Hononegah Community High School

Hononegah Community High School is a public high school in Rockton, Illinois and part of District 207. It services the towns of Rockton, Roscoe, Shirland, and parts of South Beloit. The high school opened its doors in 1922 and has since seen many renovation projects. It is named after Princess Hononegah, the Native American wife of Stephen Mack, Jr., who is generally credited for founding the town of Rockton. The school has been ranked by the Chicago Sun-Times as a top-40 School. The school is currently crowded despite recent additions over the past decade, which include a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center capable of seating 1,100, and an athletic practice dome (sometimes affectionately called "The Bubble"), the first of its kind for any high school in the state of Illinois.

History

Hononegah High School was dedicated in February of 1923 (construction was 1922). Additions to the building have taken place in the 1950's, 1971 (metal gym complex), 1981 classroom addition, 1996 (Performing Arts Center and classrooms) and 2003 (new entrance, locker rooms, guidance and social studies as well as the information system's academy). Growth trends (the building houses 2150 students) point to an additional high school in the next 5 years. Locations of some points of interest in the building include the original theater and gym were in what is now the cafeteria, and the concession area in the metal gym was the location of the Hononegah Theater in the pre-1980's.

ports

Hononegah football and basketball games are major draws for spectators in the north Winnebago area, often bringing in thousands of spectators to cheer on the Hononegah Indians. The 2006-2007 varsity volleyball team made it to the state championship, losing to Wheaten St. Francis in a hotly contested match. Hononegah is also one of five drafting schools of the Rockford Icemen hockey program. Along with Boylan High School, Guilford High School, Harlem High School, and Christian Life, Hononegah contributes nearly ten student athletes to the Rockford Icemen who recently won their twelfth consecutive Illinois state championship.

Notable alumni

*Danica Patrick, Indy Racing League IndyCar Series driver (became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500 and winner of the Indy Japan 300 in April 2008.
*Nicole Manske, beauty queen and news reporter
*Scott Hamilton, former U.S. Olympic gold medalist and four-time champion figure skater

External links

* [http://hononegah.il.schoolwebpages.com/education/school/school.php?sectiondetailid=75 Hononegah Community High School website]