Union High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
| Union High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
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6636 S. Mingo Road Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74133 United States | |
| Coordinates | 36°04′00″N 95°52′14″W / 36.06667°N 95.87056°WCoordinates: 36°04′00″N 95°52′14″W / 36.06667°N 95.87056°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Public school |
| Established | 1972 |
| Locale | Suburban |
| Principal |
12th grade: Tony Tempest |
| Grades | 10–12 |
| Number of students | 4,284 (9–12) |
| Color(s) | Red, Black, and Silver |
| Mascot | Redskins |
| District | Union Public Schools |
| Website | Official website |
Union High School is the highest level of secondary education in the Union Public Schools system of Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, for students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. The school, combined with Union 9th Grade Center, is the second-largest high school in the state of Oklahoma, behind only Broken Arrow High School.[1]
History
Tulsa's first public school opened in 1884.[2] The Union school district was formed in 1919 when four rural community districts consolidated.[3]
Curriculum
In addition to providing typical academic courses in English, mathematics and science, Union High School offers an Oklahoma social studies course as required by state law.[4]
All Oklahoma high schools must provide a physical education course designed to provide a minimum of 150 minutes of physical education per week, unless provided an exemption by the Oklahoma State Department of Education due to undue hardship.[4]
Union High School has State Department of Education and North Central Association accreditation.[3]
Extracurricular activities
Clubs and organizations
The following are organizations for students at UHS:[5]
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Athletics
Union High School fields 22 athletics teams. The Redskins and Lady Redskins have won 52 state championships in their history as recognized by the Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
The following is a list of the sports in which the school competes, as well as the years, if any, during which the school's team won the state championship:[6]
- Baseball - 6 (1979, 1989, 1990, 2005, 2006, 2010)
- Boys Basketball - 3 (2004, 2012, 2014)
- Girls Basketball - 1 (2008)
- Ice Hockey - 2 (2004, 2005)
- Cheerleading - 4 (1990, 2007, 2011, 2013)
- Pom - 9 (2003-2012)
- Highsteppers (Dance Drill Team)- 30 (1980-2008, 2012)
- Boys Cross Country - 3 (2007, 2008, 2010)
- Girls Cross Country - 7 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 2005)
- Fastpitch Softball - 4 (1976, 1992, 1999, 2011)
- Football - 8 (1963, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
- Boys Golf - 0
- Girls Golf - 4 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Slowpitch Softball - 10 (2010, 2013)
- Boys Soccer - 4 (1995, 1998, 2005, 2007)
- Girls Soccer - 2 (2007, 2008)
- Boys Swimming - 1 (2012)
- Girls Swimming - 0
- Boys Tennis - 4 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
- Boys Track - 2 (2008, 2009)
- Girls Track - 5 (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010)
- Volleyball - 0
- Wrestling - 4 (Team State: 1982, 2009, Dual State: 2007, 2012)
Music and arts
- Visual Arts
- Vocal Music
- Speech/Debate
- Music Theory/Technology
- Instrumental Music
- Drama
- Mass Media
- Show Choir
- The Union High School Band is a nine-time Bands of America Grand National Finalist, a two-time BOA Regional Champion, an 18-time BOA Regional finalist and a 12-time OBA State Champion.[7] The band has won numerous awards, including:
- Bands of America Grand Nationals ~ Finalist
- 1986 / 1989 / 1990 / 1995 / 1998 / 2000 / 2010 / 2011 / 2014
The band's winter percussion and guard ensembles have earned multiple awards on a national level competing at WGI events.[8][9]
- Winter Guard International Championships ~ Scholastic World Champions
- 1985/ 1987 / 1988,
- Finalist 1984 / 1986 / 1994
- Winter Guard International Championships ~ SA or SO Finalist
- 1996 / 2001 / 2010,
- Semi-Finalist 2011
- Winter Guard International Percussion Championships ~
- Scholastic World Marching - Finalist 1995 / 1997,
- Scholastic Open Concert - Champion 2001
Mascot controversy
Union's use of the "Redskins" team name has exposed it to some criticism, similar to the controversy faced by other schools using mascots referring to Native Americans. In 1999, Cherokee Nation chief Chad Smith criticized the school's use of the name.[10] In December 2002, the school received a demand from the University of Miami that it stop using a "split-U' logo which Miami claimed was unacceptably similar to the university's trademarked logo. Some Native American groups saw this as an appropriate time to renew their calls for Union to abandon the Redskins name, since it appeared that the school would have to change its uniforms in any event. However, in January 2003, Union settled Miami's claim by agreeing to pay $1,000 per year for the continuing right to use the split-U logo.[11] In November 2003 the school board voted unanimously to keep the "Redskins" name.[12] Since that time the school has maintained its position despite continued protests and proposed legislation intended to change the name.[13]
Notable alumni
- Brent Albright, professional wrestler, former WWE superstar and NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
- Taylor Armstrong, reality show celebrity from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Originally Shana Hughes, cheerleader and 1989 graduate.[14]
- Melinda Doolittle, singer, third place finalist on American Idol in 2007[15]
- Dominique Franks, football cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, 2010–present[16]
- Justin Fuente, former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and current head football coach for the University of Memphis Tigers[17][18]
- Kelsey Griswold, Miss Oklahoma 2013
- Jeff Leiding, football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, 1986-1987[19]
- Steve Logan, former East Carolina head football coach 1992-2002 and Boston College offensive coordinator 2007-2009[20] (Assistant coach at Union High, 1974–79).[21]
- Myron Noodleman, baseball clown, stage name of former Union High School math teacher and football coach Rick Hader
- Dari Nowkhah, ESPN Sportscaster
- Julián Rebolledo, voice actor
- Les Walrond, Major League Baseball pitcher
- Tress Way, football punter for the Washington Redskins[22]
References
- ↑ "City of Broken Arrow: Our Schools". Broken Arrow Public Schools.
- ↑ Gregory, Carl. "Tulsa", Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture (accessed April 21, 2013).
- 1 2 Union Public Schools
- 1 2 School Laws of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Department of Education (accessed April 20, 2013)
- ↑ "Clubs and Organizations". Union Public Schools.
- ↑ "OSSAA Sports History".
- ↑ "Union Bands". Union Bands.
- ↑ "Union".
- ↑ "WGI".
- ↑ S.E. Ruckman, "What's in a name? Dispute", Tulsa World, November 14, 1999.
- ↑ Jay Cooper, "Union keeps 'U'; criticism of mascot continues", Tulsa World, February 11, 2003.
- ↑ Jay Cooper, "Union votes to keep 'Redskins' mascot", Tulsa World, November 11, 2003.
- ↑ Randy Krehbiel, "Indian Coalition Backs Nickname Bill: The Bill Would Bar Public Schools From Using the Names 'Redskins' or 'Savages.' ", Tulsa World, January 31, 2009.
- ↑ Hawks, Asa (Jan 24, 2011). "Taylor Armstrong Tulsa Union High School yearbook photos as Shana Hughes". Starcasm.net. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
- ↑ TVGuide.com Melinda Doolittle Biography
- ↑
- ↑ Hines, Kelley (January 25, 2011). "Former Union, OU quarterback Justin Fuente moving up coaching ladder". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Justin Fuente is Memphis' new coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ↑ Jeff Leiding at http://www.databasefootball.com
- ↑ "BC's O-coordinator Logan not returning to team", SI.com, January 16, 2009
- ↑ Robert Rousseau, "The skinny on BC offensive coordinator Steve Logan," RealFootball365.com, April 14, 2008.
- ↑ John Keim, "Tress Way a longtime Redskin", ESPN, September 2, 2014.
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