Green Valley High School
Encyclopedia
Green Valley High School (GVHS) is a public secondary school in Henderson, Nevada
within the Clark County School District
. Its mascot is the Gator
and the school's colors are green, blue, and silver.
community of Green Valley
which is located in northern Henderson. The school opened in the fall of 1991, with Carroll Johnston as the first principal. The first class graduated in 1993. In 2008, Green Valley became the first regular high school in the CCSD to randomly test
its students for drugs.
In 2004, Vice President of the United States
Dick Cheney
addressed a re-election rally
in the school's gymnasium. Former President of the United States
Bill Clinton
toured the school in January 2008 before the 2008 Nevada Democratic caucuses.
In 2010, President of the United States
Barack Obama
held a Town Hall Meeting at Green Valley High School.
Scott Panik won the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
.
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
within the Clark County School District
Clark County School District
The Clark County School District, , is the 5th largest school district in the United States. It serves all of Clark County, Nevada, including the cities of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Mesquite; plus the census-designated places of Laughlin, Blue Diamond, Logandale,...
. Its mascot is the Gator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
and the school's colors are green, blue, and silver.
History
The school was named after the master-plannedNeighborhood planning
In 1915, Robert E. Park and E. W. Burgess introduced the idea of "neighborhood" as an ecological concept with urban planning implications . Since then, many concepts and ideas of a neighborhood have emerged...
community of Green Valley
Green Valley, Henderson
Green Valley is a neighborhood of Henderson, Nevada. The Green Valley Master Community development was founded in 1978 by American Nevada Corporation in an area of on the southeast part of the Las Vegas Valley...
which is located in northern Henderson. The school opened in the fall of 1991, with Carroll Johnston as the first principal. The first class graduated in 1993. In 2008, Green Valley became the first regular high school in the CCSD to randomly test
Drug test
A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen – for example urine, hair, blood, sweat, or oral fluid / saliva – to determine the presence or absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites...
its students for drugs.
In 2004, Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
addressed a re-election rally
George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004
This article is about the presidential campaign of George W. Bush, the former President of the United States and winner of the 2004 Presidential Election. See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his full presidency, and George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000 for a...
in the school's gymnasium. Former President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
toured the school in January 2008 before the 2008 Nevada Democratic caucuses.
In 2010, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
held a Town Hall Meeting at Green Valley High School.
Athletics
- The varsity Baseball team, led by Rodger Fairless won six straight state titles from 1993–1998, Nick Garritano led the Baseball team to a seventh state title in 2001 and an eighth in 2003.
- The varsity girls' golf team, with 144 consecutive victories from 1992–2004, holds the high school level national record for most consecutive victories.
- Sports IllustratedSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
has named Green Valley High School the best sports high school in Nevada for more than a decade.
Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association State Championships
- Baseball - 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003
- Bowling (Boys) - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006
- Bowling (Girls) - 2001, 2002, 2003
- Cross Country (Girls) - 1999
- Golf (Boys) - 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2005
- Golf (Girls) - 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2009
- Soccer (Boys) - 1997, 1999
- Soccer (Girls) - 1995, 1998, 2011
- Swimming (Boys) - 1996
- Tennis (Boys) - 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- Tennis (Girls) - 1996
- Track and Field (Boys) - 1995, 2003
- Volleyball (Boys) - 1997, 2000
- Volleyball (Girls) - 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2011
Theater
In 2006 Green Valley High School was one of six U.S. high schools to premier "High School Musical"; in 2008 it was one of four U.S. high schools to present "Disney High School Musical 2: On Stage."Forensics
- The forensics team, led by Scott Ginger, has won sixteen straight Clark County School District titles and ten state titles since 1995. The "Forensigators" have qualified students for the NFL National Tournament every year since 1994. The 2008 National Forensics Tournament was held at Green Valley High School.
Fine Arts
- The fine arts department was awarded National Grammy Signature Status in 2002 and 2005.
Film
- The film club, GatorReels, has made an online comedy show since 2008. They currently have 3 full seasons, are currently making a fourth season, and have over 100 subscribers on their YouTube channel. It is currently run by the President, Michael Lester, and Vice-President, Joel Cruvant.
Varsity Quiz
- Varsity Quiz team, led by Craig Swallow, and now by Demetrius & Lisa Beam, has won eight county championships since 1991, most recently in 2010.
Science Bowl
- Science bowl team, by Ellen Ebert and Joan Taylor, finished in the top ten at the regional DOE Science BowlScience BowlScience Bowl is a high school and middle school academic competition, similar to Quiz Bowl, held in the United States. Two teams of four students each compete to answer various science-related questions. In order to determine which student has the right to answer the question, a buzzer system is...
four times since 2000.
Music
- In 2004, The Green Valley High Schools Symphonic band, led by Diane Koutsulius, was the first band in the state of Nevada to participate in the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. It performed at Carnegie Hall in April 2006 and November 2010. The band marched in the inauguration parades of Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
(1993) and Barack Obama (2009). Koutsulis was recognized as Clark County School District Teacher of the Year in 1998.
- The choral department, led by Kim Barclay-Drusedum, has accompanied the Las Vegas Philharmonic OrchestraLas Vegas Philharmonic OrchestraThe Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra is a symphony orchestra serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area. It was founded on July 4, 1998 by Harold Weller and Susan and Andrew Tompkins. The current music director and conductor is David Itkin. The orchestra's current venue is Artemus W. Ham Hall on the...
several times and been invited to the Heritage Festival and other programs across the nation. - The Green Valley High School Symphony under the direction of Geoff Neuman performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in December 2008.
- The Green Valley High School Marching Band under the direction of Diane Koutsulis and Cecil Myers was invited to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in 2010.
- The Green Valley High School Marching Band was invited to perform in the opening ceremonies parade for the 2011 Shanghai World Tourism Expo in Shanghai, China
- The Green Valley High School Marching Band has been invited to a number of prestigious ceremonies such as the first Easter Parade in Edinburgh, Scotland (2003) as well as New Years Day Parades in both London and Paris.
- Green Valley's Madrigal Singers were invited among thousands of international applicants to perform at the American Choral Director's Association in both 2005 and 2009.
Newspaper
- The InvestiGator Newspaper, led by Ben Barnholdt, Ashley Busch, and now Eric Johnston, has been voted Best High School Newspaper in Nevada 14 of the past 16 years, and the past 7 years in a row (2004–2010). An online newspaper can be viewed at gvinvestigator.com.
Student Council
- The Green Valley High School Student Council has won the Silver Star Award every year since 1993 and is now led by Valerie Rutz, previously by Todd Peterson and Michelle Matherly. The Council has also been recognized as a National Gold Council of Excellence in 2008 and 2009.
- State Presidents of the Nevada Association of Student Councils from Green Valley High School: Craig Adams- 1993/1994; Paul Murphy- 1995/1996; Aja Fegert- 1996/1997; Ryan Leavitt- 2004/2005; Taylor Ashton- 2010/2011
Academics
In 2010 Green Valley High School was ranked 859 in Newsweek Magazine's list of the nation's top 1,000 high schools in terms of college preparation. It also appeared on the list in the preceding four years.Scott Panik won the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th-grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Enacted by Congress in 1983, this program authorizes the President...
.
Notable alumni
- Chad HermansenChad HermansenChad Bruce Hermansen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Hermansen played amateur ball as a shortstop at Green Valley High School of Henderson, Nevada, and the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the first round of the June draft, with the tenth overall pick...
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Dave KrynzelDave KrynzelDavid Benjamin Krynzel , is a Major League Baseball outfielder. He made his major league debut on September 1, ....
, Major League Baseball player - Brandyn DombrowskiBrandyn DombrowskiBrandyn Dombrowski is a professional American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at San Diego State.-NFL career:Dombrowski spent his rookie season as a...
, National Football League player, San Diego Chargers - Kylie BisuttiKylie BisuttiKylie Bisutti is an American model who won the 2009 "Victoria's Secret Model Search" competition, broadcast online through CBS and concluded during the December 1st airing of that year's Fashion Show...
, Model, Victoria Secret Contest Winner