Grand Blanc Community High School

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Grand Blanc Community High School is a public high school in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, U.S.

The current principal is Dr. Jennifer Hammond. The High School has two separate campuses; West Campus for the freshmen and East Campus for sophomores, juniors and seniors. The East Campus was built in 1964, and the West Campus, previously Grand Blanc Middle School, was built shortly thereafter. During February 2006, a new gymnasium addition opened. The new gym was part of the $94 million bond proposal passed several years prior, and features an indoor track, new weight room, as well as a higher seating capacity than the old gym. In 2007, the new gym was renamed the Robert Tartoni Athletic Center, after the late Robert Tartoni, a teacher who had died several years earlier. The swim and soccer teams of Grand Blanc have achieved notable local acclaim, dominating their Big 9 conference. The girls cross country team, coached by Carlos Benton, Andy Taylor, and Ed Stanbury also dominated the Big 9 conference and even had a star freshman, Gabrielle Anzalone, place 4th in the state.

The school has been in the top 5 percent of schools in the state of Michigan with high test scores in the MEAP and the new MME. The school typical score was about 90. All students are required to get a 1,2,or 3 on the MME to graduate. Students are also required to have an exit interview at a job sight to gradutate.

The school Academics are very high. In order to graduate from the high school, students need to take 4 years of English, 4 years of math, 3 years of science, and 3 years of social studies. Also students need to have a 1/2 semster of a computer class. Starting with the class of 2011, students need to have a full year in art, and have to take an online course. Students have to take at least six classes a semster and must have 24 credits to graduate.

As of the 2006-2007 school year it is currently the largest high school in Genesee County and one of Michigan's largest with over 2,500 students.

1 Activities
2 Mitt Romney's Visit
3 Notable alumni
4 External links

[edit] Activities

There are many activities for students to choose from. Some of the well known programs are Quiz Bowl, HOSA, BPA, Debate Team, Mock Trail team, and the Robotics team. All these have students compete in competion and most of the student that particpe win an award. HOSA has six people that have gone to nationals since the 2006-2007 school year. The Debate and Mock Trail Teams place in the top 10 in the state of Michigan. During the 2007-2008, Grand Blanc High School finally were able to have a Robotics team, which compete at Kettering Univeristy and place 9th international. Other clubs include Foriegn Lanague Clubs, Creative Writing, Amine, Chess Club, UNITE, MSA, Student Counicl, and NHS.

Grand Blanc has very good sport programs where most teams domainted the Big 9 conference. The only sport that hasn't dominated the Big 9 title is football.

The school has excellent choir and band programs. When the choir and band students compete in festivals, they receive mostly 1, the highest there is. The drama departement is excellent for students going into theatre. They perform three plays in a year. The first is the fall play, the second is a musical, and the third is a senior direct play.

[edit] Mitt Romney's Visit

During January 2008, Mitt Romney, an unsuccessful candidate in 2008 Republican nomination for president, spoke at the High School. "Students and staff were honored to learn from the wisdom of this accomplished man," said 2008 Senior Stephanie Johnson. Romney returned the warm feelings, stating how proud he was to speak at one of the high schools that his father visited during his campaign in 1968. Despite the fact that neither of the Romney men were successful in this aspect, Mitt Romney received a great deal of support in Michigan.

Other notable visits include Bob Dole during his 1996 Presidential campaign and Dick Cheney during George Bush's Presidential campaign in 2000. Mr. Cheney also participated in a commemorative coin toss during a Grand Blanc football game that took place on Grand Blanc's Frank Thomas Field. The game was against Flushing High School.

[edit] Notable alumni

Stephen Smale, winner of the 1966 Fields Medal for mathematics.
Steve Smith- Former NFL Quarterback
Rob Paulsen, voice of Raphael from the 1987 TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, voice of Pinky from Pinky and the Brain, and hundreds of others
Pierre Dukes, Oakland University point guard. Also hit game winning shot to launch Oakland University into the NCAA Tournament
Reggie Benton, #2 All time Leading rusher in the state, All American running back
Norman Riopelle, one of the top poker players in the world
Geena Gall, Three time national champion in track (800m) while at GBHS, 6 time All-American at the University of Michigan, and Collegiate record holder (4 x 800, and 4 x 1500)