Niceville High School

Niceville Senior High School
Location
800 E John Sims Parkway Niceville, Florida USA
Information
Type	Public secondary
Motto	"As the eagle does, soar!"
Established	1964
School district	Okaloosa County School District
Principal	Jeff Palmer
Faculty	159
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	2500
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Maroon, Gold & White
Mascot	Eagle
Yearbook	Aquila
Website	nicevillehighschool.org

Niceville Senior High School (NHS) is a public high school in the city of Niceville, Florida. The school is SACS-accredited and considered to be the top high school within its high performing district. In 1996 NHS was selected as one of 226 secondary schools (private and public) to be designated as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.^[1] NHS was also named a New American High School in 2001, one of only 13 in the nation to earn that honor. The State of Florida Department of Education rated the school an A+ in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005.^[2]

The current location of NHS atop a hill running parallel to John Sims Parkway was not the original site of the school, opened in 1964; NHS was initially located in a dance hall on Howell Avenue and once held classes at what is now Edge Elementary.

Athletics

On August 30, 2008 Niceville High School sophomore wide receiver Taylor Haugen died after taking a particularly hard hit from two opposing players. The Taylor Haugen Foundation was created to honor his memory in the spirit of his extraordinary character. The mission of the foundation is to provide scholarships to faith-based, outgoing, community-oriented, academically-proficient athletes in the local community.

Niceville High School's first State Title came in 1987 when the Boy's Cross Country team won the State Title in Titusville, FL.^[3]

Student activities

Beyond athletics, Niceville High School has won accolades for many of its student-run activities. In 2007, a team from the school took honors at the Ocean Sciences Bowl. During the same year seven students from the school were sent to Tanzania to participate in Natural Geography of In-Shore Areas project sponsored by University of Kyoto, Japan.^[4] In 2003 a team from NHS posted 43rd out of almost 200 teams in the Super Bowl of High School Calculus.^[5]

Niceville High School also offers other activities such as SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Key Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Manga Club, Philosophy Club, and countless others.

Also, The Niceville High School Forensics Team has won many competitions in the south Florida region, including the prestigious University of Blue Key Tournament. In the Xcellent 25 Writers' Poll Niceville is currently ranked 7th.

AFJROTC

Niceville High also supports an Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The Corps is sponsored by the nearby Eglin AFB's 33rd Fighter Wing. The Corps has three drill teams, Armed Regulation, Un-Armed Regulation, and Armed Exhibition, in addition to an Honor Guard, Sabre Team, and a Rocket Team that fires off rockets during the National Anthem at home football games.

NHS Eagle Pride

With more than 275 members, the Niceville High School Eagle Pride is one of the largest high school bands in the region. The current band director is Mr. Dan Wooten. They most recently attended the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, New York, and in the same year their Wind Ensemble was one the select few high school concert bands to perform at CBDNA in Columbus, Georgia. In 2005 the Eagle Pride marched in the Fiesta Bowl Parade and took fourth place in the national marching band contest associated with the parade. In 2008, the Niceville High School Eagle Pride participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade and Bandfest. In 2010, the Niceville Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie hall in New York City. They perform every year at the Southeastern States Marching Festival at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. The Eagle Pride is well known for their high-impact field shows and their quality of music. In 2010, the Eagle Pride was chosen to march in the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2015, the Niceville High School Eagle Pride was selected to attend the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade for the 2nd time in school history.

Principals

• Jeff Palmer (2014–present)
• Rodney Nobles (2012–2014)
• Marcus Chambers (2011–2012)
• Dr. Linda Smith, Ed.D. (2007–2011)
• Dr. Janie Varner, Ed.D. (2001–2007)
• Dr. David Morgan, Ed.D. (1994–2000)
• Jeanette Rhodes (1988–1994)
• Ashley Hutcheson (1971–1988)
• Colly V. Williams (1968–1971)
• Orus Kinney (1964–1968)

Quick facts

• Taylor Haugen's story was featured during CBS' broadcast of the 2009 SEC Championship Game.
• The school features an IT Institute. Since the institute opened in 2004, students have been awarded 250+ certificates in programs such as Microsoft, Certified Internet Web Professional, Oracle Corporation, Cisco, and Adobe Systems.
• The school's Eagle Pride marching band is one of the biggest in the state with over 275 members. They marched in the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade and the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• NHS won the Boys Cross Country State Title in 1987 and 1999.^[6]
• NHS won the state championship in football in 1988.^[7]
• The NHS Girls Cross-Country team won the state championship in 1994 and were runners-up in 1995 ^[8]
• The 2011 softball team won the State Championship in Clermont, FL, defeating Bartow High School 2-1.^[9]
• The 2011 Girls Golf Team won the State Championship at Mission Inn Resort.^[10]
• The 2013 Football team placed second in the state
• The 2014 Girls Tennis Team won the State Championship in Seminole, FL.

Notable alumni

• Jimmy Nelson, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher
• Pam Oliver, Fox Sports sideline analyst
• Craig Page, former NFL player
• Alan Ritchson, actor
• Toby Turner, YouTube personality

References

External links

• Official Niceville High School
• Niceville High School Football
• Niceville High School Basketball
• Niceville High School Cross Country & Track
• NHS Eagle Pride Band

Coordinates: 30°31′11″N 86°28′35″W / 30.5196415°N 86.4763386°W / 30.5196415; -86.4763386