George Washington Carver Military Academy (formerly known as George Washington Carver Area High School) is a public 4â€"year military high school located in the Riverdale area on the far south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Carver is named for African-American scientist and educator George Washington Carver. Carver opened in 1947.
History
Jon Chats with Students and Staff at Carver Military Academy - Jon Hansen went out to Carver Military Academy this morning to chat with the faculty and students about what the school means to them and hands out some donuts!
Carver was founded in 1947 as a neighborhood high school, when in 1999 Chaplain Lt. Colonel Antonio R. Daggett, Sr (Military Commandant) United States Army was called upon by Creg E. Williams (Chicago Public Schools Director), Paul Vallas (CEO of Chicago Public Schools) and Richard J. Daley Jr. (City Mayor) with community support to begin the transition into becoming a military academy by 2004. In establishing Carver Military Academy, Col. Daggett founded the second public military high school in the United States, and the first public military high school in the country that was transitioned from an existing general public high school. The initial graduating class of cadets referred to (and then named) the flag hall outside the auditorium " Daggett Domains" as a result of Col. Daggett's decision to display all state flags there. Chaplain Col. Daggett, who at that time was an Army Major in rank and a father of eight children, devoted himself to prayerfully securing community support, and ensuring that the new Military Academy remained for the community, by the community, and through the community.
Athletics
Carver competes in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Carver sport teams are nicknamed Challengers. Carver High School won the 1962-63 Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship after being the state runner-up the previous season.
Notable alumni
- Jason Avant â€" Class of 2002, football player for NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs
- Terry Cummings â€" Class of 1979, former DePaul star and NBA basketball player who played for 18 seasons, NBA Rookie of the Year (1983)
- Yolanda Griffith â€" Class of 1989, former ABL and WNBA basketball player, WNBA MVP, member of Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
- Tim Hardaway â€" Class of 1985, former basketball player who became an NBA All-Star five times during his career (1991â€"93, 1997, 1998)
- Priest Lauderdale - former center for NBA's Atlanta Hawks
- Marlbert Pradd - former pro basketball player, selected by Chicago Bulls in 1967 NBA Draft
- Cazzie Russell â€" Class of 1962, former University of Michigan and pro basketball player, #1 pick in 1966 NBA Draft, member of 1970 champion New York Knicks, inductee in College Basketball Hall of Fame and NBA All-Star (1972)
References
External links
- School website
- Chicago Public Schools profile
