Hazard High School
Encyclopedia
Hazard High School is a public high school
located in Hazard
, Kentucky
. The school serves about 300 students in grades 9-12 in the Hazard Independent Schools.
Hazard High School's boys' basketball
team, the Bulldogs, won state titles in 1932 and 1955, and won the Kentucky All A title in 2004. Alumni Johnny Cox
and Sam Smith
played in the NBA and ABA, respectively.
The "Band of Gold" was one of ten selected to play at George H. W. Bush
's presidential inauguration in 1988. First entering the competitive marching scene in 1987, the Band of Gold has made it to State semifinals every year except 2006, when they did not compete, made 15 State Final appearances, and earned state championships in 1989, 1994, and 1998.
The school received national attention in 1995 when it elected senior Valerie Cornett as its first African American
homecoming queen. Cornett told reporters, "The young generation is trying to move forward. Here it's like everyone's equal." It had only been in 1956 and only then because of national legal rulings
that Hazard High ceased to be an all-white school.
Hazard High School is widely known for its outstanding student-run alpaca breeding program: the HHS Coalition for Alpaca
Continuation, also known as CAC. The program was founded in 1962 by former student Jennifer Boffo
after a family trip to Peru. Boffo was disheartened by the dwindling camelid numbers and developed a fondness for the luxuriousness of their wool. Boffo decided to take immediate action to save the majestic alpaca. During the petting zoo portion of her visit to the Pinta Alpaca Ranch, like a thief in the night, she discreetly slipped two baby alpacas into her knapsack. She miraculously was able to ship the small animals back to Hazard. Boffo quickly built a sizable living area for the Alpacas directly behind the High School's Planetarium/Racquetball Court. It was here, in meager beginnings, that the program grew to the thriving coalition it is today. Much of Hazard High School's expenses are paid for by the profits brought in from CAC. The wool that is produced from these dignified creatures is of the utmost quality and is sought the world over. The students shear, process, and weave the wool onsite. CAC makes beautiful rugs, hats, coffee holders, ponchos, truck covers, hammocks, pantaloons, lampshades, capes, cd covers, hazmat suits, and fishnet stockings, just to name a few of their outstanding products. As of 2011 CAC has over 36 alpacas under their care. They have nearly 16 new baby alpacas every year, with a low mortality rate of 41%. Hazard High School is currently preparing to open their newest animal breeding program: The Slow Loris
Appropriation Program (SLAP).
For a time in the 1980s and 1990s, principals Hargas Rogers, and later Sherri Cornett, then Donald Pratt defied US Supreme Court rulings by leading the school in the Lord's Prayer
each morning over the intercom
. In December 1995, however, school officials replaced the prayer with a moment of silence
, fearing legal repercussions after the morning prayer received attention in newspaper articles. However, in the early 2000s the new principal (and Hazard High alumnus) Donald "Happy" Mobelini resumed the custom of having a student (voluntarily) recite the Lord's Prayer during morning announcements, only to abandon the custom a few short years later—most likely due to pressures from an increasingly diverse and politically correct social climate.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Hazard
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. The school serves about 300 students in grades 9-12 in the Hazard Independent Schools.
Hazard High School's boys' basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team, the Bulldogs, won state titles in 1932 and 1955, and won the Kentucky All A title in 2004. Alumni Johnny Cox
Johnny Cox
Johnny W. Cox is a retired American basketball player.A 6'4" guard from Hazard High School in Kentucky, Cox starred at the University of Kentucky from 1956 to 1959. He scored 1,461 points in 84 career games and won an NCAA Championship in 1958...
and Sam Smith
Sam Smith (basketball, born 1944)
Sam Smith is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'7" forward, Smith played at Kentucky Wesleyan College, with whom he won the NCAA Division II championship in 1966...
played in the NBA and ABA, respectively.
The "Band of Gold" was one of ten selected to play at George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
's presidential inauguration in 1988. First entering the competitive marching scene in 1987, the Band of Gold has made it to State semifinals every year except 2006, when they did not compete, made 15 State Final appearances, and earned state championships in 1989, 1994, and 1998.
The school received national attention in 1995 when it elected senior Valerie Cornett as its first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
homecoming queen. Cornett told reporters, "The young generation is trying to move forward. Here it's like everyone's equal." It had only been in 1956 and only then because of national legal rulings
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
that Hazard High ceased to be an all-white school.
Hazard High School is widely known for its outstanding student-run alpaca breeding program: the HHS Coalition for Alpaca
Alpaca
An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...
Continuation, also known as CAC. The program was founded in 1962 by former student Jennifer Boffo
Munchausen syndrome
Münchausen syndrome is a psychiatric factitious disorder wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma to draw attention or sympathy to themselves. It is also sometimes known as hospital addiction syndrome or hospital hopper syndrome...
after a family trip to Peru. Boffo was disheartened by the dwindling camelid numbers and developed a fondness for the luxuriousness of their wool. Boffo decided to take immediate action to save the majestic alpaca. During the petting zoo portion of her visit to the Pinta Alpaca Ranch, like a thief in the night, she discreetly slipped two baby alpacas into her knapsack. She miraculously was able to ship the small animals back to Hazard. Boffo quickly built a sizable living area for the Alpacas directly behind the High School's Planetarium/Racquetball Court. It was here, in meager beginnings, that the program grew to the thriving coalition it is today. Much of Hazard High School's expenses are paid for by the profits brought in from CAC. The wool that is produced from these dignified creatures is of the utmost quality and is sought the world over. The students shear, process, and weave the wool onsite. CAC makes beautiful rugs, hats, coffee holders, ponchos, truck covers, hammocks, pantaloons, lampshades, capes, cd covers, hazmat suits, and fishnet stockings, just to name a few of their outstanding products. As of 2011 CAC has over 36 alpacas under their care. They have nearly 16 new baby alpacas every year, with a low mortality rate of 41%. Hazard High School is currently preparing to open their newest animal breeding program: The Slow Loris
Slow loris
Slow lorises are a group of five species of strepsirrhine primates which make up the genus Nycticebus. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they range from Northeast India in the west to the Philippines in the east, and from the Yunnan province in China in the north to the island of Java in the south...
Appropriation Program (SLAP).
For a time in the 1980s and 1990s, principals Hargas Rogers, and later Sherri Cornett, then Donald Pratt defied US Supreme Court rulings by leading the school in the Lord's Prayer
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christianity. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it appears in two forms: in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus being approached by "one of his...
each morning over the intercom
Intercom
An intercom , talkback or doorphone is a stand-alone voice communications system for use within a building or small collection of buildings, functioning independently of the public telephone network. Intercoms are generally mounted permanently in buildings and vehicles...
. In December 1995, however, school officials replaced the prayer with a moment of silence
Moment of silence
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony...
, fearing legal repercussions after the morning prayer received attention in newspaper articles. However, in the early 2000s the new principal (and Hazard High alumnus) Donald "Happy" Mobelini resumed the custom of having a student (voluntarily) recite the Lord's Prayer during morning announcements, only to abandon the custom a few short years later—most likely due to pressures from an increasingly diverse and politically correct social climate.
Notable alumni
- Johnny CoxJohnny CoxJohnny W. Cox is a retired American basketball player.A 6'4" guard from Hazard High School in Kentucky, Cox starred at the University of Kentucky from 1956 to 1959. He scored 1,461 points in 84 career games and won an NCAA Championship in 1958...
, NBA basketball player - Daniel MongiardoDaniel MongiardoFrank Daniel Mongiardo is an American physician and politician from Kentucky. Mongiardo is a Democrat and has been Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky since 2007. He was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from 2001 to 2007. He also ran for the U.S...
, Lieutenant Governor of KentuckyLieutenant Governor of KentuckyThe office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency... - Sam Smith, ABA basketball player
- Vito Contento, equipment manager for New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.