Smoky Hill High School
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| Smoky Hill High School | |
| School type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1974 |
| District | Cherry Creek School District |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Students | 2637[1] |
| Athletics | 5A |
| Athletic Conference | Centennial League |
| Colors | Forest Green and Scarlet |
| Mascot | Buffalo |
| Location | 16100 E. Smoky Hill Road Aurora, CO 80015 |
| Information | 720-886-5300 |
| Website | http://www.smoky.ccsd.k12.co.us/ |
Smoky Hill High School is located in Aurora, Colorado and currently has around 2,600 students. Smoky Hill is part of the Cherry Creek School District and was the second high school built by the district in 1974.
It goes by the short name 'Smoky'. Students take pride in the spelling of the first word of the school name without an 'e.' The name actually comes from the fact that the school is located not far from the Smoky Hill Trail, an old pioneer trail stretching from Kansas to Denver.
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[edit] Extracurricular activities
Smoky also takes great pride in their athletics program with stellar soccer, volleyball, baseball, basketball, and cheerleading programs.
The drama program was mentioned in the Denver Post in May 2006 after the 30-year-old 'secret room' in the theater rafters was exposed by the student newspaper, The Express. [2]. Although it was the subject of rampant rumors concerning sex, drugs, and alcohol, the room only contained a few pieces of furniture and a signature book with the names of those who had visited it over the years.
The choir program has had a lengthy tradition of excellence and is currently under the direction of Mike Grant and Jim Techau, assisted by accompanist Rob Lowe. The SHHS choirs have boasted 13 performances at the Colorado Music Educators Association convention since 1992, and is known in the area for a unique familial dynamic, rich and mature tone quality, and extremely varied and difficult performance repertoire.[citation needed]
The school's Science Bowl team has been nationally recognized under coach Mary Bartholomew for several years in the past.
In 2005, Smoky Hill formed the Smoky Hill Area Robotics Club (SHARC). It has been a part of the FIRST robotics competitions since 2006, earned 2nd place in the Colorado School of Mines Robo Landminer Competition, and hosts monthly robotics competitions. Despite early financial hardships, the program has flourished due to several extremely dedicated adults from the community and Smoky, $6000 worth of grants from NASA to purchase the FIRST robot kit and a $5000 grant from Lowe's to purchase professional-grade tools for metal, plastic, and wood working.
[edit] Curriculum
In 1991 Smoky became the second high school in Colorado to offer the International Baccalaureate program. Since that time Smoky has been recognized in Newsweek's nationwide list of excellent high schools. Smoky is also an AVID with Distinction school.
[edit] Sports
Athletically, Smoky Hill High School is part of the 8-team Centennial League that also includes Cherry Creek, Grandview, Boulder, Fairview, Eaglecrest, Mullen, and Overland high schools.
[edit] Soccer
In the 2006 season Danny Winsor led the Smoky Hill High School boys varsity soccer team to win the class 5A state title game. Antonio Rosales and Matt Hammett scored first-half goals to lead Smoky Hill to a 2-0 victory over Fort Collins in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A state title soccer game. With the victory, fifth-seeded Smoky Hill (16-2-2) avenged its 2-1 overtime loss to Fort Collins (12-7-2) last year, and the Buffaloes won their fourth state championship since 1999. Miguel Rosales had six saves for Smoky Hill, which won its last state championship in 2004. Couperus had four saves for Fort Collins.
[edit] Cross-Country
The Buffalo cross-country team has usually been in the top tier of state teams, since the schools inception. Greg Weich, who coached from 1996-2005, was a nationally recognized coach. He led the girl's side to an unprecedented three state-championships in a row, led by Meghan and Katelyn Katlenbauch, Morgan Schulz and Keara Sammons. In 2004, the girls team took second in the Nike Team Nationals. The boys team has had it's fair share of indivdual greatness as well. It has seen Ryan Deak, Brent Vaugh and Grant Duin all crack the top ten at state, including a championship by Vaugh in 2002. Ryan Deak holds the school 5k record with an impressive 14:58. The boys side's best showing at the state meet was in 2005, where they took second behind Grant Duin.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Alison Dunlap, ('87) professional mountain biker[3]
- Fear Before the March of Flames, local metalcore band[4]
- Aaron Robbins, Wyoming Cowboys football player[5]
- Lesley Chilcott, ('86) Academy Award winning Co-Producer of An Inconvenient Truth[6]
- Adrian Miller, ('87) Special assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the President’s Initiative for One America in the Bill Clinton White House. [7]
[edit] Notable faculty
Wade Manning, former professional football player for the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [http://www.chsaa.org/schools/schools.asp?schoolId=300 Colorado High School Activities Association profile for Smoky Hill High School. Accessed December 3, 2006.
- ^ Meyer, Jeremy. "Student hideaway: The 31-year jig is up", Denver Post, May 4, 2006. Accessed December 3, 2006.
- ^ Alison Dunlap. Colorado College Success Stories. Accessed December 3, 2006.
- ^ Heller, Jason. Trail Blazers, Westword, September 2, 2004. Accessed December 3, 2006.
- ^ Aaron Robbins profile
- ^ An Inconvenient Truth. [1]. Climate Crisis. Accessed March 11, 2007.
- ^ [2] African American Voter Registration & Information Project. Accessed March 11, 2007.
