Walt Whitman High School

Walt Whitman High School is a public secondary institution serving roughly the western part of Bethesda--an unincorporated suburban area of Washington, DC, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The school, which takes its name after the American poet, is closed enrollment; students are required to have residency within the school's territorial boundary to attend.

History

The school opened in the fall of 1962 with 1,418 students and had a geodesic dome until renovation in 1992. In 1981, a 1,200 seat auditorium was added to the school. Dr. Jerome Marco was Principal from 1975 until his retirement in 2004. Currently, the principal is Dr. Alan Goodwin, who was Assistant Principal for several years before becoming principal. Six elementary schools feed Thomas W. Pyle Middle School, which in turn feeds to Walt Whitman. The elementary schools are Wood Acres, Bannockburn, Burning Tree, Carderock Springs, Bradley Hills, and Bethesda. In 2005, in wake of Hurricane Katrina, a Whitman student and her two younger sisters started Project Backpack, an organization which donated backpacks filled with toys to displaced children. The project exceeded all expectations and got thousands of backpacks. To honor their deed, President Bush invited them to light the national Christmas tree.

The Black & White

The Black & White is a national, regional and state award-winning newspaper that is student-financed and student-run. In addition to informing students, teachers, parents and community members of relevant issues and events, it also provides an open forum for an exchange of student ideas. It was established in 1961 and produces 12 issues each academic year. The newspaper was inducted into the National Scholastic Press Association Hall of Fame in 1991, during the tenure of longtime adviser Mr. Atwood. In 2001, the staff of the Black & White collaborated to launch the Spectator, a supplementary paper covering sports features and recreation. The newspaper has gathered numerous national awards for its print edition as well as its website, Black & White Online, established in 2001. The Black & White has over 70 staff members (print and online positions included) and the Spectator has more than 30 members. Some staff positions, like photographers, graphic artists, business and advertising managers, are shared by both papers. Louise Reynolds is the adviser to the Black & White.

Performing arts

WWHS is known for its successes in the performing arts. The Instrumental Music department oversees 6 standard ensembles and is directed by Chris Allen and Terry Alvey. The 19-member Jazz Ensemble has won the Chantilly Jazz Invitational for the past 7 years, and appears at many concerts around the DC area during the year (results and audio clips). The Symphonic Band has received a 1 (highest rating) at the county and state levels in grade VI literature for the past six years, and was the only school to perform grade VI music at State last year. The school has hosted various master classes, including the Air Force jazz band the Airmen of Note, the Shenandoah University Faculty Quintet and renowned conductor Anthony Maiello. Mr. Allen is the conductor of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras Young Artists and has conducted several honor groups including the 2006 Junior All-State Band. The Choral Music department contains 5 regular ensembles and smaller chamber groups and is directed by Jeff Davidson. The Chamber Choir (formerly Chamber Singers) has been regularly recognized as one of the top groups on the East Coast for many years. Like the Instrumental Music department, the Choral Music department regularly wins straight 1's ("Superior"--highest rating) for Level VI (most advanced) choral arrangements in county, state, and national competitions. Combined, the Choral and Instrumental Music programs regularly place graduating students in top U.S. music schools and conservatories. Whitman Drama is directed by theater professional Christopher Gerken and produces a fall musical (with a student Pit orchestra), a student-directed talent show, and a winter play. The home of the theatre program, the Daryl Shaw Auditorium, holds 1,200 seated audience members. The school is a member of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Students (Cappies) National Capital Area and has been nominated for and won several awards at the annual Gala. Last year Whitman performed Funny Girl in the Fall a version of Dracula written for the production. The Talent Show will be in April followed by a weekend of one-act student produced plays. This year, Whitman will perform Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida in November and a comedic play The Nerd in spring. Whitman's visual arts program was also strong under the guidance of former Advanced Placement teacher [1]Walt Bartman Sr. who led countless students to excel and over the years receive 10 presidential scholar awards in Visual Arts, scholastic awards, and other recognition. Every other year, Whitman holds a schoolwide Shakespeare Festival for one day in April. It is based in student projects, which encompass posters, food, live performances, videos, demonstrations, costumes, and often a trebuchet. Everything is linked to some aspect of Shakespeare, his work, or the Renaissance. The festival is organized and run by students, with the aid of the English department. This year the Shakespeare Club will direct a production of The Taming of the Shrew.

It's Academic

Role in popular culture

Walt Whitman High School was the subject of the 2006 book, The Overachievers. The non-fiction book concerns itself with several students who were members of Whitman's class of 2004 and 2005. The author, Alexandra Robbins, is a Whitman alum of the class of 1994.

Statistics

88% of the Seniors attend 4-year colleges. 6% attend 2-year colleges. More than 75% attend college out-of-state. Some foreign students return to college in their own country. Students come from more than 40 countries. 77% of students are white, 3% are African-American or Black, 7% are Hispanic, and 13% are Asian-American.

Athletics

• Track and Field State Semifinalists '07
• Boys Basketball Division 4A State Champions '06
• Girls Field Hockey Regional Champions '06
• Will Sharbaugh - Wrestling State Champion '06
• Wrestling State Champions '05
• Eren Civan - Wrestling State Champion '04 '05 '06
• Girls Soccer State Finalists '05
• Girls Soccer State Champions '04
• Girls Field Hockey State Finalists '04
• Boys Volleyball Regional Champions '03
• Boys Soccer State Champions '00
• Girls Volleyball State Champions '98
• Girls Basketball Division 4A State Champions '95
• Boys Cross Country 4A State Champions '95
• Greco-Roman Wrestling '68-69
• Boys Tennis Division 1 1st Place '05
• Boys State Cricket Champions '07
• Boys Tennis County Champions '07
• Boys Rowing State Champions '98

Fall 07 Season: 4A State Cross Country Boys Individual Champioship: Andrew Palmer (Class of 2010) Field Hockey 10-5 Football 6-4 w/ Playoff Berth Golf: 4A State Champions Boys Soccer: 11-4-2 w/ Playoff Berth Girls Soccer: 10-5 w/ Playoff Berth Girls Tennis: 10-2 Volleyball: 2-8

Some Notable Alumni

• Eric Pierpoint, '68, actor, "Star Trek: Enterprise"
• Gordon Smith, '70, U.S. Senator, Oregon
• Ken Navarro, '71, jazz guitarist, "Smooth Sensation" and "Love Coloured Soul"
• Lisa Pelikan, '72, actress, "Julia" and "Return to the Blue Lagoon"
• Bob Raba, '73, football player, New York Jets, Washington Redskins
• Kate Seelye, '80, Middle-east reporter for National Public Radio
• Mark Pryor, '81, U.S. Senator, Arkansas
• Mark Halperin, '83, political analyst, ABC News, Time Magazine, Time.com; former Political Director, ABC News
• Anthony Dilweg, '84, football player (1988 ACC player of the year, Duke University; former NFL quarterback)
• Susan Dynner, '84, movie producer/director, "Punk's Not Dead", producer, "Brick".
• Michael Eisen, '85, noted proponet of open source scientific research
• Jeff Tremaine, '85, co-writer and director, "Jackass: The Movie" (2002) and the MTV show by the same name.
• Richard Ault, '86, web/Internet entrepreneur, CNET, myplay, Napster, Technorati, Metroblogging.
• Harold Maroll, '86, editor-in-chief of the Washington Times
• Spike Jonze, '87, movie director, "Being John Malkovich," "Adaptation." and co-writer, "Jackass: The Movie"
• David Dobkin, '87, movie director, "Wedding Crashers", and "Shanghai Knights"
• Ryan Kuehl, '90, football player (defensive tackle, New York Giants)
• Giuliana DePandi, '92, celebrity news personality
• Alexandra Robbins, '94, published author
• Andy Corno, '01, midfielder, New Jersey Pride

External links

• Walt Whitman Website
• Walt Whitman Alumni Tracking Website
• Walt Whitman Alumni Class of 1973 Website
• Whitman's Award Winning Newspaper Online
• Whitman Football Website
• Whitman Wrestling Website
• Whitman Swim Team
• Montgomery County Public Schools Home Page
• Walt Whitman High School Data
• Whitman Rowing Website
• Whitman Ice Hockey Website