Walt Whitman High School, South Huntington
Walt Whitman High School is a four-year public secondary school located at 301 West Hills Road, in Huntington Station, New York. It is South Huntington Union Free School District's only high school, serving students in Huntington Station, South Huntington, Melville, and West Hills. Ranging from year to year, the school typically has around 2,000 students in grades 9–12.
History
The high school is named after the famous poet Walt Whitman, whose birthplace is within walking distance. It has been graduating students since 1957. Central High School was no longer large enough and so the current school building was constructed in 1955. A north wing was added a few years later. The school has continually improved upon the facilities by adding a cardio room, turf field, updating the gymnasiums, and renovating the library.
Academics
The school offers studies in English, mathematics, science, social studies, health, art, music, drama, dance, physical education, business, foreign language, and industrial arts. Students are also given the option to take Advanced Placement Courses, with curriculum mandated by the College Board. The Class of 2009 contains 475 students, two of whom were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists, with an additional four receiving Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Foundation.
The Fine Arts Department includes NYSSMA Gold and Gold with Distinction award winning ensembles in Chorus, Band and Orchestra, a competitive marching band, top 5 in the New York State Field Band Conference, a vibrant theater program and numerous awards in the visual arts and dance. Walt Whitman High School is among the "Best Communities in Music Education" and is a Grammy Signature Finalist.
Alumni
WWHS has several famous alumni.
- Jimmy Haslip, founder and bass player of the jazz fusion group "The Yellowjackets" graduated in 1970.
- Laura Carino, advertising executive and author of An Invisible Thread, graduated in 1970.
- Bruce Kapler, sax player on The Late Show with David Letterman graduated in 1971.
- Members of the punk rock band Latterman graduated from WWHS.
- Comedian Adam Ferrara.
- Noah DeLone, member of inaugral class at South Florida's first public medical school FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.
- American Idol Season 4 contestant Jason Stephens graduated in 2001.
- World renowned jazz drummer and percussionist Ronald Stockwell graduated 2007.
- Michael Vincent Cetta playwrite, graduated in 1982.
Notable athletes from WWHS include:
Sports
American football, association football, badminton, baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, fencing, field hockey, kickline, lacrosse, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.
Clubs
- African-American Heritage Club
- American Sign Language Honor Society
- Autism Awareness Club
- Art Honor Society
- Chamber Orchestra
- DECA
- Forensic Speech & Debate Club
- French Honor Society
- G.S.O.
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- Girls Leaders Club
- Italian Honor Society
- Jazz Band
- Lamplighters
- Latino Heritage Club
- Literary Magazine (Xanadu)
- Marching Band
- Mathletes
- National Honor Society
- Newspaper (The Paw Print)
- Orchestra
- Physics Club (Rog-Schnider Experiment)
- Pre-Medical Club
- Robotics Club (Robocats)
- South Asia Fundraiser
- Spanish Honor Society
- Stage Band
- Step Team
- Student Council
- Theater Honor Society
- Tri-M Music Honor Society
- Whitman Chorale
- Whitman Yearbook
- Women's Choir
- Video Yearbook
Athletic Championships
- Football 1974 Suffolk County Conference AAA Champions defeating Huntington 32-30 in final, Rutger's Cup Champions (awarded)
- Football 1984 Suffolk County Division 1 Champions defeating Sachem 17-24 in final (This was as far as the team could have gone in those two seasons. The Long Island HS Football championships were not instituted until several years later.)
- Baseball 1975, 1976 Long Island Champions[1]
- Cross Country 1975 New York State Champion[2]
- Cross Country 2008 Section XI Suffolk County Champions (Class AA)[3]
- Wrestling 1983 League 1A Champions
- WWHS Boys Varsity Soccer Team won Suffolk County CLASS A Soccer Champion
- Women's Soccer 1985,1986 and 1992 New York State Champions
Notes
<http://www.newsday.com/sports/highschool/football/ny-hsfbchampionships,0,6717496.htmlstory/>
External links
Cited References
- ^ "Baseball Crown To Whitman High". The New York Times. June 20, 1976. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10717F7385915768FDDA90A94DE405B868BF1D3. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ "Walt Whitman Harriers Win State Championship". The New York Times. November 16, 1975. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10D1EFA385E16768FDDAF0994D9415B858BF1D3. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ "Section XI Results". DyeStat. October 31, 2008. http://www.dyestat.com/?pg=reg1-2008-XC-NY-Sectional-Championships-NY-Section-XI-Results. Retrieved January 1, 2010.