Ben Davis High School

Infobox School2 | name =Ben Davis High School


motto =Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Education
established =1892
type =Public high school
locale =Large city
grades =10-12
head_name =Principal
head =Mr. Joel McKinney
head_name2 =
head2 =
city =Indianapolis
state =Indiana
country =USA
students =3305
faculty =178
athletics = Indiana High School Athletic Association; Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference
school_colors =Purple and White
mascot =Giants
free_label =Snapshot
free = [http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?schl=5213 BDHS]
website = [http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdinfo/information.htm BDHS]

Ben Davis High School (BDHS) is a 3-year high school in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana. It has a student enrollment of 3,217 as of 2007, and a staff of 178. Ben Davis was first established in 1892. The current school building was constructed in 1965. The school underwent extensive construction and renovation from 1998-2002 and experienced another addition of more classrooms which was completed prior to the 2007/2008 school year. With the newly opened Ninth Grade Center, the school boasts over 1,000,000 square feet under one continuous roof.

The school is named for 1880's Vandalia Railroad Executive Benjamin Davis. He was instrumental in getting a stop on the railroad for a small community that would come to bear his name. The community members were so appreciative of Mr. Davis' efforts that they named the stop after him. The community around the stop became known as "Ben Davis".

The first Ben Davis High School was built in 1892. That school was replaced in the early 1900's by a bigger building at the corner of what is now Morris Street and High School Road. During the Depression, a larger school was built just up the road as part of the WPA. Ben Davis High School remained in that location until the current building was established in 1965. The old Ben Davis High School is currently undergoing renovation and serves as Ben Davis University High School.

BDHS has received the National Award for Excellence in Education from the United States Department of Education.

The school is part of the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township.

Athletics and programs

Ben Davis High School has won multiple state championships under the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association). They have won a total of 22 IHSAA state championships of which 7 in football (87, 88, 90, 91, 99, 01, 02), 4 in cross country (62, 89, 90, 95), 3 in girls swimming (78,79,80), 2 in girls basket ball (00, 01), 2 in boys basket ball (95, 96), 1 in volley ball in 79, 1 in baseball in 81, 1 in boys golf in 92, and one in Boys Track and Field (08).(Ben Davis Athletics http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdathl/state_champions.htm) Ben Davis High School is a member of the M.I.C. (Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference) which is known as one of the most competitive confrences in the Midwest. The team nickname is the "Giants."

The Ben Davis Marching Giants haved enjoyed national success and recognition, traveling across the country on invitation to march in various parades and festivals, including the King Kamehameha parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. They are currently under the direction of Jim Butz, Shawn McNabb, John Papandria, and Gary Rudolph. The band has also won numerous Indiana state titles and has also competed on the national level, finishing second in the National Marching Band Competition in 1982.

Ben Davis has a successful choral program that is under the direction of Hersel Cremeans, Denise Hendrix, and Marcia Leis. Ben Davis has 3 competitive choirs. Purple-Aires is an advanced concert choir, winning grand champion at each competition they attended in the 07/08 competition season. Premiers is the top mixed show choir which consistently places in the top five at area competitions. Sounds, formerly known as Soundsations, is the top women's show choir which is moving up the ranks to be one of the best female show choirs in the midwest. Both show choirs are choreographed by Jarod Voss and sing concert literature throughout the year as well.

The school also has a well known speech, debate, journalism, and communications program. Ben Davis is home to WBDG, a 400-Watt FM radio station operated by students. WBDG went on the air in 1966 and continues to broadcast today 24 hours, 7 days per week. BDHS is also home to the award winning "Keyhole" yearbook and the "Giant Visions" literary magazine. Its award-winning bi-weekly newspaper, the "Spotlight" is a member of the High School National Ad Network. In 2003, the school re-launched BDTV, a video production house, within the Area 31 Career Center where students produce a weekly school newscast and a variety of other video productions for the township.

Ben Davis is home to a career center serving nine schools (Avon High School, Brownsburg High School, Cascade High School, Danville Community High School, Decatur Central High School, Monrovia High School, Mooresville Consolidated High School, Speedway High School, Tri-West High School) containing programs from hair design to aviation flight to radio and television broadcasting to web design to culinary arts and everything in between.

Notable alumni

* Morten Andersen (b. 1960), American Football player
* Steve Allee, jazz musician and composer
* Lauren Cheney, U.S. women's international soccer player and 2008 olympic gold medalist
* Don Gummer, sculptor, husband of Meryl Streep
* Randy Wittman, American basketball player (NBA player and coach)
* Corey Harris, American Football player
* Shyra Ely, American Basketball player (University of Tennessee and WNBA player)
* Kristi Lee, national radio personality
* Kevin Calabro, American basketball broadcaster
* David Calabro, Sports Director- WTHR Indianapolis, Indiana

School Partnerships

External links

* [http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdinfo/information.htm Ben Davis High School website]
* [http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapshot.cfm?schl=5213 schools snapshot]
* [http://www.wayne.k12.in.us/bdwbdg WBDG Radio website]
* [http://www.ncg-online.de Homepage] Partnership School, Nicolaus-Cusanus-Gymnasium in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany