North Mecklenburg High School
North Mecklenburg High School | |
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Location | |
Huntersville, North Carolina United States | |
Information | |
Type | Public |
Established | 1951 |
Principal | Sonya McInnis |
Color(s) | Blue, Red, White |
Athletics | Baseball, basketball, cheerleading, colorguard, cross country, diving, football, golf, lacrosse, marching band, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, wrestling |
Athletics conference | MecKa Conference (4-A) |
Team name | Vikings |
Website |
schools |
North Mecklenburg High School is a high school in Huntersville, in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Founded in 1951, it was integrated in the 1960s. With over 3000 students, it had the largest student body in North Carolina during the 2005–2006 school year. The current principal is Sonya McInnis.
The school mascot is the Viking, and school colors are royal blue, red, and white. The original mascot was a Rebel who was often seen flying a confederate flag during the period when the school was segregated. The original team nickname the Rebels was changed in 1974 to the Vikings after a vote by the student body. The original red and black school colors were changed when the school was integrated to blue and white. The colors were again <1974-1975 student> changed to its current colors along with the mascot in 1974.
The official school song is to the tune of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Hark The Sound, the fight song is to the tune of Ohio State's "Across the Field", and the dance is named "The Boogaloo". These are performed at pep rallies and sporting events.
History
North Mecklenburg High School first opened its doors to students on September 4, 1951.[1] Students came from five local schools in Davidson, Cornelius, Huntersville, Long Creek, and Derita, forming a student body of just 500, with a senior class of 126, and a faculty of only 19. Marion Bird became the first principal, the Rebel was adopted as the mascot, and red and black were chosen as the school colors.
Curriculum
North Mecklenburg High School offers a comprehensive program including International Baccalaureate, which is the most rigorous program at North Meck, Advanced Placement, Academically Gifted, and advanced classes, fine arts programs, Air Force JROTC, and a variety of workforce development courses. The school has one of two auto tech courses in North Carolina. Eighty-six percent of graduates attend four-year colleges, universities, or junior colleges.
Awards
In 2006, it was placed 93rd on Newsweek Magazine's Top 1200 Schools list.
Extracurricular activities
Sports
North Mecklenburg is a 4A school that competes in the MecKa Conference; the conference consists of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County Schools.[2] With a new and improved North Meck Viking football program with new Stars coming ready to shine next year looking to shatter Viking records.
Debate and Speech team
The Debate and Speech team has a rich history and although is not as known as other organizations at the school it brings in countless awards. The school, a member of the National Forensics League, is active in both North and South Carolina, as well as in the national circuit. The team has been gaining in skill and power and is beginning to gain recognition as a force to be dealt with in Interpretation Events as of the 2010–2011 school year.
Also, the team hosts an annual tournament held in October, "The Jimmy K Poole Viking Classic". The tournament, also coupled with the Carolina Cup Challenge, is in its 8th year and has been growing in size from year to year.
The Carolina Cup Challenge is a sub tournament held at North Meck. Every team from the Carolinas submits up to six competitors to compete in the Challenge, the team with the highest number of points at the end of the tournament gets to keep the traveling trophy—after 5 wins the state gets to retire it. The 2011 winner was Riverside High School.
Notable alumni
- Duggar Baucom, head coach of VMI Men's Basketball Team.[3]
- Larry Hefner, former All Conference Linebacker at Clemson University drafted in the 14th round by NFL's Green Bay Packers in 1972. Hefner played for the Packers through the 1976 season.
- DeMarco Johnson, former star of the Charlotte 49ers basketball team, Drafted 2nd round by NBA's New York Knicks in 1998
- Bishop Eddie L. Long, Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA
- Jamie Skeen, basketball player, plays for Maccabi Ashdod B.C. in the Israeli Super League
- Andrea Stinson, Detroit Shock WNBA player
- Tony Wike, actor, radio personality and journalist.
References
- ↑ "About Our School". Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ↑ "Mecka 4A Conference". Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ↑ "Duggar Baucom – VMIKeydets.com – The Official Site of Virginia Military Institute Athletics". VMIKeydets.com. April 12, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
External links
Coordinates: 35°22′24″N 80°50′02″W / 35.3731949°N 80.833961°W