Victor J. Andrew High School

Infobox Secondary school
name = Victor J. Andrew High School
picture =
principal = Glenn Wood (2006-present)
established = 1977
type = Public secondary
grades = 9–12
city = 9001 W. 171st Street
Tinley Park
state = Illinois
country = USA
enrollment = 2,524
faculty =
mascot = Thunderbolts
colors = Black and Gold
newspaper = The Circuit
yearbook = The Sentinel
website = [http://andrew.d230.org/ andrew.d230.org]
athletics = [http://www.athletics2000.com/andrew/ www.athletics2000.com/andrew]

Victor J. Andrew High School, Andrew, or VJA, is a public four-year high school located in Tinley Park, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is the third school to become part of Consolidated High School District 230, which also includes Amos Alonzo Stagg High School and Carl Sandburg High School.

History

Andrew opened in the fall of 1977, enrolling freshman and sophomore students . The first class graduated in 1980. The school is named after scientist Victor J. Andrew, founder of Andrew Corporation, which specializes in communication technologies. Andrew died in October 1971 and eventually became the forerunner for the name of the new District 230 school.The school underwent major renovations and additions at the turn of the millennium which added a new performing arts center, gymnasium, and cafeteria. The classrooms and hallways in the old building were renovated with the same modern architecture and design that defined the new addition. Beginning in 2005, all of the school's bathrooms were renovated, including all four locker rooms during the spring and summer months of 2007. In addition, since 1985, the school has become host to hundreds of crafters during spring and fall craft shows.

Academics

In 2005, Andrew had an average composite ACT score of 21.4 and graduated 94.2% of its senior class. The average class size is 18.5. Andrew has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. [ [http://district.d230.org/uploads/VJAFY05.pdf Illinois School Report Card] ]

In 2007, Andrew had an average composite ACT score of 22.0 and graduated 95.1% of its senior class. The average class size is 18.5. Andrew has made Adequate Yearly Progress on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, a state test part of the No Child Left Behind Act. [ [http://district.d230.org/uploads/VJAFY05.pdf Illinois School Report Card] ] Andrew also had 68.5% of its students meeting or exceeding state standards on the Prairie State Achievement Exams, with at least 16% of the school exceeding those standards in all areas.

It is also well known for their anual Variety Show, which rocks.

Athletics

Andrew's athletic teams play in SWSC, and Illinois High School Association. Andrew's mascot is the Thunderbolts, taken from the "Flash" trademark of Andrew Corporation. In 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Bowling season the Thunderbolts won back to back state championships. During the 2005-2006 school year a vote was taken and the school mascot was changed to Mr. T-Bolt. In the 2006-2007 school year Andrew adopted a new mascot, T-bolt Man. One of the highlights of Andrew High School's athletic accomplishments has been it's historic wrestling state championship records. Several of the late eighties teams took an important place in the class AA state championships in Champaign, IL, but no one in the state has taken the state 85-89; other than Joey Gilbert, class of '89. That is a record that is yet to be broken. The coaching and support teams were unsurpassed for those years, and there were several other contenders from Andrew during that time. Several of the staff responsible for the support and success of this team are still on staff on various positions within the school. In addition, although not quite qualifying, two Andrew gymnasts from the class of 88 were invited to Olympic trials. Katie Timmons and David Rhee. The athletic staff of Andrew has always been of the highest caliber, and it's not unknown for local Chicago athletes to stop in for a practice or two, either to visit relatives, or search talent, we don't know.

Marching Band

Andrew's marching band is a consistent finalist at the Illinois State University Marching Band and has won its class, 5A, 5 times: 1994, 1997, 2002, 2006, 2007. Its percussion section won "Best Percussion" in 1994,1997,1998,2003 and 2007. In addition to their fall marching band program, VJA offers Indoor Percussion and Indoor Color Guard during the winter months. In 2008, the indoor percussion line made open class finals in Dayton, Ohio during WGI's (Winter Guard International) World Championships. They placed 9th overall.

SkillsUSA

One of Andrew's activities is the SkillsUSA state-wide competition. Students compete in many different competitions from Graphic Arts and Creative Photography to Culinary Arts.

Activities

*Business Professionals of America (BPA)
*Andrew Fest
*Auto Club
*Music/Theater
*Chess Team
*Child Care
*Craft Club
*Drama Club
*Environmental Club
*International Club
*Jazz Band
*J.E.T.S. (WYSE)
*Literary Magazine
*Pep Band
*Student Council
*Varsity Club
*SkillsUSA
*Marching Band
*Mathletes
*Model U.N
*National Honor Society
*Newspaper ("The Circuit")
*Powderpuff Football
*P.O.W.E.R
*Peer Mediation
*Pep Club
*Diversity Club
*Scholastic Bowling
*Science Club
*Seriography
*Snowball
*Speech Team
*Variety Show
*Yacht Club
*Yearbook
*Youth & Government
*Color/Winter Guard
*Winter Drumline
*Prom Fashion Show

Notable alumni

*Christine Magnuson, 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist in swimming
*Hazem Ali, Armando Estrada, wrestler with the WWE, was on RAW, now on ECW
*Gina Glocksen, 9th place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol
*Garrett Jones, Major League baseball player
*Kevin Sefcik, Major League baseball player
*George E. Johnson, Wall St. Tycoon

References

External links

* [http://andrew.d230.org/ Official website]