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Stevens High School (South Dakota)

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Coordinates: 44°04′30″N 103°17′23″W / 44.075°N 103.289722°W / 44.075; -103.289722
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Stevens High School
Address
Map
1200 44th Street

Rapid City
,
South Dakota
57702

United States
Coordinates44°04′30″N 103°17′23″W / 44.075°N 103.289722°W / 44.075; -103.289722
Information
TypePublic high school
Established1969; 55 years ago (1969)
School districtRapid City Area Schools
PrincipalJocelyn Haffner
Teaching staff89.17 (FTE)[1]
Grades9-12
Enrollment1,686 (2022–23)[1]
Student to teacher ratio18.91[1]
Color(s)Royal blue, white and silver
      [2]
Athletics conferenceGreater Dakota Conference (GDC)
NicknameRaiders[2]
Websitestevens.rcas.org

Stevens High School is one of three public high schools in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. The school opened in November 1969, and has an enrollment of approximately 1600 students. The school is situated in the foothills of South Dakota's Black Hills on the city's western outskirts. The school colors are blue and silver, and the school teams and organizations are known as the "Raiders".

History

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Stevens High School opened in 1969, the second public high school in Rapid City. Located on the west side of town, it was constructed to accommodate the growing student population. The new school was occupied following Thanksgiving in 1969.[3] Stevens High Schools was named for Paul C. Stevens, a Superintendent of the Rapid City Public Schools for fourteen years. Mr. Stevens helped greatly in making the public aware of the need for another high school in Rapid City and is credited with getting the bond issue for the school passed by an overwhelming majority on the first vote.[4] The school has hosted dignitaries such as Pat Nixon in 1972,[5] and President Bill Clinton in 2008.[6][7]

Hostage and shooting incident

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On September 11, 1991, Ryan R Harris walked into a math class at Stevens High School in Rapid City, South Dakota, pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, and ordered the teacher to leave. The teacher complied and Harris held the rest of the class hostage for the next four hours. Harris had been inspired by Stephen King's novel Rage. Harris demanded pizza and cigarettes, which were delivered, and $1 million and a helicopter, which were not. He fired a total of 10 shots in the room, at objects such as the overhead projector and intercom. No students or faculty were injured or killed. Upon receiving the cigarettes he had demanded, Harris set down his shotgun to pull out a lighter and light his cigarette. In this moment 17-year-old senior Chris Ericks picked up the shotgun and police swarmed in bringing the stand off to an end.[8] Harris was sentenced to probation with strict conditions to participate in psychiatric care. However 7 years later, Harris who was living in North Carolina and involved with a woman who was found shot and killed, engaged police in a 15 hour armed standoff in a convenience store after a traffic stop, ultimately turning his handgun on himself and committing suicide.[9]

Music program

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The bands received the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Flag of Honor, an international award recognizing high school concert bands, in 1985.[10] The marching band performed at the Rose Parade in 1987.[11]

In May 2007, the Jay Sharp Memorial Concert Organ of 103 digital ranks was dedicated in a performance of Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony #3. Stevens is among a handful of high schools anywhere possessing a large concert organ; a three-manual, 84-stop instrument in the Milo Winter Fine Arts Auditorium.[12] The orchestra regularly fills All State more than any other school. Its success stems from longtime director Bill Evans who started with a group of five players building it over 40 years to a full orchestra with 120 members.[13]

In 2018, the music department received the merit award from the National Association of Music Merchants.[13]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Stevens High School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Stevens High School". South Dakota High School Activities Association. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  3. ^ "Class of 1968 (Rapid City High School)". rchs1968.classquest.com. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Stevens High School - Sabre Yearbook (Rapid City, SD), Class of 1970, Page 9 of 248 | online yearbooks". e-yearbook.com.
  5. ^ "IN HISTORY: Mrs. Nixon Visits Rapid City Following Devastation of 1972 Flood". Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  6. ^ Lawrence, Tom (May 15, 2008). "Campaign comes to South Dakota: stories. photos, video and quotes on Democratic campaign in Rapid City". Black Hills Pioneer. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  7. ^ Miller, Steve (May 10, 2008). "'She never ever quits': Former President Bill Clinton stumps for Hillary". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Memories of a SD school shooting". Capital Journal. Rapid City, SD. Capital Journal. September 11, 1991.
  9. ^ "Memories of a SD school shooting". March 2, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sousa Foundation". www.sousafoundation.net. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  11. ^ Gahagan, Kayla. "Stevens band Rose Bowl trip lives in memory". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  12. ^ Cook, Andrea (May 4, 2007). "EBay find now largest organ in South Dakota". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Vondracek, Christopher (June 27, 2018). "Rapid City Stevens orchestra director reflects on 40-year career". Rapid City Journal Media Group.
  14. ^ Kondek, Joshua (1985). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 19. ISBN 9780810302419.
  15. ^ "Dave Collins". South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Holland, Deb (August 7, 2017). "Combs races to the top of cycling world". Rapid City Journal. p. B1. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Mark Ellis". Rapid City Journal. June 23, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  18. ^ Anderson, Richard (May 4, 2018). "Fox goes from underdog to the NFL". Rapid City Journal Media Group. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Churchill, Ronda (September 27, 2016). "Sports Heroes: Becky Hammon". Argus Leader. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  20. ^ "Randy Lewis", South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  21. ^ "Eric Piatkowski". South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. February 16, 2002. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  22. ^ Lindner, Don (December 31, 1990). "S.D. standouts meet in big leagues". Argus-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
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