West Anchorage High School
Encyclopedia
West Anchorage High School is a public high school
in Anchorage
in the U.S. state
of Alaska
and part of the Anchorage School District
.
-surplus Quonset hut
s, in less than a decade due to the buildup of Anchorage in conjunction with WWII. The Anchorage Independent School District, which consolidated the City of Anchorage with adjacent areas for the purpose of providing education services, was formed in response. A period of heightened school construction would follow throughout the 1950s.
The year after the school opened, Anchorage Community College began holding classes in the building as well, which continued until they moved to their current Goose Lake campus in the early 1970s.
West High is attended by approximately 2,000 students in grades 9-12 instructed by roughly 125 faculty. Its mascot is the eagle and the school's colors are orange and black. Class colors are yellow (freshmen) and alternate to blue, red, green for three consecutive years after students reach their sophomore year.
The Good Friday Earthquake
of March 27, 1964 destroyed most of the school's second floor, as well as damaging the first floor. Currently, the band/orchestra and choir rooms are all that is left of the destroyed floor.
A network of tunnels was constructed underneath the school, as it was built during war-time. The school's science wing was added in 1996 with an indoor planetarium and eight science classrooms with attached labs. A major renovation to the school in 2000 added new hallway, classrooms, a pool and additional lockers.
It has hosted many events and concerts including Steppenwolf, the Paul Taylor Dance Company
, A Prairie Home Companion
, Ozzy Osbourne
, Blue Öyster Cult
, Bee Gees
, Ted Nugent
, Nazareth
, Ray Charles
, Johnny Cash
, and Itzhak Perlman
. The Grateful Dead
held their only Alaska shows in the auditorium over the summer solstice, June 19–21, 1980. In 2008, renovations were completed that refurbished the entirety of the auditorium.
The gym
seats as many as 4,500 people for some events. Professional wrestling
matches held at the West High Gym, usually headlined by Sandor Szabo, were a staple of the Fur Rendezvous Festival
during the 1950s. Jerry Prevo, pastor of Anchorage Baptist Temple, became a public figure as a result of a rally held there in 1978. Prevo, largely unknown at the time outside of his East Anchorage congregation and related military constituencies, packed the gym for a rally which was headlined by a speech by Paul Harvey
.
Until the construction of the Sullivan Arena
and the Egan Center, under what Anchorage titled "Project 80s," the West High auditorium and gymnasium were the primary venues in Anchorage for many concerts and other similar events. The only other venues in Anchorage which could accommodate sizable crowds were the Anchorage Sports Arena, a large Quonset hut
-type structure on Fireweed Lane which has been a retail property since 1980, and the Buckner
Field House on Fort Richardson.
Both West and Romig’s Parent Teacher Student Associations and the eight Anchorage Community councils feeding the schools have supported redeveloping the campus consistent with the Pre-Planning Vision Report complete in the spring of 2008.
The planning process moves forward in November 2008 with a community wide effort to define the 21st century educational programs for West and Romig as well as design the campus as a center of community. Meetings will be scheduled over the next year, seeking input from the schools, teachers, parents, students, the Municipality, businesses, non-profit agencies, and community as a whole. The planning process will be completed in December 2009 with sufficient detail to design, finance, and redevelop both schools to meet the educational needs of the 21st century and become a center of community.
with an International Baccalaureate program. 13 students graduated from the program in May 2008.
, students must complete 22.5 credits (1 semester = .5 credits), as well as pass the state mandated High School Graduation Qualifying Exam.
organization at the West High School.
's state championship 4A division.
in August 2007, where they performed Moby Dick, The Musical. West was the first high school from the state of Alaska nominated to attend the festival.
The theatre department's 2006-'07 season included: Eagle's Dare, a night of improvisational comedy, Harper Lee
's To Kill a Mockingbird
, a night of student-directed one-acts, Annie
, Much Ado About Nothing
, and Moby Dick: The Musical.
often compete with students from West because Steller does not offer interscholastic sports.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and part of the Anchorage School District
Anchorage School District
The Anchorage School District manages all public schools within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the 93rd largest school district in the United States, serving nearly 50,000 students at over 90 schools. As one of the United States' largest districts, it is often...
.
History
The school was established as Anchorage High School in 1953, during a boom period in Anchorage. Anchorage had gone from having one school, to having to hold classes in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-surplus Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
s, in less than a decade due to the buildup of Anchorage in conjunction with WWII. The Anchorage Independent School District, which consolidated the City of Anchorage with adjacent areas for the purpose of providing education services, was formed in response. A period of heightened school construction would follow throughout the 1950s.
The year after the school opened, Anchorage Community College began holding classes in the building as well, which continued until they moved to their current Goose Lake campus in the early 1970s.
West High is attended by approximately 2,000 students in grades 9-12 instructed by roughly 125 faculty. Its mascot is the eagle and the school's colors are orange and black. Class colors are yellow (freshmen) and alternate to blue, red, green for three consecutive years after students reach their sophomore year.
Building
West High School is adjacent to Romig Middle School. The schools share a library and track. When Romig was built, the library currently serving West was designed to be utilized by both schools. The original library of West High has been known in later years as "The Cove" and has primarily served as classroom space since the library was moved.The Good Friday Earthquake
Good Friday Earthquake
The 1964 Alaska earthquake, also known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake, the Portage Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust earthquake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on Good Friday, March 27, 1964...
of March 27, 1964 destroyed most of the school's second floor, as well as damaging the first floor. Currently, the band/orchestra and choir rooms are all that is left of the destroyed floor.
A network of tunnels was constructed underneath the school, as it was built during war-time. The school's science wing was added in 1996 with an indoor planetarium and eight science classrooms with attached labs. A major renovation to the school in 2000 added new hallway, classrooms, a pool and additional lockers.
Auditorium and Gymnasium
West is also home to an 2,000 seat auditorium, the largest of any high school in Alaska. From the time of its construction in 1954, until 1984, it was the largest meeting space in the city.It has hosted many events and concerts including Steppenwolf, the Paul Taylor Dance Company
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Paul Taylor Dance Company, is a contemporary dance company, formed by Paul Taylor, an American choreographer of the 20th century. One of the early touring companies of American modern dance, the Company has "performed in more than 500 cities in 62 countries" and still spends more than half of each...
, A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion
A Prairie Home Companion is a live radio variety show created and hosted by Garrison Keillor. The show runs on Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Central Time, and usually originates from the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul, Minnesota, although it is frequently taken on the road...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
, Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
, Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
, Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
, Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, and Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
. The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
held their only Alaska shows in the auditorium over the summer solstice, June 19–21, 1980. In 2008, renovations were completed that refurbished the entirety of the auditorium.
The gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
seats as many as 4,500 people for some events. Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
matches held at the West High Gym, usually headlined by Sandor Szabo, were a staple of the Fur Rendezvous Festival
Fur Rendezvous Festival
The Fur Rendezvous Festival is an annual winter festival held in Anchorage, Alaska in late February...
during the 1950s. Jerry Prevo, pastor of Anchorage Baptist Temple, became a public figure as a result of a rally held there in 1978. Prevo, largely unknown at the time outside of his East Anchorage congregation and related military constituencies, packed the gym for a rally which was headlined by a speech by Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey
Paul Harvey Aurandt , better known as Paul Harvey, was an American radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio Networks. He broadcast News and Comment on weekday mornings and mid-days, and at noon on Saturdays, as well as his famous The Rest of the Story segments. His listening audience was estimated, at...
.
Until the construction of the Sullivan Arena
Sullivan Arena
The George M. Sullivan Arena is an arena in Anchorage, Alaska. The arena opened in 1983 and has a seating capacity of 8,700 for basketball, 6,251 for hockey...
and the Egan Center, under what Anchorage titled "Project 80s," the West High auditorium and gymnasium were the primary venues in Anchorage for many concerts and other similar events. The only other venues in Anchorage which could accommodate sizable crowds were the Anchorage Sports Arena, a large Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
-type structure on Fireweed Lane which has been a retail property since 1980, and the Buckner
Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr.
General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was an American lieutenant general during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations and commanded the defenses of Alaska early in the war. After that assignment, he was promoted to command 10th Army, which conducted the amphibious assault on...
Field House on Fort Richardson.
Eagle emblem
The original 1953 floor tile bearing the school's seal (eagle logo and name) is kept well-preserved, and encircled by a chain barrier. The eagle on the front of the auditorium was presented to the school by the class of 1971. Bill Evans was the artist. Sheryl Heikes was also heavily involved. Both class of 1971.Future Renovations
In 2008, the Alaska State Legislature appropriated $900,000 to create a master plan for redeveloping West Anchorage High School and Romig Middle School as 21st Century schools in a center of community.Both West and Romig’s Parent Teacher Student Associations and the eight Anchorage Community councils feeding the schools have supported redeveloping the campus consistent with the Pre-Planning Vision Report complete in the spring of 2008.
The planning process moves forward in November 2008 with a community wide effort to define the 21st century educational programs for West and Romig as well as design the campus as a center of community. Meetings will be scheduled over the next year, seeking input from the schools, teachers, parents, students, the Municipality, businesses, non-profit agencies, and community as a whole. The planning process will be completed in December 2009 with sufficient detail to design, finance, and redevelop both schools to meet the educational needs of the 21st century and become a center of community.
International Baccalaureate
West High has been an International Baccalaureate World School since February 2004, and is currently the only high school in the Anchorage School DistrictAnchorage School District
The Anchorage School District manages all public schools within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the 93rd largest school district in the United States, serving nearly 50,000 students at over 90 schools. As one of the United States' largest districts, it is often...
with an International Baccalaureate program. 13 students graduated from the program in May 2008.
School Through the Arts
West is also home to the School Through the Arts Program, which integrates the study of arts into high school courses. Freshmen take STTA history and English classes, as well as an STTA art studio course. Sophomores take the STTA history and English courses, and other non-STTA arts classes. Juniors and Seniors continue taking arts classes but take their history and English classes in the normal school program.Graduation requirements
As with all schools in the Anchorage School DistrictAnchorage School District
The Anchorage School District manages all public schools within the Municipality of Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the 93rd largest school district in the United States, serving nearly 50,000 students at over 90 schools. As one of the United States' largest districts, it is often...
, students must complete 22.5 credits (1 semester = .5 credits), as well as pass the state mandated High School Graduation Qualifying Exam.
- Language Arts: 4 credits (including one semester of composition)
- Social Studies: 4 credits (including one semester of each Alaska Studies, Economics, U.S. Government, and Area Studies)
- Mathematics: 2.5 credits (all credits are Algebra I material or over)
- Sciences: 3 credits (including one year of each life and physical science)
- Physical Education: 1.5 credits (must pass Lifetime Personal Fitness test or class. Quarter credit PE waivers are offered for participation in school sponsored sports)
- Electives: 7.5 credits
Green Team
West High Green Team is an environmental conservation organization, run by students at West High. The team received a grant from Green Star for the 2005-2006 school year for establishing a recycling program at the school.Key Club
In 2011, West student Collyn Mosquito founded a Key ClubKey Club
Key Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
organization at the West High School.
Newspaper
The school newspaper, the "Screaming Eagle", is part of the High School National Ad Network.Drama, debate, and forensics
West's competitive Drama, Debate, and Forensics team competes in the Alaska School Activities AssociationAlaska School Activities Association
The Alaska School Activities Association is the regulating body for Alaska high school interscholastic activities and is Alaska's member to the National Federation of State High School Associations.-History:...
's state championship 4A division.
Theatre
West's theatre program was accepted as a representative of the American High School Theatre Festival at the Edinburgh Festival FringeEdinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in August 2007, where they performed Moby Dick, The Musical. West was the first high school from the state of Alaska nominated to attend the festival.
The theatre department's 2006-'07 season included: Eagle's Dare, a night of improvisational comedy, Harper Lee
Harper Lee
Nelle Harper Lee is an American author known for her 1960 Pulitzer-Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which deals with the issues of racism that were observed by the author as a child in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama...
's To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was instantly successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature...
, a night of student-directed one-acts, Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
, Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero....
, and Moby Dick: The Musical.
Olympiada of Spoken Russian
Russian language students at West High traditionally compete in the National Competition of Spoken Russian. Students participate from first year through fourth year as students of Russian language. Native Speakers of Russian also compete in their own division.Sports
West High School participates in all 18 sports sanctioned by the Alaska Schools Activities Association as well as bowling, which is sponsored by Anchorage Scholastic Bowling League. Students from Steller Secondary SchoolSteller Secondary School
Steller Secondary School is an alternative school located in Anchorage, Alaska. It is based on the philosophy that students have the right to control their own education. The Anchorage School District established the school in 1974 as a response to a proposal by the Committee of Alternative...
often compete with students from West because Steller does not offer interscholastic sports.
Notable alumni
- Ty ConklinTy ConklinTy Curtis Conklin is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League....
, professional ice hockey goaltender currently with the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... - Eric CroftEric CroftEric Croft was a Democratic State Representative from Anchorage, Alaska and was a candidate in the August 2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary election in Alaska...
, class of 1982, attorney and DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician - David CuddyDavid CuddyDavid Warren Cuddy is a businessman andRepublican Party politician from the U.S. state of Alaska.Dave Cuddy was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where he has spent most of his life. He was named after his uncle, who died in World War II in 1944. He graduated from West Anchorage High School in 1970,...
, class of 1970, retired banker, businessman and RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician - Mike DooganMike DooganMike Doogan is a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 25th District since 2006.He is also the author of the Nik Kane Alaska mystery series, which includes Lost Angel, Capitol Offense, and Skeleton Lake, as well as several nonfiction books about Alaska life.In...
, class of 1966, writer, former columnist for the Anchorage Daily NewsAnchorage Daily NewsThe Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
, currently a member of the Alaska House of RepresentativesAlaska House of RepresentativesThe Alaska House of Representatives is the lower house in the Alaska Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. The House is composed of 40 members, each of whom represents a district of about 15,673 people . Members serve two-year terms without term limits... - Ramon Harris, former NCAA College basketball player for the Kentucky WildcatsKentucky WildcatsThe Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
- William OefeleinWilliam OefeleinWilliam Anthony "Bill" Oefelein is an American businessman and a former test pilot instructor, naval officer and NASA astronaut who, on his only spaceflight, piloted the STS-116 Space Shuttle mission....
, former NASA astronaut; flew as pilot of the STS-116 space shuttle mission - Paul O'Neill, class of 1954, 72nd United States Secretary of the TreasuryUnited States Secretary of the TreasuryThe Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
- Don SimpsonDon SimpsonDonald Clarence "Don" Simpson was an American film producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is known for producing such hits as Flashdance, Beverly Hills Cop, Top Gun and The Rock...
(1943–1996), Hollywood film producerFilm producerA film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The... - Bill StoltWilliam Alex StoltWilliam Alex "Bill" Stolt served as Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska from 1941-1944.-Biography:William Alex Stolt was born to Finnish parents in Boston, Massachusetts on July 5, 1900. He spent the first ten years of his life in Finland, moving back to the United States after the death of his father, and...
(1900–2001), class of 1920, mayor of Anchorage 1941-1944, Anchorage businessman for many decades