies of Grand Island Senior High Announce 2026 Partner Award Winners
GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — The Academies of Grand Island Senior High is proud to announce Matt Hilligas with LiveWell Physical Therapy as the 2026 Community Partner of the Year and Eric and Jennie Wright with Summit Real Estate as the 2026 Business Partner of the Year. Grand Island Public School district and high school administrators recently visited the workplaces of both honorees to present the awards, recognizing their exceptional contributions to student learning and workforce development.
The Community Partner of the Year award recognizes a community partner who exemplifies the mission of the Academies of Grand Island Senior High. The Business Partner of the Year award celebrates a business that goes above and beyond in providing learning opportunities for GISH students.
2026 Community Partner of the Year: Matt Hilligas, LiveWell Physical Therapy
Dr. Matt Hilligas is a lifelong Grand Islander, so giving back to the community and school that helped grow him is imperative. Live Well Physical Therapy, where Dr. Hilligas is an owner, has partnered with the Academies of Grand Island Senior High since its inception.
“I really enjoy investing back in the community from what I do with youth athletics and at Senior High,” Dr. Hilligas, who is also a GISH graduate, said. “That's why I came back to Grand Island, because I feel like I could make a positive impact on the community.”
Live Well serves as a strong partner for Grand Island Senior High. Since the Academies of Grand Island Senior High inception, Dr. Hilligas has served on the Academy of Medical Sciences & Education Advisory Board, and volunteered time and expertise for numerous events at GISH. In addition to offering job shadow experiences, some contributions of Live Well include guest speaking at the Freshman Career Conference and Junior Internship Days.
At LiveWell, GISH students gain valuable experiences in the physical therapy field, expanding upon the learning they receive in the Academy and pathway classes.
“These experiences offer first-hand exposure to the physical therapy field,” said Michala Soundy, Academy Experiences Liaison at GISH. “Live Well Physical Therapy has even hired a few AMS students over the years at Technicians. These opportunities create a much deeper experience and knowledge gained prior to determining what their plans may be upon graduation,” Soundy added.
She said the opportunities Live Well provides students help create a much deeper experience and knowledge that is gained prior to determining their post-graduation plans.
“I was once in these students' same shoes in high school,” Dr. Hilligas said. “I knew I wanted to go into physical therapy, but I didn't really have the same exposure [as GISH students today] of being able to shadow while I was in high school,” he continued.
GISH Principal Calvin Hubbard thanked Dr. Hilligas and Live Well Physical Therapy for the support of Islander students and the community.
“Congratulations to Dr. Matt Hilligas with Live Well Physical Therapy, our Community Partner of the Year, for his continued support of Grand Island Senior High students,” Hubbard said. “We are grateful for the partnership and collaboration in helping our students achieve their goals,” he added.
Soundy said Dr. Hilligas’ ongoing dedication to students and Live Well’s partnership plays a “vital role in preparing our students for future careers in healthcare.”
Dr. Hilligas said it’s great to see the students grow and succeed after their Academy and internship experiences.
“[Here at Live Well] I’m just trying to give the students the same opportunity that I didn't have [in high school] that I wish I would have,” Dr. Hilligas added.
2026 Business Partner of the Year: Summit Real Estate
Eric and Jennie Wright are proud community supporters and Islander graduates. As owners of Summit Real Estate, their partnership with the Academies of Grand Island Senior High is crucial to helping young entrepreneurs and investing in the future of Grand Island.
“Eric Wright and the team at Summit Real Estate have consistently demonstrated a commitment to Grand Island Senior High students by willingly saying ‘yes’ to so many opportunities and playing a part in supporting their career development,” Soundy said.
Eric, Jennie and Summit Real Estate as whole have invested time with the Academies and students. They have: hosted students for job shadows, served on the Academy of Business & Communications (ABC) Advisory Board, volunteered to be a panelist for the ABC Junior Internship Day, and talked with Freshman students about their career journeys at the Freshman Career Conference.
"This partnership gives us an opportunity to be part of shaping entrepreneurship,” Jennie Wright said. “Just being able to give back to our community and be able to help shape the future, that's the biggest thing for us,” she added.
Like LiveWell Physical Therapy, Summit has also former Islander students become employees or go onto work in the respective industries after job shadowing.
Principal Hubbard said Summit’s investment and dedication to students is admirable.
“Thank you to Summit Real Estate, our Business Partner of the Year, for always being so willing to provide our students valuable and unique learning opportunities,” Hubbard said.
Eric Wright said the partnership with GISH helps him give back to the community that shaped him.
“This community is what built us. That's why we do so much in the community – we wouldn't be anything without them.”=
The goal is to continue building strong relationships with local businesses and community members to provide GISH students with valuable real-world experiences and prepare them for future success.
“It's difficult to place a value on business professionals being willing to provide their time and expertise to help guide and develop students,” Soundy added. “We get to witness firsthand the excitement and joy that comes from seeing a young person envision themselves in that career one day. Without partners like Live Well Physical Therapy, Summit Real Estate, and the many other businesses willing to say ‘yes’ to the students, these moments wouldn't be possible,” she said.
Thank you to our community partners, and congratulations to Dr. Matt Hilligas with Live Well Physical Therapy and Eric and Jennie Wright with Summit Real Estate for being our Partners of the Year!
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