Oak Ridge Today

A former Oak Ridge student, artificial intelligence expert to visit city, talk at evening ceremony

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The cover of Kai-Fu Lee's book, "AI Superpowers." (Submitted)

The cover of Kai-Fu Lee’s book, “AI Superpowers.” (Submitted)

 

Kai-Fu Lee—a world-leading artificial intelligence expert, venture capitalist, writer, and former president of Google China—is planning a visit to Oak Ridge on May 6, a press release said.

Lee, a 1979 Oak Ridge High School graduate, will visit his former schools, St. Mary’s Catholic School and Oak Ridge Schools, meeting with students and teachers during the day, the press release said.

The public is invited to an evening ceremony at Pollard Auditorium including a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Lee’s talk at 6:30. This community event will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, UT-Battelle, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and Friends of ORNL. Lee will be available to sign his most recent best-selling book, “AI Super-Powers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORHS Masquers present ‘Annie’ this weekend

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Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present "Annie," the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances in March 2019—March 1, March 2, and March 3—at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present “Annie,” the classic musical, for four performances this weekend.

Here are the scheduled performances at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at Oak Ridge High School:

  • Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m.,
  • Saturday, March 2, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and
  • Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m.

Advanced tickets are $8, and they are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $9 for students and $10 for adults. [Read more…]

Three ORHS students qualify for state chess championship

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Oak Ridge High School freshman Henri Scott was one of three state championship qualifiers from the high school for the state chess championship at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 16, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School freshman Henri Scott is one of three state championship qualifiers from the high school for the state chess championship at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 16, 2019. (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 6:05 p.m.

Three Oak Ridge High School students have qualified for the state chess championship on February 16 at Tennessee Tech University.

The three ORHS students took home trophies and qualified for the state championship during the Region 1 scholastic at Oak Ridge High School on Saturday, January 26, a press release said. More than 109 students from across East Tennessee attended that event.

ORHS juniors Justin Blanchard and Bear Moran took third and seventh, respectively, in the high school division, the press release said. Freshman Henri Scott also qualified for the K-9 championship by taking sixth in that division. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools names nine teachers of the year

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Teachers of the Year in 2019 at Oak Ridge Schools are pictured above. (Image by Oak Ridge Schools)

Teachers of the Year in 2019 at Oak Ridge Schools are pictured above. (Image by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Oak Ridge Schools has named its teachers of the year at its nine schools.

The teachers of the year are:

  • Preschool—Melissa McMurry
  • Glenwood Elementary School—Amanda Fitch
  • Linden Elementary School—Steffanie Smith Greer
  • Willow Brook Elementary School—Melanie Bloomer
  • Woodland Elementary School—Inger Scudder
  • Jefferson Middle School—Michael Murphy
  • Robertsville Middle School—Michael Mott
  • Oak Ridge High School—Kayla Gass
  • Secret City Academy—Tobran Tillman

The school winners were nominated by their principals and peers for this 2018-2019 application.

The district winner will be announced today (Wednesday, February 6). [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to retire Tee Higgins’ number 5 football jersey

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Oak-Ridge-Higgins-Clinton-Aug-18-2016-Web

Oak Ridge’s Tee Higgins (5), who was then a senior, talks to a television reporter after a 56-21 rout at Clinton on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Higgins had two touchdown receptions and two interceptions that set up Wildcat scores in that game. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 9:45 p.m. Jan. 26.

Oak Ridge will retire the number 5 football jersey of Tee Higgins, a star football and basketball player who now plays as a wide receiver for the Clemson Tigers and caught a touchdown pass in the national championship win over Alabama on January 7.

Higgins’ football jersey will be retired during halftime of the Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ basketball game against Campbell County at Wildcat Arena on Friday, February 1, Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald said. That game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

“Congratulate our hometown hero on his national championship and watch as his #5 becomes only the third number to be retired in our 76-year school history,” McDonald said in a post published on Twitter. [Read more…]

Holiday Concert at ORHS on Thursday

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On Thursday Dec. 20, 2018, the Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its Holiday Concert. (Submitted photo)

On Thursday Dec. 20, 2018, the Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its Holiday Concert. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Choral Department will present its Holiday Concert on Thursday.

“Please come and celebrate the season with these very talented students,” a press release said. [Read more…]

AAUW has Holiday Tea on Sunday

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The AAUW Green Tea in 2017. (Submitted photo)

The AAUW Green Tea in 2017. (Submitted photo)

“Resonance”—a choir comprised of sophomore, junior, and senior Oak Ridge High School altos and sopranos—will sing at the AAUW (American Association of University Women) Holiday Tea on Sunday, December 9, 3-5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Tea will be poured by AAUW members and holiday treats will be served. As in past years, a White House tree ornament will be available for purchase, a press release said. This year’s is for the 33rd president, Harry S. Truman.

The choir will be directed by Amanda Ragan, chorus director at ORHS.

The public is invited to this festive event. There is no charge.

Booker a Mr. Football finalist

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Oak Ridge senior quarterback Herbert Booker (13), left, is pictured with senior wide receiver Jeremy Mitchell (1) during a 40-23 win at Soddy-Daisy on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior quarterback Herbert Booker (13), left, is pictured with senior wide receiver Jeremy Mitchell (1) during a 40-23 win at Soddy-Daisy on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge High School senior Herbert Booker, who plays quarterback and cornerback, is a finalist for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Award.

Booker is one of three finalists in Division I Class 5A. The other two are Deshawn Page of Fulton High School and Cade Larkins of David Crockett High School.

The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards will be presented to the top football players in nine classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Sunday, November 25, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. For the 17th consecutive year, the top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification.

Five semifinalists in each classification, including Booker, were announced on November 2. There are six classifications in Division I and three in Division II.

Three finalists for each category were announced by Mike Keith on the Titans website on Monday afternoon. Those three finalists for each award will be invited to attend the awards dinner at Nissan Stadium, where the winner of each award will be announced, a press release said. [Read more…]

Dalton Morgan of Oak Ridge running in state cross country championship

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Oak Ridge senior Reid Dukes, left, and junior Dalton Morgan are pictured above at the state cross country meet in Nashville on Nov. 4, 2017. Both are competing in the state track and field championship in Murfreesboro on Thursday, May 24, 2018, as part of the boys 4x800-meter relay team. (File photo by Kindell Moore)

At right, Dalton Morgan, now a senior at Oak Ridge High School, competes at the state cross country championship meet in Nashville on Nov. 4, 2017. At left is Reid Dukes, who was then a senior and has since graduated. (File photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Senior Dalton Morgan of Oak Ridge High School will race in the state cross country championship in Nashville today (Saturday, November 3).

Morgan, who will run in the Division I Large School group, advanced to the state meet by finishing fifth with a time of 16:46 at the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Region 2 Championship at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on October 25. The top three teams at the regional meets advance to the state championship. The Oak Ridge boys finished sixth. But runners like Morgan who finish in the top 10 at the regional meets advance even if they’re not on a qualifying team.

The top four runners at the Region 2 championship were senior Jake Renfree of Knoxville Catholic (15:53), junior Tommy Ward of Maryville (16:25), senior Jordan Thomas of West (16:39), and senior Preston Ruth of Bearden (16:40). Renfree finished fourth in the state meet last year with a time of 15:59.02. [Read more…]

2018 ORHS Homecoming Court

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The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court for 2018 is pictured above. Top left, Kaitlin Valenzuela, Abigail Gerlock, Hailee Ladd, Makiya Garrett, and Kaylynn Eastridge; and top right, Thomas Peplow, Dillon Nowatchik, Javonte’ Thomas, Quentin Viau, and Alex Baker. (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)

The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court for 2018 is pictured above. Top left, Kaitlin Valenzuela, Abigail Gerlock, Hailee Ladd, Makiya Garrett, and Kaylynn Eastridge; and top right, Thomas Peplow, Dillon Nowatchik, Javonte’ Thomas, Quentin Viau, and Alex Baker. (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)

 

The 2018 Homecoming Court has been selected for Oak Ridge High School, and Homecoming is today (Friday, October 19).

The Homecoming football game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Jack Armstrong Stadium. The Oak Ridge Wildcats (7-1, 4-0 Region 3-5A) will play the Powell Panthers. Powell is 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the region but had to forfeit six wins due to an ineligible player.

Here is information on the members of the Homecoming Court, provided by Diana Homan, ORHS math teacher.

[Read more…]

Forum for Oak Ridge City Council, Board of Education candidates is Tuesday

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will sponsor a candidate forum on Tuesday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater. Candidates running for Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education have been invited to participate, a press release said.

The five candidates for a four-year term on City Council are Kelly Callison, R.G. “Rick” Chinn Jr., Warren Gooch, Ellen D. Smith, and Timothy L. Stallings. Four council members will be elected. Derrick M. Hammond is the only candidate running to fill the unexpired two-year term left by Council member Hans Vogel when he resigned earlier this year.

The three candidates for a four-year term on the Oak Ridge Board of Education are Laura McLean, Benjamin J. Stephens, and Erin S. Webb. Three board members will be elected. [Read more…]

Students from 75 years of Oak Ridge Schools share memories in new book

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Students from each of the 75 classes of Oak Ridge Schools have shared their school memories in a new book. There is a "reveal party" for the book, "Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence in Education: Oak Ridge Schools, 1944-2018," on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

Students from each of the 75 classes of Oak Ridge Schools have shared their school memories in a new book. There is a “reveal party” for the book, “Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence in Education: Oak Ridge Schools, 1944-2018,” on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

 

Students from each of the 75 classes of Oak Ridge Schools have shared their school memories in a new book.

There is a “reveal party” for the book, “Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence in Education: Oak Ridge Schools, 1944-2018,” on Wednesday at Oak Ridge High School. The celebration is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater.

The celebration is being hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation.

Moira Kaye—ORHS graduate, former local television news anchor, and Miss Tennessee 1983—will lead a panel discussion with ORHS alumni across the decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, a press release said. The panelists and Kaye are book anchor authors for their ORHS graduation classes. Their stories and other reminiscing will be further highlighted by an ORHS choral presentation of the ORHS Alma Mater and the ORHS Fight Song and the presentation of colors by the ORHS JROTC Flag Corps. Also, volunteers who served on the book project will be recognized. [Read more…]