- Simeon Career Academy
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Neal F. Simeon Career Academy 
Motto Home of Tomorrow's Leaders Established 1949 Type Public Secondary Vocational Principal Sheldon House Grades 9–12 Location 8147 S. Vincennes Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, USACampus Urban Colors Blue
GoldMascot Wolverines Website http://simeonca.org Neal F. Simeon Career Academy (formerly known as Neal F. Simeon Vocational High School) is a public 4-year vocational high school located in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. Simeon was founded in 1949 as Westcott Vocational High School in a building located at 8023 S. Normal Avenue, where it operated until the Kroger company donated a vacant warehouse (located at 8235 S. Vincennes Avenue) to the Chicago Public Schools in 1963.
Contents
History
Simeon operated in the Kroger building amidst horrible conditions until a new building was built and opened for students in September, 2003. Simeon is well-known in the Chicago area as a high school sports powerhouse, winning IHSA Class AA State Boys Basketball Championships in 1984, 2006, and 2007. They also won the Class 4A Championship in 2010 and 2011. Another incident the school is well known for is the murder of Ben Wilson in 1984, a star basketball player (then recognized as one of the top high school basketball players in the nation) who led the Wolverines to their first state basketball championship and was killed on the eve of his senior season opener (November 20, 1984). After the tragic incident, then Mayor Harold Washington spoke to grieving students, denouncing gun violence in the city and promising a new gymnasium for the school, to be named in Wilson's honor. The gymnasium was completed in 1987. Since then Ben Wilson's number 25 jersey has been retired, no player has worn this number except for Derrick Rose, who was granted this honor due to his superior basketball-skills. Rose moved on to become one of the nation's top point guards in 2007.
Simeon's basketball team was ranked first in the United States in ESPNHS's 2011 preseason rankings.[1]
Notable Alumni
- Wes Chamberlain ' 84, Former MLB player with the Philadelphia Phillies organization
- Deon Thomas ' 89, basketball player for the University of Illinois and later, the Dallas Mavericks
- Mary E. Flowers ' 68, Illinois State Representative
- Nick Anderson ' 86, Former NBA player, notably with the Orlando Magic; was also part of 1989 Fighting Illini Final Four team
- Bobby Simmons ' 98, Former NBA player with the San Antonio Spurs and other teams
- Johnny Mitchell ' 89, Former NFL player with the New York Jets
- GLC (rapper) ' 96, Rapper on G.O.O.D. Music
- Prolyfic ' 99, Producer on So So Def
- Derrick Rose ' 07 , Chicago Bulls basketball player
- Ben Wilson '85, High School Basketball All American who was shot to death on the eve of the start of his senior season
- Martez Wilson '07, linebacker for the Fighting Illini, drafted by New Orleans Saints in '11
References
External links
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- Educational institutions established in 1949
- High schools in Chicago, Illinois
- Illinois school stubs
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