Lee's Summit R-7 School District staff and community members recently celebrated the dedication of the Lee's Summit High School Kevin Hile Memorial Cardio Room. A ceremony for the facility, located in the school's building B gymnasium mezzanine, was held Nov. 12.

A Lee's Summit High School graduate, Kevin Hile excelled as a student athlete while attending LSHS from 1987 through 1991. While he earned letters in basketball, track and golf, his true passion was football; he lettered all four years while working diligently to improve his skills as a guard, linebacker and kicker. Participation in athletics helped Kevin develop the strong work ethic, determination and persistence that would serve him as an adult.

These skills enabled him to walk on at the University of Arkansas and earn a tight-end position during the four years he played as a Razorback. Following graduation with a degree in business administration, Kevin joined the workforce as a salesman in the petroleum industry and quickly became a senior sales manager. He collected many friends with his sense of humor, his outgoing personality, his Christian values, his loyalty to and trust in people and his love of all sports. Throughout his life, Kevin enjoyed working out and remained an avid runner.

After Kevin passed away in 2006, Robert and Tricia Hile, his parents, began considering a way to memorialize him at LSHS. Kevin's mother, Tricia Hile, is currently secondary communication arts curriculum specialist for the Lee's Summit R-7 School District and previously taught communication arts at LSHS for many years.

In discussions with Dr. John Faulkenberry, LSHS principal, Tricia learned that Dr. Faulkenberry had a dream of a cardio room at the school.

"It worked perfectly because throughout Kevin's high school career, he got up at 5:15 a.m. several times a week to come to LSHS to work out with teacher Ed Brill," Mrs. Hile said. "He was also a member of the Iron Hog Club at the University of Arkansas. To get into Iron Hog, you had to be a high achiever on the Razorback work-out circuit. It seemed like a natural fit for us to provide a donation that would set this cardio room in motion."

The mezzanine of Lee's Summit High School's Building B gym has been converted with paint, electrical wiring and a cushioned floor. The Kevin Hile Memorial Cardio Room currently includes 15 pieces of equipment ranging from incline treadmills to ellipticals to stair steppers. The goal is to include additional fitness machines in the room. The new room is available to all LSHS physical-education classes as well as staff members.

Lee's Summit High School's vision is to see the room filled with at least 35 industrial-grade cardio machines in order that all fitness classes can operate with a ratio of one machine per student.

To help fill the room, Lee's Summit High School is willing to accept donations of industrial grade machines that are in very good or excellent condition. Tax deductible contributions are also accepted through the Lee's Summit Educational Foundation's Kevin Hile Memorial Fund.