Ben Davis High School

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Ben Davis High School

Nationally Recognized for Excellence in Education
Established	1892
School type	Public high school
Locale	Large city
Grades	10-12
Principal	Mr. Joel McKinney
Location	Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Students	3305
Faculty	178
Athletics	Indiana High School Athletic Association; Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference
Colors	Purple and White
Mascot	Giants
Snapshot	BDHS
Website	BDHS

Ben Davis High School (BDHS) is a 3-year high school in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana. It has a student enrollment of 2,940 as of 2005, and a staff of 178. Ben Davis was first established in 1892. The current school building was constructed in 1965. The school underwent extensive construction and renovation from 1998-2002 and is currently experiencing another addition of more classrooms. With the newly opened Ninth Grade Center, the school boasts over 1,000,000 square feet.

The school is named for 1880's Vandalia Railroad Executive Benjamin Davis. He was instrumental in getting a stop on the railroad for a small community that would come to bear his name. The community members were so appreciative of Mr. Davis' efforts that they named the stop after him. The community around the stop became known as "Ben Davis".

The first Ben Davis High School was built in 1892. That school was replaced in the early 1900's by a bigger building at the corner of what is now Morris Street and High School Road. During the Depression, a larger school was built just up the road as part of the WPA. Ben Davis High School remained in that location until the current building was established in 1965. The Ben Davis High School that served from the 30's through the mid 1960's is still used as a 7th and 8th grade center. It will close permanently as a school in 2007.

BDHS has received the National Award for Excellence in Education from the US Department of Education.

The school is part of the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township.

[edit] Athletics and programs

Ben Davis High School has won many state championships in the school's history. Ben Davis boys and girls basketball have also enjoyed much success over the years being nationally ranked at times and winning a combined four state titles. Ben Davis football has won seven state titles. The school has also won state championships in boys cross country, girls volleyball, girls swimming, boys golf, and boys baseball. Ben Davis High School is a member of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference known locally as the "MIC." The team nickname is the "Giants."

The Ben Davis marching band has enjoyed international success and recognition, traveling worldwide on invitation to march in various parades and festivals, including the King Kamehameha parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The band has won numerous Indiana state titles and has also competed on the national level, finishing second in the National Marching Band Competition in 1982.

Ben Davis also boasts one of the most competitive choir departments in the state as well. Under the direction of Leah Trigg, the Ben Davis Premiers Show Choir, Soundsations Women's Show Choir and Purple Aires Concert Choir have been awarded several Grand Champion and best vocals awards in several midwest and national competitions.

The school also has a well known speech, debate, journalism, and communications program. Ben Davis is home to WBDG, a 400-Watt FM radio station operated by students. WBDG went on the air in 1966 and continues to broadcast today 24 hours, 7 days per week. BDHS is also home to the award winning Keyhole yearbook and the Giant Visions literary magazine. Its award-winning bi-weekly newspaper, the Spotlight is a member of the High School National Ad Network. In 2003, the school re-launched BDTV, a video production house, within the Area 31 Career Center where students produce a weekly school newscast and a variety of other video productions for the township.

Ben Davis is home to a career center serving nine Central Indiana schools and containing programs from hair design to aviation flight to radio and television broadcasting to web design to culinary arts and everything in between.

[edit] Notable alumni

Morten Andersen (b. 1960), American Football player
Steve Allee, jazz musician and composer
Don Gummer, sculptor, husband of Meryl Streep
Randy Wittman, American Basketball player (NBA player and coach)
Corey Harris, American Football player
Shyra Ely, American Basketball player (University of Tennessee star and WNBA player)
Kristi Lee, national radio personality
Kevin Calabro, American basketball broadcaster (NBA's Seattle SuperSonics)