Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge High School cheerleaders: combining spirit and sport

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Cheerleaders

The Oak Ridge High School cheerleaders for the 2013-2014 school year, pictured above, will have a pre-camp exhibition performance at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Wildcat Arena. (Submitted photo)

Community invited to pre-camp performance this Friday

Traditional cheerleading began at the University of Minnesota in 1898, when male cheerleaders encouraged students to show their spirit at athletic events.

This model continued exclusively until the early 1990s, when all-star competitive gyms formed to highlight the athleticism of the cheerleader. Combining tumbling, stunting, and dancing, non-school teams began competing at the regional and national level, drawing more and more girls to the fast growing sport.

At Oak Ridge High School, cheerleaders were maintaining the traditional role, but found they were losing students to the competitive nature of the all-star gym. [Read more…]

David Scott returns to coach ORHS girls basketball

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School athletic director Mike Mullins announced Friday that ORHS alumnus David Scott will return as the girls head basketball coach for the Lady Wildcats after a two-year hiatus. Scott replaces Karra Jackson, who posted a 29-29 record in her two seasons at the helm before leaving to become the head coach at Ryle High School in Union, Ky.

Scott, 49, was elevated to head coach at Oak Ridge after serving four years as an assistant under ORHS legend Jill Prudden, who compiled a 908-161 overall record, which included winning three state championships and six state runners-ups, a press release said. Prudden stepped down in 2010. [Read more…]

ORHS Principal Jody Goins leaving for Central High in Knox

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jody Goins

Jody Goins

Oak Ridge High School Principal Jody Goins has been appointed principal at Central High School in Knoxville, Knox County school officials said.

Goins has been ORHS principal since 2009. He joined Oak Ridge Schools in 2004 and served as a social studies teacher, coach, and assistant principal prior to his appointment as a principal, according to a Tuesday memo from Knox County Superintendent James P. McIntyre Jr. [Read more…]

ORHS graduation tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School Graduation

The Oak Ridge High School graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. today at Blankenship Field. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge High School graduation ceremony is at 7 p.m. today at Blankenship Field.

If the ceremony is rained out tonight, it will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Blankenship Field.

Check the ORHS website for more information.

ORHS students place first on National Chemistry Olympiad Exam

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Eddie Anderson

Eddie Anderson

A group of 10 chemistry students at Oak Ridge High School placed first on the National Chemistry Olympiad Exam, a teacher said.

The 40-question exam is given to all second-year chemistry students and any first year students who want to take it, said Eddie Anderson, ORHS chemistry teacher, track coach, and science department chair. The school score is compiled by adding the Top 10 student scores. [Read more…]

Education Foundation gives city $400,000 for ORHS debt

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Mark Watson and Lila Metcalf

Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation Executive Director Lila Metcalf presents a $402,611 check to Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson to help pay the debt on the renovation of the Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation recently made its eighth annual contribution for the rebuilding and renovation of Oak Ridge High School, a project that was completed in 2008.

In November, Lila Metcalf, the foundation’s executive director, presented a check for $402,611 to Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson to assist in the high school debt repayment. Since the payments began in 2005, the Education Foundation has presented the city with more than $3.5 million for the high school.

The Education Foundation raised $8 million in private funds for the high school, and that money provided the leverage for special bonds available for public schools. Together, the private funds and bonds provided the final piece of funding that made the renovation of Oak Ridge High School possible.

[Read more…]

ORHS seniors wins $30,000 scholarship in national research competition

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Note: This story was updated, and a video of Andress and Toth added, at 1:59 p.m. Dec. 5.

They made it to the national finals in a prestigious competition for teen researchers, and on Tuesday, Oak Ridge High School seniors James Andress and A.J. Toth won a $30,000 team scholarship for their work.

Andress and Toth were one of six teams from across the country that made it to the national finals of the 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology in Washington, D.C. this past weekend. Their research could help in the development of anticancer drugs, a press release said.

[Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1960 has Oct. 5 reunion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Members of the Oak Ridge High School Class of 1960 will be turning 70 this year, so they are having a 70th birthday party, a press release said.

Class members are meeting for a Wildcats football game on Friday, Oct. 5, and a luncheon at the Elks Club in Emory Valley on Oct. 6 from noon until 3 p.m.

[Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1982 has 30th reunion Sept. 28, 29

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1982 will be holding its 30th reunion on Sept. 28 and 29.

Activities include a Friday night social and a Saturday night dinner and dance, a press release said. A tour of the renovated high school also is scheduled for Saturday morning.

[Read more…]