Troy High School (Michigan)

"This article is about the Troy High School in Troy, Michigan. For other uses, see Troy High School.

Infobox high school
bgcolor_section="#ffebcd"


image_caption =
imagesize = 130px
name= Troy High School
motto =
established = 1955
type = Public Secondary
endowment =
staff =
faculty =
principal = Mark Dziatczak
enrollment = 1,900
students =
grades = 9-12
free_label =
free_text =
free_label1 = Distinctions
free_text1 = Perennial National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
free_label2 = National ranking
free_text2 = 453^rd
free_label3 = Newspaper
free_text3 = "The Northend"
free_label4 = Yearbook
free_text4 = "Gladiator"
colors = Silver and Black
mascot = "Colts"
district = Troy Public Schools
campus = Suburban
song = Alma Mater
information =
location = Troy, Michigan
country = USA
website = [http://www.troycolts.org/]
footnotes =

Troy High School is a public high school in Troy, Michigan. Despite being a standard high school, it is noted for high academics. In its fifty-two year history, Troy High has been active and has won statewide championships in such sports such as football, soccer, cross-country, hockey, and tennis. The Troy Mathematics and Science Olympiad teams are also very strong.

It was ranked 453rd by Newsweek in its listing of America's Top Public High Schools for 2007. [ [http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380 America's Top Public High Schools | Newsweek Best High Schools | Newsweek.com ] ]

History

Troy High School was founded in 1955, the same year as Troy's incorporation as a city. Originally located on Livernois Road near Big Beaver Road (a site currently occupied by the Troy Community Center), it was moved to a new location at Northfield Parkway and Long Lake Road in 1992, and was expanded in 2006. The school's expansion was overdue after many years of overcrowding in the late 1990s and early 2000s.Fact|date=February 2007

On June 2nd, 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, made a televised campaign visit and speech at Troy High. This was Obama's first visit to Oakland County during his presidential run.

Extracurricular activities

Troy High School's yearbook, "The Gladiator", received Gold Medal standings for its 2006-2007 edition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association as well as a Gold Medal from the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association.

The school newspaper, "The Northend", is named after the "north end" of the old Troy High building, where journalism classes had been taught; the journalism room is closer to the center in the new building.

There are five Troy High bands: the Campus Band, the Concert Band, the Symphonic Band, the Troy Colt Marching Band, and the Jazz Band. [ [http://www.troyhighband.org TroyColtBands ] ] All are officially under the direction of Mr. Brian Nutting; however, the Jazz Band is largely self-directed. The Concert and Symphonic Bands – award-winning bands by themselves, together comprising the Marching Band – appeared by the Queen's invitation (through a representative of the Lord Mayor of London) at the 2007 London New Year's Day Parade. [ [http://www.londonparade.co.uk/event/participants/details.asp?id=1713 London Parade ] ] In 2004, the Troy High Symphonic Band played at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The Troy High School bands also have an [http://www.youtube.com/bestband1 unofficial YouTube account] , where anyone can watch videos of their concerts and performances. The Troy High School choirs are also very accomplished, with many first division ratings at festivals.

There are also three Troy High School string orchestras: the Freshman Orchestra, the Concert Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra. In addition to the orchestras, many string players participate with the Troy Country Fiddlers (which, like the Jazz Band, is largely self-directed). The Troy High orchestras, particularly the Symphony Orchestra, have won several awards under the direction of Mr. Alan MacNair, named to the 2007 USA Today All-USA Teacher Team [http://www.freepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/NEWS03/801150404/1005] . Most recently the Symphony Orchestra won the Best Overall Orchestra award from The Festival of Music in Montreal. Notably, they defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer's Symphony Orchestra. [ [http://www.troyhighorchestra.org Orchestra Association of Troy High ] ] They have also, in past years, performed at Carnegie Hall.

Troy High School's theatre organization, the Troy Theatre Ensemble (TTE), has also received recognition under Mr. Rick Bodick. In 2004, it performed at the Fringe theatre festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has received regional recognition. [ [http://www.troycolts.org/staff/rbodick/ TTE Home ] ] Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster was a member of the TTE in her time at Troy High.

The Troy High Science Olympiad team has won the Michigan state championship several times, and thus has attended the National Science Olympiad Championships.

The Troy High policy debate team won admission to the National Tournament of Champions (TOC), the only Southeast Michigan school to do so in the 2005-2006 season.

The Troy High Quiz Bowl Team has become a force in Michigan Quiz Bowl, defeating state champions Detroit Catholic Central High School in December 2006; current consensus in the Michigan Quiz Bowl community places Troy roughly at par with Catholic Central and East Lansing High School at the top of the statewide field, as of January 2007. The team has also attended both the 2005 and 2006 NAQT National High School Championships, most recently achieving eighth place after losing to Shady Side Academy and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. [ [http://www.naqt.com/hsnct/2006/2006-hsnct-results.html National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC ] ] In 2007, Troy High School Quiz Bowl again received eighth place, tying with several teams, after a loss to Richard Montgomery High School of Rockville, Maryland. [ [http://www.naqt.com/hsnct/2007/2007-hsnct-results.html National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC ] ]

Troy High is known for its Future Problem Solvers, which have won the State Bowl every year since participating and have recently placed on the top ten in the International Bowl.

Troy High School has attended the International Brain Bee competition several times. Troy High has also competed successfully in Exploravision, with all the teams getting honorable mention or regional finalist rankings.

Building with Books, an international organization, is an active club at Troy High. Members are not only committed to global education and local community service, but also to global service. Every year, 100% of funds raised goes toward building a school in a developing country such as Mali or Nicaragua. The club selects two students each year to help construct the schools in these countries.

Other Troy High activities include a strong National Honor Society, Model United Nations, the service organization Project LEAD, various language/culture clubs (e.g. German Club, French Club, Chinese Club), and others. [ [http://www.troycolts.org/html/extra-curricular.html Extra-curricular ] ]

The Troy High School student government is very successful. They conduct such fundraisers as powerpuff, powderpuff, and While You Were Out. Student government plans all the school dances including homecoming, winter ball, Sadie's, and prom. Members of student government attend Michigan Association of Student Council conferences.

Athletics

Troy High has a long history of athletic success. Troy High football won the Michigan State Class AA championship in 1994 by beating Bay City Central at the Pontiac Silverdome, and was a runner-up for the Class A championship in 1985. In 1995 the Troy High Football team achieved the highest national ranking in the schools history at #15 according to USA today before being knocked in the State Regional finals by Detroit Catholic Central 21-14 in a game that matched the #1 and #2 teams in the state according the the Detroit Free Press. Between 1992 and 1997 seasons the team enjoyed the most successful period in team history with a winning percentage of 87%, 4 undefeated reagular seasons, 3 Regional finals, and the 1994 State Championship. Following the 1997 season, they fell into a 10 year drought, which ended in 2007 when they made to the semifinals with only 2 losses in the entire season. The team came very close to winning in the semifinals as they were leading for most of the game until – with 3 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter – Troy was ahead by 2 and quarterback Branko Hamilton gave up an interception which resulted in a touchdown for their opponent, Livonia Stevenson. Troy High soccer has become equally as notable as football, with Troy attaining state champion status several times in recent years. The Colts have also won state titles in cross country, lacrosse and gymnastics. The baseball and softball teams have enjoyed great success in recent years.

Troy High hockey is new; until the 2006-2007 season, Troy cooperated with Athens in the Troy Blackhawks team (whose name combined the Troy High color black with the Athens animal, the hawk). The Blackhawks were forced to dissolve by state sports authorities in 2006. Captained by Tom Hamilton, Michael Peck and Derek Ciminelli. The Colts reached the regional finals, being defeated by #1-ranked Livonia Churchill in overtime, 3-2.The Team was lead by Jake Murphy, Trevor Grady, Colin Bronsteen, Derek Ciminelli, Robert Creighton, Robert Wilson, Michael Peck, and Tom Hamilton all aided the Colts to a successful first season. Tim Zimmerman was the coach. ["The Northend", December 2006]

The Troy High tennis team had an embarrasing mishap in its program in the 2007 season. Although the team has made it to the state finals in Midland, Michigan very rarely, its highest ranking was 19th until 2007. In that year, the team once again made it to the state championship and came very close to winning: its final ranking was third. Newcomer Magnus Hallahan, of Denmark, won for his division, #1 singles.

Notable alumni and former students

* Nick Cotsonika, author and journalist for the Detroit Free Press
* Sutton Foster, Tony Award-winning Broadway actress
* Ellen Hollman, film and television actress
* Emily Hsu, Broadway and television actress
* Kraig Kitchin, CEO of Premiere Radio
* Steve McCatty, former MLB pitcher and coach
* Donna McKechnie, Broadway, television, and film actress
* Christy McDonald, television news reporter and anchor, WXYZ-TV
* Lauren Molina, Broadway actress, musician and cellist
* Roop Raj, television news anchor for WDSU-TV
* Susan Stellin, writer for the New York Times
* Aileen Wuornos, inspiration for the movie Monster
* Rich Katko, ginger extraordinaire

References