Teacher’s Note: Although this article was written before our SAT incentive trip on April 25, 2025, we are happy to share that the trip was a success! Students who earned the reward had a fantastic time at Hinkle Family Fun Center.
Acing the SAT is about to be even more rewarding as Crownpoint High School prepares for a promising and exciting incentive trip to the Hinkle Family Fun Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Throughout the school year, Crownpoint High has conducted regular SAT testing at the end of each quarter, with three important rounds of testing completed. Now, excitement fills the halls as students look forward to their well-earned field trip on April 25, 2025. With all tests completed, all that’s left to do is wait for the fun to begin!
The Hinkle Family Fun Center is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was chosen by our district, GMCS, as the destination for the 34 students who met the SAT benchmark. The requirement to attend was scoring 800 or above, and many students rose to the challenge. On April 25, 2025, we’ll depart at 9 a.m. after being served breakfast on campus. Later, we’ll enjoy dinner at McDonald’s after the trip. Hinkle Family Fun Center has tons of fun attractions including go-karts, mini-golf, laser tag, arcade games, and delicious food at the snack bar. It’s a place where students can celebrate their hard work and make unforgettable memories.
As a first-year student, I wanted to get a junior’s point of view, so I interviewed Fudgee Dixon. I asked, “How do you feel about reaching SAT proficiency and being awarded a field trip to Hinkle Family Fun Center?” His response was, “It’s something that wasn’t just about the trip, but more like knowing I’m improving my academic skills.” Fudgee’s response made me realize that this experience isn’t just about getting out of school—it’s about knowing you studied hard, passed the SAT, and made your family proud.
Another question I asked was, “What are your thoughts about our SAT field trip being at Hinkle Family Fun Center instead of Main Event?” I wanted to know if students were expecting Main Event. His response surprised me: “It’s something new. I’ve never been there, so I can’t say exactly if it’s better or not, but I’ll surely find out next week.” His answer made me realize that many students haven’t been to Hinkle before, making this a chance to create meaningful memories with friends.
To get a younger student’s perspective, I also interviewed fellow first-year student and best friend, Brooke Tsosie. This interview was fun for me to do. I asked, “Are you excited to go on the trip next week?” She replied, “Yes, because I’ve never been there, so it’s gonna be a new experience for me, and I’m looking forward to it based on what others are saying about it.” I felt like her excitement reflected what many other students are feeling—especially since this is the first and only trip of the school year. It’s special for me too, because as a freshman, I got to go on this yearly school trip on my first try.
As we count down to April 25th, the excitement continues to build. It’s clear that the SAT experience didn’t just test our academic knowledge—it gave us a chance to work toward something fun and meaningful. This trip is a reminder that hard work pays off and a chance to celebrate with our friends, creating lasting memories and proving that the journey was worth it.
