Oak Ridge Today

Three seniors at ORHS, one at ACHS named National Merit semifinalists

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Three seniors at Oak Ridge High School and one at Anderson County High School have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship program. The students have a chance to continue competing from some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be offered next spring.

The semifinalists at Oak Ridge High School are Lara S. Blokland, Abigail Greenhalgh, and Logan B. Rumbaugh.

The semifinalist at Anderson County High School is Robert J. Spurling.

There are other students from 10 Knoxville-area high school who were also named semifinalists, including from Farragut High School, Grace Christian Academy, Hardin Valley Academy, and Bearden High School, Knoxville Catholic, and Webb. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge High School 2016 Homecoming Court

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The 2016 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court is pictured above on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Row by row, starting at bottom left, are Leah Scudder and Ben Kelley, Kieran Blevins and Curtis Robertson, Courtney Ellison and Erik Bradford, Lindsey Riikola and Mark LeNoir, Stevie Logan and Dean Stetzel, and Harley Southmayd and Tyshawn Young. (Photo courtesy Holly Cross/Oak Ridge Schools)

 

The 2016 Homecoming Court at Oak Ridge High School has been announced. Here are photos of the Homecoming Court on Monday, courtesy of Holly Cross and Oak Ridge Schools.

The Homecoming game is on Friday, September 23, at Blankenship Field against Sevier County. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

9/11 photos: ORFD, ORHS dedicate new flagpole in memory of victims of terrorist attacks

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We will always remember those who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001. (Photo and caption courtesy Martin McDonald at Oak Ridge High School memorial ceremony and flagpole dedication on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee unveiled a new flagpole on Sunday and dedicated it in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the attacks, which killed 2,977 people in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Here are photos by Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald, shared here with his permission. [Read more…]

Great start: Oak Ridge boys finish first in Nashville cross country meet

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The Oak Ridge boys cross country team finished first at the A.F. Bridges Cross Country Invitational in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. From left are Asher Chance, Reid Dukes, Christian Borden, Will Jeter, Jacob Etheridge, Jose Villegas, and Dalton Morgan. (Photo courtesy Allen Etheridge)

 

The Oak Ridge boys cross country team finished first in its first meet of the season. Oak Ridge Coach Allen Etheridge called it a great start.

Oak Ridge senior Jacob Etheridge was third in the boys 5k (5,000-meter) run, and the Wildcats had four runners in the top 10. Besides Etheridge, they were Reid Dukes (8th place), Dalton Morgan (9th), and Will Jeter (10th).

The A.F. Bridges Cross Country Invitational was in Nashville on Saturday. The Oak Ridge girls finished third. [Read more…]

Cross country: Oak Ridge girls run well, finish third in first meet of year

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The Oak Ridge girls cross country team finished third in the A.F. Bridges Cross Country Invitational in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. From left are Ruthie Froning, Eden Gee, Maddie Zawisza, Genevieve Schwartz, Jessie Strader, Robyn Wood, and Bailey Baldwin. (Photo courtesy Allen Etheridge)

 

The Oak Ridge girls cross country team finished third in its first meet of the year, and Coach Allen Etheridge said the girls ran well.

Oak Ridge junior Genevieve Schwartz finished seventh in the girls 5k (5,000-meter) run with a time of 21:31.13.

The A.F. Bridges Cross Country Invitational was in Nashville on Saturday. The Oak Ridge boys finished first. [Read more…]

ORFD, ORHS to dedicate flagpole in memory of 9/11 victims

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ORHS flagpole wide

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee will join together on Sunday, September 11, to remember the tragic events that happened 15 years ago, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee will join together on Sunday, September 11, to remember the tragic events that happened 15 years ago, a press release said.

There will be a group meeting to officially unveil the new flagpole added this past year and to dedicate it in memory of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“Thanks to generous donations from the American Legion Post 2 out of Knoxville and from Woodmen of the World, the site is now home to a 30-foot flagpole that is capable of flying a flag all the time,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Symphony to start season with new music, national park celebration

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Part of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra string section is pictured above. (Photo courtesy ORCMA)

 

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra will kick off its new season in September with new music by East Tennessee composer Mark Harrell and a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 24, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. It’s the 72nd season for the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra will be led by Music Director Dan Allcott.

The concert, titled “Pride of Place,” is a celebration of Oak Ridge, especially recognizing the scientists and immigrants who founded this community, a press release said.

Commissioned by the JAZ Fund, Harrell’s “π to the Sky: Tribute to Discovery” is a celebration of the post-World War II generation of Oak Ridge scientists and their numerous accomplishments. The concert will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service with Peter Boyer’s moving narrated work, “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School has open house Thursday

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Oak Ridge High School will have an Open House on Thursday, August 25, beginning at 5:15 p.m. in the Food Court. Parents are asked to print their student’s schedules prior to the event from Skyward Family Access.

From 5:15-6 p.m., school guidance counselors will have PSAT sign-up and senior information tables. Many school clubs and organizations will have information tables set up during this time, a press release said. Food and drinks will be sold by the Oak Ridge High School Orchestra Boosters. PTSO will be accepting donations of hand sanitizer and Kleenex for classrooms. [Read more…]

Soccer: Lady Wildcats play Karns in first regular-season home game tonight

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats soccer team play its first regular-season home game against Karns tonight.

The game starts at 6 p.m. today (Tuesday, August 23) at the Pro2Serve Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

White House recognizes Vaughan as outstanding ORHS math teacher

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Elaine Vaughan

Elaine Vaughan

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:30 p.m.

Elaine Vaughan of Oak Ridge High School was recognized Monday as an outstanding math teacher by President Barack Obama.

Vaughan is one of only 213 mathematics and science teachers from across the country and U.S. territories who received the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The awardees represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. The educators will receive their awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on September 8.

Vaughan was named in the Grades 7-12 Award Cohort.

Nicole Resmondo, a science teacher at Gresham Middle School in Knoxville, was named in the Grades K-6 Award Cohort.

A total of four teachers were recognized in Tennessee in the two cohorts.  [Read more…]

Early Bird Tournament Bronze Champs: ORHS varsity volleyball team beats Harpeth to win

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Oak Ridge High School Varsity Volleyball Team 2016

The Oak Ridge High School varsity volleyball team is pictured above—front row: Reagan Dickens, Alex Sherles, Emily Lawless; back row: Coach Dave Kolodney, Beth Wyatt, J-J Valencia, Olivia Milloway, Stella Powell, Carolyn Pelfrey, and Isabelle Waraksa. (Submitted photo)

 

When Oak Ridge High School’s volleyball season kicked in last Tuesday, new volleyball coach Dave Kolodney knew the team had the skills to be contenders. Winning the bronze bracket last Saturday night at the Early Bird Tournament proved this to be true.

“I think we showed a lot this weekend,” Kolodney said. “Two-day tournaments are always tough to keep energy up and stay focused over such a long time and with long breaks between matches, but they did both. And I think they proved something to themselves that they can dig deep when they’re down, find that extra gear, and fight through adversity. We may not have been in the bracket we were hoping for in the beginning, but to win any bracket is an achievement and I’m so proud of the way they played from start to finish.” [Read more…]

ORHS Tennis Booster Club hosts ‘Tennis Olympics’ on Saturday, Aug. 27

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ORHS boys tennis practice

Oak Ridge High School tennis coach David Bowman gives instructions to a few ORHS tennis players. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Tennis Booster Club has invited Oak Ridge Schools students ages 12 to 17 to join high school tennis players on Saturday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Oak Ridge Country Club for a morning of fun and games.

It will be an informal and fun time for skilled players or anyone new to the game of tennis, a press release said. The events will level the playing field for those who want to test their hand-eye coordination, as individuals or with a partner. You do not have to bring a tennis racquet. There is no charge to participate.

Events will include: Water Balloon Towel Toss, The Frog Toss, There’s a Hole in My Racquet!, Longest Drive, and Closest to the Pin contests. Want to know how fast your serve is? ORHS Tennis Coach David Bowman will be on hand with his radar gun, the press release said. [Read more…]