Harding Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
Harding Senior High School is a public comprehensive high school located on the East Side of Saint Paul, Minnesota
. The school is one of six high schools in the Saint Paul Public School District
and is the largest high school in the city of Saint Paul with enrollment at approximately 2400. The school was opened in 1926 as the second high school in the East Side after Johnson Senior High School
. Harding has an IB Diploma Programme
and also offers Advanced Placement classes. The school is divided into Small Learning Communities based on students interests. Harding is a member of the Minnesota State High School League and the athletic teams compete in the Saint Paul City Conference.
, smaller learning communities were implemented in the 2002-2003 school year to group students that had similar interests together for a career. Freshmen are automatically placed in the 9th Grade Academy, and the following year, select to be in the Academy of Fine Arts, the Medical and Environmental Sciences Academy (MESA), the Human Services Academy, or the Science, Engineering, & Information Technology Academy (SEIT). However, the Academies have been facing difficulties with the large student body and change has been slow. While academic performance has improved over the past few years, there is not enough data to associate the increase with smaller learning communities.
There is a limit of 500 students per academy, which has presented a dilemma with the Academy of Fine Arts who have had to reject a number of students. A possible cause is the large base of students involved in some form of fine arts. Another challenge is scheduling students to just their academy teachers.
In 2009 the music listening team made up of Matt Howard, Maivboon Vang, and Colton Moyer, took home a second place finish at the state competition, this was after placing first in sections. The previous year Matt Howard, Connie Sinks, and Colton Moyer, took second in sections and advanced to state. The state placing team of 2009 was featured in the Star Tribune.
One student from the class of 2006 was the recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, five Harding alumni were named KARE-11 Academic All-Stars and one received a WCCO-TV
outstanding graduate award.
In the spring of 2005, freshman Sade Pollard won state titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. In 2006, she swept all of the sprinting events, taking home state titles in the 100m, 200m and 400m runs. Interestingly, she was the only competitor from Harding to participate in the state meet that year, but scored enough points to give Harding a third place finish in the state tournament. Pollard won the 200m and 400m dashes again in the 2007 state meet.
In the spring of 2002, Sheila Emms broke the Minnesota single season record for strikeouts as a high school fastpitch softball pitcher. During her final season as a Harding Knight she struck out a staggering 353 batters and pitched seven perfect games. Following her high school career she was offered a full tuition scholarship to pitch for Illinois State University
.
All sports are offered for both boys and girls, with exceptions for football, gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling and badminton. Other sports include soccer, tennis, swimming, cross-country, baseball/softball, Nordic skiing, basketball, hockey and golf.
Its chief rival is Johnson Senior High School
, also located on the east side of Saint Paul
. Both football teams have an annual regular-season game where they play for the Hatchet trophy.
A number of student athletes have, after graduating, found success in collegiate sports (See notable alumni section).
, students ran several pictures of him in student of the month columns for various academies along with the inscription "Mitch Hedberg, R.I.P. 1968-2005," to honor him. Hedberg graduated from Harding in 1986.
Reunion Announcements: See the following St. Paul Schools site for upcoming class reunions for Harding and other St. Paul High Schools - http://www.spps.org/class_reunions
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. The school is one of six high schools in the Saint Paul Public School District
Saint Paul Public Schools
Saint Paul Public Schools is a school district that covers all of the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota.Saint Paul supports a robust network of publicly-funded primary and secondary schools....
and is the largest high school in the city of Saint Paul with enrollment at approximately 2400. The school was opened in 1926 as the second high school in the East Side after Johnson Senior High School
Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9 to 12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools...
. Harding has an IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
and also offers Advanced Placement classes. The school is divided into Small Learning Communities based on students interests. Harding is a member of the Minnesota State High School League and the athletic teams compete in the Saint Paul City Conference.
Education
Harding Senior High School is one of several schools participating in smaller learning communities. In a somewhat similar fashion to specific colleges within the University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, smaller learning communities were implemented in the 2002-2003 school year to group students that had similar interests together for a career. Freshmen are automatically placed in the 9th Grade Academy, and the following year, select to be in the Academy of Fine Arts, the Medical and Environmental Sciences Academy (MESA), the Human Services Academy, or the Science, Engineering, & Information Technology Academy (SEIT). However, the Academies have been facing difficulties with the large student body and change has been slow. While academic performance has improved over the past few years, there is not enough data to associate the increase with smaller learning communities.
There is a limit of 500 students per academy, which has presented a dilemma with the Academy of Fine Arts who have had to reject a number of students. A possible cause is the large base of students involved in some form of fine arts. Another challenge is scheduling students to just their academy teachers.
In 2009 the music listening team made up of Matt Howard, Maivboon Vang, and Colton Moyer, took home a second place finish at the state competition, this was after placing first in sections. The previous year Matt Howard, Connie Sinks, and Colton Moyer, took second in sections and advanced to state. The state placing team of 2009 was featured in the Star Tribune.
One student from the class of 2006 was the recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, five Harding alumni were named KARE-11 Academic All-Stars and one received a WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
outstanding graduate award.
Athletics
Harding's athletic program offers several sports. The girls badminton team have dominated the sport in the decade of 2000-2009, winning eight state titles (2000, 2002–2004, 2006–2009) in ten years and becoming the first school to win four consecutive team titles. No other Harding sport has won a state title.In the spring of 2005, freshman Sade Pollard won state titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. In 2006, she swept all of the sprinting events, taking home state titles in the 100m, 200m and 400m runs. Interestingly, she was the only competitor from Harding to participate in the state meet that year, but scored enough points to give Harding a third place finish in the state tournament. Pollard won the 200m and 400m dashes again in the 2007 state meet.
In the spring of 2002, Sheila Emms broke the Minnesota single season record for strikeouts as a high school fastpitch softball pitcher. During her final season as a Harding Knight she struck out a staggering 353 batters and pitched seven perfect games. Following her high school career she was offered a full tuition scholarship to pitch for Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
.
All sports are offered for both boys and girls, with exceptions for football, gymnastics, volleyball, wrestling and badminton. Other sports include soccer, tennis, swimming, cross-country, baseball/softball, Nordic skiing, basketball, hockey and golf.
Its chief rival is Johnson Senior High School
Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul, Minnesota)
Johnson Senior High School is a comprehensive high school for grades 9 to 12 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Originally named Cleveland High School, the school was renamed after Minnesota governor John A. Johnson in 1911. Johnson is the second oldest high school in the Saint Paul Public Schools...
, also located on the east side of Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. Both football teams have an annual regular-season game where they play for the Hatchet trophy.
A number of student athletes have, after graduating, found success in collegiate sports (See notable alumni section).
Extracurricular activities
In addition to sports, Harding offers several, non-athletic related activities for students. They include, but are not limited to, Korean Club, S.E.A. Club, Speech Team, Upward Bound, Comic Club, Music Listening, Harry Potter Club, BOOK CLUB, Madrigals Chamber Choir, Jazz Band, Fresh Force, Math Team, Chess Club, Japanese Club, Earth Club, ASAP, etc.Miscellaneous
Upon the death of comedian Mitch HedbergMitch Hedberg
Mitchell Lee "Mitch" Hedberg was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor and unconventional comedic delivery. His comedy typically featured short, sometimes one-line jokes, mixed with absurd elements and non sequiturs...
, students ran several pictures of him in student of the month columns for various academies along with the inscription "Mitch Hedberg, R.I.P. 1968-2005," to honor him. Hedberg graduated from Harding in 1986.
Reunion Announcements: See the following St. Paul Schools site for upcoming class reunions for Harding and other St. Paul High Schools - http://www.spps.org/class_reunions
Notable alumni
- Ken DahlbergKenneth H. DahlbergKenneth Harry Dahlberg was an American businessman and highly decorated World War II fighter ace.-Early life:...
, class of 1935, WWII fighter ace, businessman - Mitch HedbergMitch HedbergMitchell Lee "Mitch" Hedberg was an American stand-up comedian known for his surreal humor and unconventional comedic delivery. His comedy typically featured short, sometimes one-line jokes, mixed with absurd elements and non sequiturs...
, stand-up comedian. - Paul HolmgrenPaul HolmgrenPaul Howard Holmgren is an American former professional ice hockey right winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. He moved into coaching after his playing career, serving as head coach of the Flyers and Hartford Whalers...
, former NHL player who spent his career with the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Minnesota North StarsMinnesota North StarsThe Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
. - Randy KellyRandy KellyRandy Cameron Kelly is an American politician and the former mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ....
, Mayor of Saint Paul from 2002-2006. - Ken MauerKen MauerKen Mauer Jr. is a professional basketball official in the National Basketball Association since the 1986–87 NBA season. As of the beginning of the 2006–07 NBA season, Mauer has officiated in 1,167 regular season and 67 playoff games, including one NBA Finals game....
, NBA referee - Bill Nygren, Owner of a multi-billion dollar mutual fund.
- Jason LitzauJason LitzauJason John Litzau is an American professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division and former North American Boxing Federation Super Featherweight Champion.-Early life:...
, Professional Boxer - Kao Kalia YangKao Kalia YangKao Kalia Yang , aka Kao Kaliya Yang, is a Hmong American writer and author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir from Coffee House Press. On August 6, 2011 she was married to Aaron Hokanson in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her work has appeared in the Paj Ntaub Voice Hmong Literary Journal and...
, Author