Gordon Tech High School
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| Gordon Tech High School |
|
| Motto | Ad Societatem Resurgendum ("For the Resurrection of Society") |
| Established | 1952 |
| Type | Catholic co-ed secondary |
| Affiliation | Congregation of the Resurrection, Catholic |
| Principal | Simon Hess |
| Students | 650 (approx) |
| Grades | 9–12 |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| Colors | Orange and Grey |
| Mascot | Ram |
| Website | www.gordontech.org |
Gordon Tech High School, formerly known as Gordon Technical High School, is a Roman Catholic high school located in Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the north side of Chicago on Addison Street and California Avenue.
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[edit] School history
[edit] Early years
Over fifty years ago, as Archbishop Weber High School was preparing to move into its newly built facilities in the Cragin neighborhood, Samuel Cardinal Stritch asked the Congregation of the Resurrection to establish a new, uniquely different Catholic high school that would not only emphasize a college preparatory program, but also have a technical component to better prepare students for the advancing challenges of the workplace. In September 1952, the Resurrection Fathers and Brothers opened Gordon Tech as the first college preparatory/technical high school in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Gordon Tech was established on the original dual campuses on Division Street and on Haddon Avenue, it was located in the heart of Chicago's old and historic Polish neighborhood near the Milwaukee-Division-Ashland triangle on the near northwest side. In 1961 the campus moved to Addison Street and California Avenue.
[edit] Decade of Champions
According to Gordon Tech's webpage and Gordon Tech coach Thomas Winiecki the period from 1972 - 1982 is referred to as the Decade of Champions[1]. Many championships in Gordon Tech's althetic history were won here. Including an IHSA Class 6A State Football Championship in 1980 and a Chicago Prep Bowl championship in 1982. A IHSA Fencing state championship in 1977 and 1980. Gordon Tech won many Chicago Catholic League championships in basketball, baseball, football, tennis, wrestling, cross country and soccer. Gordon Tech shared great rivalries with their Catholic League counterparts such as Archbishop Weber High School, St. Laurence High School, St. Patrick High School (Chicago), & St. Rita of Cascia High School. Gordon Tech also shared in a rivalry with Chicago Public School Lane Technical College Prep High School, whose close proximity made it a natural rival. The two were separated by a branch of the Chicago River.
In this time period the school's enrollment was at its highest. Often with class sizes exceeding 700 male students. The school's motto at this time was Ad Viros Faciendos -- ("The Maker of Men"). Many single gender Chicago Catholic High Schools had their highest enrollment during this time.
[edit] Changes in the new millennium
Gordon Tech saw a period of great change beginning in the late 1990s. In 1999 the school officially changed its name from Gordon Technical High School to Gordon Tech High School. The school colors of orange and blue were changed back to the original orange and gray.
Gordon Tech also saw an increase in high tech courses as technology progressed. Once offering woodshop, auto shop, metal shop, electrical, and architecture to its students, Gordon Tech also added a variety of computer based courses such as computer-aided drafting [CAD], computer programming, and computer repair.
In 2001, the biggest change at Gordon Tech occurred. Addressing the needs of its students, Gordon Tech embarked on another major planning process in the 1995 - 2005 school year, resulting in its the Strategic Plan 2005. The committee, consisting of over 60 representative members, unanimously approved that Gordon Tech go high tech and coeducational. On May 22, 2001, Gordon officially announced that it was going coed in August 2002 with approval from the Congregation of the Resurrection, the Office of Catholic School, Bishop Edwin Conway, and Francis Cardinal George. The speculatioin of converting the long time all male school to co-ed was often speculated for years to that point but many alumni and parents worried about the change. The school's motto was changed to the current Ad Societatem Resurgendum ("For the Resurrection of Society")
[edit] Extracurricular
[edit] Athletics
Gordon Tech High School offers 16 sports for both boys and girls. Gordon Tech is a member of the IHSA, the Chicago Catholic League for boys, and beginning in 2004-05 a full- fledged member of the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC). The school's mascot is the Ram and it's colors are orange and grey. However, many alumni still refer to the old colors of orange and blue. At basketball games, the student section is known as the Orange Crush. The students cheer loudly often mirroring the image of student sections such as Duke University or the University of North Carolina
[edit] School fight song
The school fight song is sung at many athletic events and pep rallies. The song is very popular with its alumni and student body.
Go! Go Gordon Go!
Your Fighting Spirit We All Know
While on the Field
Or on the Floor
The Mighty Rams will Build the score for Gordon
So Cheer!
Stand up and Cheer!
And prove to all our Loyalty!
That we will Fight! Fight! Fight!
For Gordon Tech! and Victory!
[edit] Alumni
Gordon Tech has over 16,000 alumni in its history.
Notable Alumni include:
Tom Kleinschmidt - Professional Basketball Player, DePaul University Basketball star
Jitim Young - Professional Basketball Player, Northwestern University Basketball star
The Honorable Ruben Castillo - US District Judge
Michael Ceriale - Chicago Police Officer
Glenn A. Gienko - VP/Managing Director of Motorola
James Marino - Broadway Star
George L. Weinand - Director, Industry Training, KPMG
Alfred M. Wurglitz - Principal, Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
Jason Gedrick (Gedroic) - Television and Movie Actor
William S. Bike - author and journalist
[edit] Archbishop Weber High School
Like Gordon Tech, Archbishop Weber High School was administered by the Congregation of the Resurrection. It served Chicago’s Catholic community for over 100 years, but closed in 1999 due to low enrollment. The heritage of Weber is kept alive through Gordon Tech High School. Alumni records are held in Gordon Tech's Office of Records.
