Growing up with limited opportunities to explore the arts might have held others back — but not Maddy. She had less time to explore, yet found herself drawn to it even more. Attending a small private school meant that there weren’t many chances to expand her creative interests, but she somehow knew exactly what she wanted to pursue the moment she was finally given the opportunity.
Maddy Hill is the 2026 recipient of the Eagan City Lifestyle scholarship through the Eagan Community Foundation. This scholarship serves a purpose to empower and support aspiring writers, journalists, and those with a deep and profound interest in media and creative innovation. Maddy checks all of these boxes.
Maddy was born in China and adopted at two years old. Through that process, she met who would later become her best friend. While her story begins elsewhere, she remembers most of her life spent in Eagan. She attended Faithful Shepherd Catholic School for her primary years before moving to Eagan High School. Even then, her interests were already beginning to take shape.
“I’ve always wanted to be a singer, but back then there weren't many opportunities to grow performance-wise,” she recounted. “But my middle school did one play, and I think it opened all the doors for me.” From that moment on, Maddy began exploring acting and playwriting, even submitting her work to a Young MN Playwrights competition—something she hopes to continue pursuing.
Moving from her small and more structured school to the expansive Eagan High School did not come without challenges. She found that she was advanced in literature and linguistics, but was behind in art and music. She worried that she had the passion, but not the technical skills. “This view changed for me when I was accepted into Bel Canto, an audition-only choir, straight after my freshman year,” she says. “I knew I had built the skills.”
Maddy’s interests grew to be widespread across all fields. Her intended major in Creative Writing, alongside a double minor in Film Media and Linguistics, reflects that. Her studies span the many different ways storytelling and expression can take shape. She hopes to continue the mission of this scholarship and support other aspiring creatives.
“There are so many different creative pathways you can take,” she shares. “And there are so many different fields that you can become successful in.” This mindset is reflected in the path she has carved out for herself. She has an ongoing commitment to pursuing all forms of art; through her dedication to singing, Maddy recently performed a vocal showcase at the Finnish Bistro alongside her voice teacher, Justine Boswell.
This fall, Maddy will attend the University of St. Thomas as part of the Class of 2030. She will be taking the first steps of college life with her best friend by her side, while also feeling excited to branch out, meet new people, and explore classes she is genuinely passionate about.
Maddy reflects on being a woman in the arts in higher education. “I’ve gotten so many questions about how I will support myself if I pursue art, but I’ve noticed that men aren’t often asked that same question,” she says. Still, she is determined to carve her own path and challenge that narrative, building a career that reflects both her ambition and her creative vision.
Outside of school, Maddy loves spending time with her friends and animals. She is especially attached to her dog, Annie, an adorable yellow lab. She also loves writing whenever possible. When given a simple ten-page assignment, she often finds herself doubling it without meaning to.
When asked how this scholarship will aid her future, she notes that while her parents have always been very supportive of her pursuing a career centered around creativity, they still want to know their daughter will be supported. “This scholarship helped remind them and myself that there is a lot you can do with a creative pathway through college, and that I can become successful from it,” she says.
“The Sousas' support and encouragement in my future means a lot to me, and knowing other people are invested in how I move forward makes a difference,” she says. “This magazine is proof that artists can have a passionate life.”
In 10 years, Maddy hopes to be working in some form of writing—whether that be screenwriting or journalism. One thing is certain for her: she will always be a writer. “Writing is something I could never give up.” And we hope to read her stories someday.
“There are so many different creative pathways you can take. And there are so many different fields that you can become successful in.”