Friday Flyover: Michigan City High School
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WLS) -- This week, we feature Michigan City High School on ABC7's Friday Flyover, celebrating high school sports!
PHOTOS: Michigan City High School
During Friday night's homecoming game, the Wolves will take on the Merrillville Pirates. Varsity kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ames Field. This year's homecoming queen will be crowned at halftime. Junior varsity will play at 10 a.m. Saturday in Merrillville.
Fun Facts
-Last year's 346 graduates earned 3,500 college credits through AP and dual credit courses!
-The City of Michigan City established the "Michigan City Promise" scholarship last spring - providing $5,000 per year in college tuition for eligible graduates. 33 of our seniors qualified for this program in the first year - and even more are expected to qualify this year.
-There are more than 40 clubs and organizations at Michigan City High School, plus 24 varsity athletic teams.
-We are fully 1:1... one device to one student! Beginning this school year, every student attending Michigan City High School has been issued a Chromebook for use at school and at home. Funding for this major undertaking was provided by our City, our Redevelopment Commission, and grant funding.
-Our Marine Corps JROTC Program is truly outstanding... 108 students logged 3,710 hours of community service last school year, and brought home a record number of trophies in military drill competitions. Their cyber security team advanced to the state finals.
-Our "Wolves Den Gymnasium" at Michigan City High School is one of the largest high school gyms in the country. It holds 7,300 people. We are No. 9 in the U.S. when it comes to capacity.
-Our school hallways are a living canvas - large, colorful murals have been painted by our art students, depicting inspirational images and quotes by Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, William shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Martin Luther King Jr... and much more. Students are also painting their parking spaces out front this year. Come and visit our school to see how creative we are!
School History/Information
-Our high school opened in 1995 - after the consolidation of Elston High School and Rogers High School. Michigan City High School is located on Pahs Road outside the city limits - but our beautiful 4,000-seat football stadium, Ames Field, is still downtown, in the heart of our city.
-The first school in Michigan City was built in 1834 - two years before our town was founded - a few blocks from here, at Fourth and Pine Streets, on land donated by Isaac C. Elston, who was our city's first Mayor. The first high school graduation here in Michigan City was in 1871 - and there were THREE graduates that year. Last year we graduated 346.
-Ames Field is named for Colonel George Ames, an early settler of Michigan City who donated and planted hundreds of trees at our public schools.
Enrollment for this 2017-18 school year
-1,700 at our high school
-5,600 in our school system.
Famous alums
-Dag Kittlaus, inventor of Siri, graduated from Elston High School.
-Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer is a 1972 graduate of Rogers High School. Proceeds of the 2017 Mayor's Golf Outing Friday will benefit our football team!
-Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, National Security Advisor for Iraq/Afghanistan for former President Bush and U.S. Representative to NATO under former Preisdent Obama.
-Indiana State Rep. Scott Pelath, House Minority Leader, graduated from Elston High School in 1988.
-Former Indiana State Sen. Jim Arnold, who may run for U.S. Congress next term.
-Carter Manny, an architect who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. His firm designed O'Hare International Airport, the FBI building in Washington, the Chicago Board of Trade and more.
-We have had several alums playing professional football, basketball and baseball: Tom Nowatzke, Donnie Thomas, Bud Schaffer, Tony Cline, former Chicago Bears Coach Abe Gibron, legendary college football coach Dick Tomey, Don Larson, who pitched a no-hitter in the World Series, NFL official John Parry, William Walker and Jarrod Jones.
Awards/Accolades
Students reached state level last year in Welding competitions, Criminal Justice, Manufacturing and Health Careers, at the Japanese Olympiad, in Robotics, in JROTC, in Quiz Bowl, at the Vocal Solo and Ensemble Competition, in Art (the team went to Nationals!), at the State Science and Engineering Fair, in Swimming, Gymnastics, Bowling, Girls Track, Boys Track, and Unified Track, Boys Cross country.
Last year alone we had student-athletes sign NCAA Division I scholarships in football, volleyball, swimming, and track. Not to mention the approximately 20 other student-athletes from last year's class who have gone on to play intercollegiate sports.
We have had two recent state champions in track-one on the 300 meter hurdles, and one a high-jumper who actually cleared 7 feet! That's Daniel Armstrong, of Marquette University, who actually was the freshman of the year last year in the Big East Conference. One of our graduates last year, Noah Scherf, is a Paralympic All American in both swimming and track.
School colors
Navy blue, grey, white
Mascot
Wolves ("Wolfie" will be attending the flyover!)
School song
We're loyal to you MC High
To your colors grey, blue, and white
Which stand for the spirit that helps
Us to win in every fight.
MC High you're the best in the land,
For you're backed by a strong and loyal band.
We'll shout your praises to the sky,
'Cause we're loyal to MC High.
To find out more about Michigan City High School, visit the school's website.
