University High School (Normal)

Infobox Secondary school
name = University High School

motto = "An exemplary high school...A model teacher education center"
established = 1857
type = Charter secondary
grades = 9–12
students = approx. 600 (2006-2007)
faculty = 92
city = Normal
state = Illinois
country = USA
principal = Jeff Hill
mascot = Pioneer
colors = Kelly Green, Gold
yearbook = Clarion
newspaper = Clarionette
magazine = Brome + Beyond
website = http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/

University High School ("U-High"), located in Normal, Illinois, is one of two "laboratory schools" of the College of Education at Illinois State University designed for research and teacher-training; the other is Thomas Metcalf School, an elementary school. University High School offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities and has a strong history of sports and academics. Founded in 1857, it is the oldest laboratory school and among the oldest high schools in the United States.

The principal is currently Jeff Hill, and the vice principal is Stephen Wilder. The mascot is the Pioneer. The school colors are (kelly) green and gold.

tudent Enrollment

U-High enrolls approximately 600 students while Metcalf enrolls about 400. However, the IHSA institutes an enrollment multiplier for schools such as U-High that do not have restrictive geographic boundaries for their students, thus classifying it as a larger school in athletic competition. This multiplier counts each student as 1.65 students, thus moving the athletic division to AA as opposed to A as previous years. [ [http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu/aboutus.htm U-High- About Us ] ]

Important Traditions

As one of the oldest high schools in Illinois, U-High has many established traditions and rituals. One of the most important of these is Class Night, an event which takes place in late May, usually the day after the seniors' last day of attendance. Class Night features a mix of student skits (which in recent years have been replaced by student-produced films), student bands, and the all-important Moving Up of Classes. In this ceremony, the seniors vacate their seats as a symbol of their departure from U-High and each class moves up to take the seats that they will occupy in the next year. The freshmen are welcomed into the U-High community, and the Lamp of Knowledge is passed from the departing seniors to the rising seniors. Class Night is always followed by a dance, which is usually fairly well attended.

Other traditions include the senior chorus concert (where all the music is selected by seniors and each graduating choir member gets a solo), the football games, the welcoming of freshmen on the first day, and the "open campus" that students value so dearly. Individual activities have their own long-standing traditions, and each new class of students adds to them.

ports

U-High is known nationally as being one of the best golfing schools in the country. The boy's team has won the IHSA state championship 5 years running, and the girl's team has won it 3 years running. U-High is also well known for its strong basketball program which was home to legendary coach Cal Hubbard.The girls basketball team of 2007-2008 is just as strong winning intercity, which they had not done in many years. The swimming, cross country, wrestling, football, and soccer teams as well as many more are also highly competitive in the IHSA. While not technically sports, U-High’s chess, math team, and WYSE team are highly competitive. Math team got 7th place in 2007 and 9th place in 2008 for class 2A. In chess, in 2008 they score 5-2 to win first in their class with an impressive win fourth round against number 1 seed Niles North. U-High’s WYSE team scored 2nd place in their division.

Notable alumni

*Adlai Stevenson, Politician, former U.S. presidential candidate
*Ogonna Nnamani, Two time U.S. indoor volleyball Olympian and winner of the Silver Medal
*David Kelly, sportscaster

References

External links

* [http://www.uhigh.ilstu.edu Official web site for University High School]