Oak Ridge High School Archives

Education Foundation to award grants April 24

Posted at 1:17 pm April 18, 2019
By Jessica Steed Leave a Comment

Woodland Elementary School teacher Megan Sauer is pictured above with one of her students demonstrating her 2018 grant “Communication for All.” (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation)

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation will award more than $99,000 in grants to Oak Ridge teachers at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24.

Oak Ridge High School’s retired math teacher and former department head Benita Albert will be the featured speaker at the event, sharing her talk titled “We’ve Come a Long Way Teachers.”

The ceremony is open to the public, and it will be held in the Pollard Auditorium at ORAU beginning at 2:30 p.m. Demonstrations and displays of some of the projects and technology funded by the Foundation will be given in the lobby after the formal ceremony. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Oak Ridge Utility District, a press release said.

The 2019 grant recipients are as follows: [Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1969 Plans 50th reunion

Posted at 3:26 pm April 5, 2019
By Jane Miller Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1969 is gearing up for their 50th Reunion. A reunion committee is planning a celebration for Sept. 27-28, 2019. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1969 is planning their 50th year reunion.

A Reunion Committee is planning a celebration for September 27-28, 2019. You will not want to miss it, a press release said.

There will be more details available later, but first the Reunion Committee needs to find all missing classmates so they can share the weekend events, the press release said. [Read more…]

Volunteers sought for cleanup of Historic Emery Road

Posted at 10:52 am March 19, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Seventy-five-year-old asphalt pavement found in the overgrowth adjacent to the bridge on Historic Emery Road. (Submitted photo)

Volunteers are seeking help for a March 30 cleanup of the Historic Emery Road in Oak Ridge.

“The Emery Road is both the best kept secret of Oak Ridge and a national treasure,” a press release said. “Even though the century-and-a-half old Emery Road Rock Pillar Bridge is in the heart of the downtown area, few are aware of this monument to the past, nor that the oldest road in the state passed through the center of our town. This colonial settlement trail should have been formally recognized long ago, just as the Natchez Trace has been. A grassroots group of citizens seek to change this oversight, first by cleaning up the parkland surrounding it, where the invasive underbrush catches all the blowing litter from the surrounding businesses, and then by getting it recognized as a proper heritage park.

“If you think our deeper heritage as a community is important, come join us in the cleanup on March 30, 2019, at the Midtown Community Center (Robertsville Road and Oak Ridge Turnpike) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge High School wins Department of Energy Tennessee Science Bowl

Posted at 8:44 pm March 8, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Winning first place in the 2019 Tennessee Science Bowl is Oak Ridge High School, pictured left to right with their trophy, David Joy, Henry Shen, George Wang, Steven Qu, and Melody Guo. Their coach is Sharon Thomas. (Submitted photo)

Team heads to National Science Bowl after third straight state win

After months of training, studying, and improving their competition skills, 55 high school teams from across the state of Tennessee gathered recently to test their knowledge in broad science disciplines including chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and energy.

Oak Ridge High School placed first in the annual competition and received an all-expenses-paid trip to the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., held April 25-29, as well as a $1,000 cash prize and a first-place trophy.

The Tennessee Science Bowl is the nation’s third-largest regional competition, a press release said. Held at Pellissippi State Community College’s Blount County Campus, the regional bowl prepares students to compete nationally with other exceptional students from schools across the country. [Read more…]

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

Posted at 7:43 pm March 8, 2019
By Jessica Steed Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 1:38 pm February 27, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 11:42 am February 6, 2019
By Gilbert Chan Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 10:19 am February 6, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 4:09 pm January 25, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 2:18 pm December 18, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 12:58 pm December 8, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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

Posted at 5:57 pm November 12, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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…]