East Grand Rapids High School

East Grand Rapids High School
Location
2211 Lake Drive SE East Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Information
Type	Public
Established	1917 (first graduating class 1925)
Principal	Jenny Fee
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	973 (as of 2012-13)
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Blue & Gold
Mascot	The Pioneer
Website	http://egrhs.egrps.org/

East Grand Rapids High School is a secondary school located in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the United States, in the East Grand Rapids Public School District. Recognized as a school of excellence, it serves grades nine through twelve.^[1]

According to U.S. News, as of the 2009–2010 school year, the school had an enrollment of 917 students with forty-eight full-time teachers.

Academics

The school has been a leader in the state in high school Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores, receiving the Governor's Cup in 2001 and 2002. In addition, it has more National Merit students than any other public school of its size in Michigan. EGRHS offers a wide variety of classes,^[2] some of which include Advanced Placement classes in Biology, Calculus (AB and BC), English Literature, English Language, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics C, Spanish, Statistics, Human Geography, Psychology, U.S. government, U.S. history, and World History. It also offers Latin, French, Spanish, Choir, Band and Orchestra.The Journalism II class produces The East Vision a monthly student newspaper.

Co-Curricular activities

East Grand Rapids High School offers a variety of clubs, including Drama Club, and Youth Development (in which over 70% of the students participate),^[3] a Youth in Government delegation, a Women's Rights Club, and an active yoga club which hosts meetings most Tuesday nights throughout the winter. Furthermore, EGRHS has an active student council as well as an award-winning monthly newspaper, The East Vision.^[4]

Perhaps the most notable co-curricular program is the We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution (WEEPLE) team, often winning competitions including state titles in:

• 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016

Athletics

EGRHS has accumulated 125 state championships in 16 sports, as well as many conference championships in the Ottawa-Kent Conference (O-K). The Pioneers are a member in the White division, which includes; Jenison, Caledonia, Lowell, Forest Hills Central, and Grand Rapids Christian. EGRHS offers 15 boys' sports, 15 girls' sports, and one coed team. Boys' and girls' teams compete in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) in basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and track and field. In addition, boys' teams compete in the MHSAA in baseball, football, ice hockey, and wrestling and girls' teams in softball and volleyball.

The Pioneers' boys' and girls' water polo teams compete in the Michigan Water Polo Association (MWPA), while the coed crew team is a member of the Scholastic Rowing Association of Michigan. The Sailing team is a member of the Midwest Interscholastic Sailing Association (MISSA). The girls' field hockey team is a member of the Michigan High School Field Hockey Association, and girls also participate in a competitive Dance Team a member of the "Universal Dance Association" (UDA). The boys' lacrosse team won six Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association (MHSLCA) titles before the sport was sponsored by the MHSAA.

State athletic championships (all MHSAA unless noted):

Fall

• Girls' Cross Country (4): 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 (L.P. Division 2)^[5]
• Football (11): 1976, 1983 (Class B), 1993, 1995 (Class BB), 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (Division 3)^[6]
• Girls' Golf (2): 1979 (L.P. Open Class), 1999 (L.P. Division 3)^[7]
• Girls' Swimming and Diving (19): 1978, 1979 (Class B-C-D), 1981–1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1998-2001 (L.P. Class B-C-D), 2009-2010 (L.P. Div. 3), 2010-2011 (L.P. Div. 3), 2013-2014^[8]
• Boys' Tennis (16): 1936 (Class C-D), 1955, 1956, 1960 (L.P. Class B), 1965, 1970-1973 (L.P. Class A), 1975, 1977-1979 (L.P. Class B), 2001, 2003, 2007-Spring (L.P. Division 3)^[9]

Winter

• Boys' Basketball (1): 1950 (Class C)^[10]
• Boys' Skiing (2): 1997, 1999 (Class B-C-D)^[11]
• Boys' Swimming and Diving (24): 1948-1962, 1976-1979 (Class B-C-D), 1980-1982 (L.P. Class B-C-D), 2008, 2010 (L.P. Division 3)^[12]

Spring

• Baseball (1): 2009 (Division 2)^[13]
• Boys' Golf (4): 1939 (Class C-D), 1950 (L.P. Class C-D), 1951 (L.P. Class B), 2005 (L.P. Division 2)^[14]
• Boys' Lacrosse (9): 1993 (MHSLCA B), 1994 (MHSLCA C), 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 (MHSLCA B),^[15] 2007, 2008, 2009 (Division 2)^[16]
• Girls' Soccer (3): 2000, 2001 (Division 3), 2002 (Division 2)^[17]
• Girls' Tennis (16): 1979, 1984–1987, 1992, 1994-1996 (L.P. Class B), 1997–1998, 2000–2003, 2009 (L.P. Division 3)^[18]
• Boys' Track & Field (6): 1940 (L.P. Class C), 1944 (L.P. Class B), 1946, 1948, 1950 (L.P. Class C), 1958 (L.P. Class B)^[19]
• Girls' Water Polo (1): 2005 (MWPA)^[20]

Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center, commonly referred to as "the PAC" by students and faculty, is a 671-seat performance hall used for drama productions and musical performances. The facility features a full orchestra pit, dressing and makeup rooms, and a green room. Built in October 2002, the facility cost $21 million.

On April 20, 2007, President George W. Bush visited East Grand Rapids High School's Performing Arts Center to speak about the War on Terror, an event sponsored by the World Affairs Council.^[21] On December 5, 2007, former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos gave a speech to students regarding leadership.

Notable alumni

• Jim Boylen, former head basketball coach at the University of Utah^[22]
• Doris Cole, architect and author
• Luke Glendening, NHL hockey player
• Adam Herz, screenwriter^[23]
• John Hockenberry, journalist
• Luke Jensen, former professional tennis player^[24]
• Laura Kasischke, poet and novelist.
• Patrick Maher, author^[25]
• John McNamara, writer^[26]
• L. William Seidman, served as assistant to the President Gerald Ford of U.S. Economic Affairs
• Chris Van Allsburg, author and illustrator of children's books

References

1. "Schoolmatter's "Standards & Poors" of Michigan". Risk Free Consultation. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
2. EGRHS's Classes Archived October 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
3. EGRHS Clubs Archived May 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
4. East Grand Rapids High School Archived November 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
5. Girls Cross Country Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed January 22, 2010.
6. Football Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
7. Girls Golf Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
8. Girls Swimming Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
9. Boys Tennis Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
10. Boys Basketball Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
11. Boys Skiing Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
12. Boys Swimming Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
13. Boys Baseball Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
14. BOYS Golf Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
15. Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Honor, Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association. Accessed June 6, 2008.
16. Boys Lacrosse Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
17. GIRLS SOCCER Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
18. Girls Tennis Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
19. Boys Track and Field Champions, Michigan High School Athletic Association. Accessed June 16, 2009.
20. List of Past Champions, Michigan Water Polo Association. Accessed June 6, 2008.
21. "White House Press Release on President Bush's visit". 20 April 2007. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
22. Sorenson, Mike (January 13, 2008). "Utah was slam dunk for Boylen, family". Deseret News. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
23. "Adam Herz on IMDB". IMDb. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
24. "Luke Jensen named Syracuse tennis coach", USA Today, August 29, 2006. Accessed December 26, 2007. "A 1985 graduate of East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan, Jensen reached the second round of the U.S. Open just before enrolling at the University of Southern California, where he earned All-America honors in 1987 and 1988. Jensen won the 1983 Michigan High School State Singles Championship and earned high school All-America recognition."
25. Shrestha, Sarah. "Pleng's Song". Retrieved 18 January 2013.
26. Michael Schneider. "A new runner's in 'Sight'". Variety. Retrieved 30 October 2015.

External links

• East Grand Rapids High School (Official Home Page)
• Diversity in Michigan
• "The Jocks, the Jets, the Grubbies and the Ghosts of the Past"