10 Years Later

Catching Up With Henderson Family Magazine’s First Cover Kid

Ten years ago, a sweet 2 year old named Hadley Mathis stole the hearts of Henderson Family Magazine readers when she was selected as our cover kid from a field of 756 entries. Fast forward a decade, and that adorable toddler is now a confident, fun-loving 12-year-old with big dreams and plenty of memories made along the way.

Looking back at her cover photo today, Hadley can’t help but smile. “I think about how cute I was,” she said with a laugh. “And how cool it was that I won out of 756 people!”

According to her parents, she was a pretty easygoing toddler, especially compared with her siblings. “My parents have told me that I was very easy to deal with, or at least compared to my siblings when they were 2 years old,” she said.

Today, life looks a little different. At 12, Hadley’s schedule is filled with friends, shopping trips, swimming, watching her favorite shows and, most importantly, cheerleading. Even though she has grown up, some things haven’t changed. Hadley still enjoys many of the same activities she loved as a little girl, including drawing, coloring, reading, swimming and spending time outdoors.

Over the years, she has built a collection of memories she treasures. Some of her favorites include golf cart rides around town, Saturdays at Eastgate, birthday parties with friends, family beach vacations to Florida, nights spent with her Geddie and Paw-Paw, and trips to Holiday World. When asked what makes her laugh the most these days, her answer was simple: her friends. She also credits her great-grandparents as some of the people she looks up to most. “They’ve always been important to me,” she said.

One accomplishment Hadley is especially proud of is being named Student of the Year by her math teacher.

If her 2-year-old self could somehow see her today, she thinks the reaction would be pretty amusing. “My 2-year-old self would probably say I was cool and really tall,” she joked.

Looking ahead, she already has her sights set on a meaningful career. “My biggest dream is to become a NICU nurse and be rich!” she said with a laugh. By age 22, she hopes to have a good relationship, a home of her own and financial stability as she begins building her future. 

When asked what advice she would give younger children, her response showed wisdom beyond her years. “Always keep going and find people along the way who are supportive. Enjoy living in Henderson. There are nice people here!”

As the magazine celebrates another milestone, it’s special to look back at the children who have graced our covers and see the remarkable young people they are becoming. While 10 years have passed since this former cover kid first smiled for our camera, one thing remains the same: Her bright future is just getting started.