Friday Flyover: Thornridge High School
DOLTON, Ill. (WLS) -- This week, we feature Thornridge High School on ABC7's Friday Flyover, celebrating high school sports!
FAST FACTS:
MISSION STATEMENT:
Thornridge's mission is prepare all students to be competitive leaders in our global society. We strive to promote excellence, respect, and pride throughout the Thornridge community with unique advancements for success in our students.
General
-Student population is 1,224 in grades 9-12
-Opened in Fall of 1960
-Offers 16 varsity men's and women's sports
-This is the first year as an International Baccalaureate World School offering the IB Diploma program
-Offers 6 Advanced Placement (AP) courses
-Known as The Falcons - Mascot is Freddie the Falcon
-More than 30 clubs and student organizations
-Thornridge has had seven Gates-Millennium scholarship winners in the past 15 years including 1 winner each of the past four years.
-In 2015, Our Drama Department received several awards for their performance in "For colored girls who considered Suicide when the rainbow is enuf" received the SWSC Superior Rating, 5th in State for performance and are State Champions for Technical Performance
-Thornridge Seniors earned over five million dollars' worth of scholarships in 2015.
Football/Band
-Second year for head football coach, Pat Jennings
-Opening game August 28 was a victory over Joliet Central
-The Award Winning Thornridge Band has been a role model of Excellence in Musicianship with over 30 Years of Superior and 1st place ratings in
Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band Including IMEA All-STATE Musicians.
-The Band has been a hub for scholarship recipients to universities and colleges all over the country
-The Band director is alumnus, Y.L. Douglas (1989) currently in his 2nd Year. He is the musical son of former band director, David L. Eanes
-This year's half-time show includes songs of Kool and Gang," Open Sesame and Ladies Night" in to a Dance Drill with the songs of Fetty Wapp closing with a medley of Uptown funk (Bruno Mars) and Jungle Love (Morris Day and the Time)
-The Marching Band meets for 3 hours each day.
Notable Alumni (graduation year)
-Roger Bossard (1967) - "The Sodfather" Chicago White Sox Head Groundskeeper.
-Quinn Buckner (1972) - High School, College, NBA and Olympic championship basketball player. Current Indiana Pacers color commentator.
-Jane Lynch (1978) - Emmy Award winning actress, comedian and singer.
-Richard Roeper (1978) - Chicago Sun-Times and WLS radio Film Critic, columnist and host.
-Kevin Duckworth (1982) - Two-time NBA All Star in eleven year NBA career.
-William Davis (1986) Democrat, Illinois House of Representatives 30th District.
-Ryan Baker (1987) - CBS 2 Sports Anchor
-Sam Mack (1988) - NBA Basketball player
-Syleena Johnson (1995) - Grammy Award nominated R&B and Soul singer, songwriter.
-Reggie Hayward (1997) - All American High School football player who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos.
-Nelsan Ellis (1997) - Award winning actor and playwright, best known for playing Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood.
-Bashir Yamini (1997) - Former NFL Dallas Cowboys player.
-Donald Barrett (1995) Drummer, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguliara, George Benson
-Daniel Weatherspoon (1991) Producer Gospel Stellar Award Winner currently Musical Director, Donald Lawrence
-Dr. Roosevelt Griffin (1994) Golden Apple Recipient, WTTW Teacher of The Year, Award Winning Music Educator
- Brandon Collins (1995) Drummer, EL Debarge
-Y.L. Douglas (1989) Award Winning Music Educator, Band performs at 2012 Olympics in London (Rich South High School 2012) Musician, Barry Manilow, Musicals, Color Purple, Aint Mis Behavin...Movie Sound tracks U.S. Marshal
