Elkhart Central High School
Encyclopedia
Vision
Elkhart Central High School is a place where all feel safe, welcome and aspire to learn, find their niche and pursue their dreams.Mission
The mission of Elkhart Central High School is to teach all students to think critically, to adapt to change, and to work cooperatively as responsible citizens.History
In the fall of 1972 when Elkhart High School (est. 1872) was split into Elkhart Memorial High School and Elkhart Central High School, the former Elkhart High School building was renamed Elkhart Central High School and, according to the school board minutes, was to continue the traditions ("Blue Blazer" mascot, school colors, accomplishments, the original 1910 charter issued by the North Central Association and the fight song) of the old Elkhart High School. The Elkhart High School building was designed and built by Everett I. Brown and Company of Indianapolis and opened in 1966. It was built to accommodate a schedule and curriculum organized around modular periods. Accordingly, the building features lecture halls, seminar rooms, and departmental office areas. A 16 million dollar addition and renovation project was designed by Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. in March 1997 to add 16 classrooms, additional office space, new industrial technology laboratories, and a new media center. The entire project expanded the school to approximately 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²). The "new" building dedication ceremonies were held in the fall of 2000. As part of the remodeling, every classroom was wired and equipped for voice, video, and data. Each morning the student-run news show, "NewScene," is broadcast with the daily announcements and news.Other major construction milestones: in 1969 a swimming pool; in 1982 an additional gym, called the "New Gym" or "East Gym"; in 1995 the fieldhouse at Rice Field was doubled in size along with the re-crowning/sodding of the football playing field. The Ronzone track was resurfaced in 1995 and improved again in 2010.
Until 1984, Elkhart Central enrolled only 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. In 1985, 9th graders were added, with the remodeling of the library and additional classroom space.
Currently, Elkhart Central High School has 65 classrooms. The school also has 14 computer labs, 12 science labs with adjoining classrooms, two lecture halls, two television studios, a computerized writing lab, family and consumer sciences lab areas, a piano keyboarding/computer lab, and industrial technology lab facilities. The industrial technology areas offer students modular stations for applied learning in the following areas: plastics, robotics, CNC machining, hydraulics and pneumatics, aerodynamics, motor circuitry, lasers, electronics, mechanical and architectural drafting, manufacturing systems, constructing systems, video editing, and computer assembly.
Notable alumni
- Lindsay BenkoLindsay BenkoLindsay Mintenko is a freestyle swimmer from the United States, who represented her native country at two consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 2000 . There she was a member of the gold medal winning 4×200 m freestyle relay...
, Gold Medalist Olympic Swimmer - Greg Nowak, former All-American Swimmer for DePauw UniversityDePauw UniversityDePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
- Dave Schnell, former Indiana UniversityIndiana UniversityIndiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Quarterback - Robert Spano, Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
- Shafer SuggsShafer SuggsShafer Suggs is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1976 NFL Draft...
, former NFL star with the New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Rich WingoRich WingoRich Wingo is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the Green Bay Packers from 1979 to 1984...
, former NFL star with the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
The Mangy Lion
The Mangy Lion Trophy is awarded to the winner of the annual Elkhart Central-Elkhart Memorial football game (the schools are each others' primary rivals). It is a hand crafted walnut carving by Jim Holland of a lion's face inside of a glass case. Memorial defeated Central 26-14 on opening night of the 2011 season and currently is the holder of the Mangy Lion. However, the Blue Blazers lead the all-time series 22-18.Longfellow Trophy
The Longfellow Trophy is awarded to the winner of the annual Elkhart Central-Elkhart Memorial basketball game. Elkhart Central beat Elkhart Memorial by a score of 70-68 on December 3, 2010.School song
Fight on, Old Elkhart,Fight for Victory.
With your colors flying,
We will cheer you all the way.
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Fight on, Old Elkhart,
Fight for victory.
Spread far the fame,
Of our fair name.
On Old Elkhart, Win that game.
(whistle) Go, Elkhart, Go!
(whistle) Go, Elkhart, Go!
Hit'em high, hit'em low,
Go, Elkhart, Go!
Sung to the tune of Go U Northwestern
Go U Northwestern
The "Go U Northwestern" is one of the fight songs of Northwestern University. It was written in 1912 by Theodore Van Etten, a member of the Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band at the time...
.
Athletics
Letters offered in Boys' SportsBaseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Wrestling.
Letters offered in Girls' Sports
Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball.
Elkhart Central is a member of the Northern Indiana Conference
Northern Indiana Conference
-About:The Northern Indiana Conference is a high school athletic conference that was founded in 1927 and spanned from Hammond and Gary over to South Bend/Mishawaka and Elkhart and all the way down to Plymouth...
and competes as a class 4A school, except in football where they compete in class 5A. The school colors are Blue & White.
State championships
- Boys Football 1924^, 1963^, 1968^, 1970^
- Boys Wrestling 1968^
- Boys Cross Country 1973–1974
- Boys Golf 1978–1979
- Boys Track & Field 1969^,1992–1993
State Finalists / Runner-Up
- Boys Basketball 1954^, 1956^, 1970^, 1978, 1995, 1999
- Boys Track & Field State Runner-up 1996
- Boys Soccer State Runner-up 2006
- Girls Swimming 1984-1985, 1985-1986, 1988-1989, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994
^ As Elkhart High School, see note above, EHS continues as ECHS
Co-Curricular Activities
- Blazer Brigade Marching Band
- Blazer Pennant News Magazine
- Drama Club
- Model United Nations
- Concert Choir
- "Shades of Blue" vocal ensemble
- Blazer Chorale
- Men's & Women's Choirs
- Chamber Orchestra
- Symphony Orchestra
- Pennant Annual
- School musicals and plays
- Winter Percussion
Academic Competitions
- Academic Decathlon
- Academic Spell Bowl
- Academic Super Bowl
- Project XL
- Quiz Bowl
- Science Olympiad
- Speech & Debate Team
Other Clubs and Organizations
- Blazer Communications
- CHAMPS
- Chess Club
- Close Up Washington
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes
- FOCUS
- Key Club: http://echskeyclub.webs.com
- National Honor Society
- Society For A Better Earth
- Student Council
- Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council