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ORMER HALL HIGH SCHOOL WARRIORS
have created our very own tribe to support our alma mater, which
celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The Hall High Alumni Association, known as The Tribe, was established to raise public awareness and advocate for students and faculty. The Tribe was formed in 2015 to teach the community that Hall High is going strong and worthy of community pride. We are spreading the word about all of the good things happening at Hall and working with a deep-seeded belief that every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a school that is safe, exciting and one that prepares them for the future. After a year of volunteer and financial support of both student and teacher activities and needs, The Tribe is focusing our efforts on creating enhanced learning opportunities and enriched student experiences in the areas of arts and music, health and fitness, and student activities. The “$60 for 60” campaign has been launched to help The Tribe grow our funding to create and supplement programs and activities that directly benefit Hall High students and teachers. A long-term goal of this campaign is to establish endowed scholarships for deserving students. We ask you to give from your heart and make a contribution today.
MAKING HALL UNIQUE
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BY JILLIAN MCGEHEE
HALL HIGH SCHOOL 60TH ANNIVERSARY 1957-2017
COME HOME TO HALL FEBRUARY 3 OPEN HOUSE 5-6PM WWW.HALLHIGHALUMNI.ORG
all High School opened in 1957, a year before the infamous “Lost Year” during which Little Rock School District high schools were closed as a result of the integration crisis at Central High School. It was reopened after the 1958-59 school year. Hall High remains one of only three Arkansas public schools admitted to the National Cum Laude Society. Thirteen Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered with plans to implement concurrent courses beginning in the next school year. Hall was one of few schools statewide to implement an AP computer science principles course. Renowned graduates include Bruce Lindsey (adviser to President Clinton), David Auburn (Pulitzer Prize winning playwright for “Proof”), E. Lynn Harris (best-selling author), Jean Knaack (executive director Road Runners Club of America) and Richard Thalheimer (founder and former CEO of Sharper Image). Hall was the first high school to receive the Arkansas 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant in 2002. As a side note, the 21st CCLC logo was designed by a Hall student. The grant provides funding for out-of-school educational experiences for students and their families in the Hall community.
GOOD THINGS HAPPENING AT HALL
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n recent years, when Hall High has been publicly mentioned it might be because of a fight that occurred on campus or the low academic scores of the school. The public typically doesn’t hear about the art student who created a piece of art for an orphaned child overseas or the once-struggling ESL students who were accepted to the state’s prestigious Governor’s School. These success stories are happening all of the time at Hall. And it’s largely because of the following programs and the instructors behind them who believe in every student’s potential and worth.
“As the current principal of Hall High School, I want everyone to know the staff and students of Hall High are very excited to join the celebration of 60 Years of Hall High School. Special moments and special people are created and developed each and every year. We look forward to showing you the progress of Hall High students and staff continuing the tradition of excellence that was started 60 years ago. Thank you for everything that you have done and continue to do for Hall High School.” — Larry Schleicher
SERVING NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS
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hen Hall became the Carolyn Newbern Newcomer Center of the Little Rock School District in 1998, it gave non-English speaking high school students the option to attend the school. English-as-a-Second-Language program successfully helps acclimate newcomers to American culture and teach English to dozens of students each year. These students as well as foreign exchange students help comprise Hall’s multicultural population and contribute to the development for all students of the academic and social skills needed in today’s global community. The program now includes more than 300 students who speak more than 10 different languages.“Parents, students and teachers have consistently cited the newcomer center as being essential to the success of students who would otherwise be left far behind,”said Elizabeth McAlpine, ESL teacher and Tribe liaison to the school.
MAKING MUSIC
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ew band director Cody Jernigan grew the band in the fall from 25 to 40 and led them in performing at all home football games and one away game at McClellan High School. The previous year, only the drum line performed at the games. The Thea Foundation has been helping the band by offering to supply it with instruments to start an orchestra. “This will be a wonderful opportunity for the students of Hall,” Jernigan said. Liz Sendejo, class of 2006 and vice president of The Tribe, has a vested interest in the band as a former member. She and other former band members readily came together to help Jernigan rebuild the Warrior Band. “Cody has made huge difference with the Warrior Band, not only musically, but also in the lives of these kids. I appreciate his willingness to work with alums too. It’s been great to be involved again and watch the current Warrior Band bond and become a family like we were.”
GOING BEYOND TYPICAL ACADEMICS
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all High students are getting their Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications under the leadership of Bernestine Rhodes. “As a career tech teacher, I know the importance of preparing
my students for college, career and the world of work,” she said. The students took the exams after going through the state’s Career and Technical Education program. “I am very proud to say that we have ninth-12th-grade students who have received their certifications. Currently, we are still using SAM [Skills Assessment Management] training and are anticipating more certifications in the future.” Preparing students for college is high priority at Hall. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college prep program for students who are traditionally underserved in fouryear colleges and universities. To date, Tracy Morgan, Hall High AVID coordinator, said that Hall has graduated 102 AVID seniors. “These students have produced three valedictorians, two salutatorians, seven cum laude graduates and 33 Little Rock scholars. We have had a 2013 and a 2015 AVID Foundation Scholarship winner, a 2016 Dell Scholar, and a 2016 Gates Millennium Scholar. In total, AVID students have been offered over $7,905,000 in scholarships.”
PARTNERING WITH THE COMMUNITY
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ity Year Little Rock has a team of eight AmeriCorps members working in Hall. City Year was launched here in 2004 to help students and schools succeed. The focus is one-on-one interventions with ninth-graders, but the organization also provides whole school initiatives and activities to benefit all Hall students. The partnership was established last spring with members of the Fifty for the Future, Little Rock Regional Chamber, Gen. Wesley Clark (a Hall graduate) and Little Rock School District. Corps members work with students who are considered behind or“off-track.”Currently, members are hosting interventions for 150
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ninth-grade students, focusing on math and literacy. “Our approach is unique in that we are not only working with students who are struggling with grades, but with students on their behavior and attendance,”said coordinator Rebecca Smithson.
TAKING A VILLAGE APPROACH
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utoring began at Hall in January 2016 with just a few volunteers from Trinity United Methodist Church and has grown to more than a dozen people today fromTrinity,TheTribe and the community. Tutors have an opportunity to build an enduring bond with a student while truly impacting their academic achievement and social development. Tutors contribute two class periods each week. Some pull students from classes to help them improve their reading and vocabulary skills, while some do in-class tutoring for social studies and math. All tutors complete Volunteers in Public Schools instructional training and undergo a mandatory criminal background check. Repetition and practice matter in core subjects like math and reading, which improves performance and confidence. Tutors can help students on a path that can lead to fundamental life changes. Mentoring can be equally important as tutoring. Mentors visit once a week with the purpose of serving and encouraging both students and staff. Aside from tutoring, mentors may help in a classroom, visit band/sports practices, assist in the cafeteria and help in any number of daily initiatives at school. “Mentoring at Hall High School is an experience of great satisfaction and commitment to serve,” said mentor Randy Parker. “We need you.” Contact Parker at (501) 944-3765 or Johnny May at (501) 350-0057 to get involved.
GET INVOLVED
isit hallhighalumni.org to join the Alumni Association. We need your support, and by joining we can continue to share Hall success stories with our alumni. While on the website, enjoy more stories of note, such as one recounting Hall’s first football season in 1957 and another about the once-popular Turkey Day games between Hall and Central. All are invited to join The Tribe, students and staff and “Come Home to Hall” on Friday, Feb. 3, for an open house reception. The event will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. before Hall’s homecoming basketball game. Everyone is encouraged to stay for the game.
STORIES OF INTEREST: HALLHIGHALUMNI.ORG/FIRST-SEASON/ AND HALLHIGHALUMNI.ORG/FOOTBALL/
NOTABLE GRADUATES JIM GUY TUCKER
Jim Guy Tucker, class of 1961, was governor of Arkansas from 1992-96. After Hall, he went on to Harvard University and earned a law degree from the University of Arkansas. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and was a civilian correspondent in South Vietnam in 1965 and ’67. He was elected lieutenant governor in 1990 and became acting governor in ’91 when then-Gov. Bill Clinton began his presidential campaign. Tucker is now an investment consultant with Witt Global Partners. What was your favorite class during your time at Hall? “Debate. I enjoyed learning the importance of working with other students to debate an issue proposition, the articulation of the pros and cons of that issue with citations of credible sources, and regional and national competition. Favorite extracurricular activity? “Both footbalI and Key Club International. I played left tackle and linebacker and served as vice president of Key Club, which included travel and speeches in multiple states. Learning to work as a team member in football and in Key Club and meeting young leaders nationwide was a unique experience.” Which teacher left a lasting impression? “Marguerite Metcalf, our debate teacher.” What were your initial plans after high school? “Going to college and joining the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Corp.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for those plans? “My teachers and fellow students helped me understand the importance of education, friendships and competition.”
WESLEY CLARK
A 1962 graduate, former Gen. Wesley Clark retired from the military in 2000. During his 38 years of service in the U.S. Army, he rose to the rank of four-star general as NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe. For a short time, from fall 2003 to February 2004, he campaigned as a Democratic candidate for President. Clark graduated first in his class at West Point and completed degrees in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He now is CEO of
Wesley K. Clark & Associates LLC, an international consulting firm based in Little Rock. What was your favorite class during your time at Hall? “Calculus. I had a great bunch of friends and students in that class. The teacher really gave us the freedom to learn on our own, and we did.” Favorite extracurricular activity? “Going to the football games to be with friends.” A teacher who left a lasting impression on you? “Mrs. Metcalf in speech; she was smart and tough and taught us the right things. Thanks to her, I went on to college and further participated in debate.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for life? “The wonderful people and wonderful students gave me a standard of academic excellence, character and friendship that I’ve carried with me my entire life.”
CAPI PECK
Owner of the beloved Little Rock restaurant Trio’s, Capi Peck, a 1971 graduate, is a proud supporter of her alma mater, which she says helped prepare her for the woman sheistoday.InNovember, she was voted to office as city director for Ward 4. Peck has been giving back to the community for decades through charitable and community events.
What was your favorite class during your time at Hall? “Spanish because, along with learning a second language, we learned about the culture of Spanishspeaking countries. The skills I learned in Spanish class taught me to be a good listener as well. You really hone your listening skills when learning a new language.”
Favorite extracurricular activity? “Participating in several of the clubs and after-school activities, including the Hall Harlequin Players, which included acting in several student productions, and the Spanish Club and Y-Teens, where I really became committed to giving back to the community.” Which teacher left a lasting impression on you? “Senora Riddick. Not only did she teach my favorite class, but she also made arrangements for me to live with a family in Coahuila, Mexico, when I was 16 years old to participate in a summer study program at La Escuela Normal, a place where she had also studied. I was excelling in Spanish, and she was looking for ways to challenge me and expand my learning opportunities. She was such a positive and caring teacher. I will never forget Mrs. Riddick.” What were your initial plans after high school? “My initial plans after high school were to attend college and continue my study of Spanish and other romance languages.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for those plans? “My time at Hall really prepared me for the woman I am today. I developed leadership and teamwork skills, which I have used over the years serving on different boards and commissions. I learned how to be an effective communicator and listener in speech and debate class, and I learned how gratifying and rewarding it is to give back to others.”
SIDNEY MONCRIEF
Sidney Moncrief, a 1975 graduate, is a five-time NBA All-Star, five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team, a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and an NBA All-Pro. He lives in Dallas, where he is a people development consultant with his business, Moncrief One Team. He is a former NCAA Division I head coach (ULAR) and NBA assistant coach (Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks). What was your favorite class at Hall? “I didn’t really have a favorite class, but my favorite thing about the school was its visual appeal. It has a very unique setting. I liked how the buildings were separate and the square shaped hallway led you to the main building.” Favorite extracurricular activity? “Beyond basketball I didn’t have much time to do anything else. By the time I was a junior, I developed a love of reading and enjoyed reading in the library.”
Which teacher left a lasting impression on you? “Coach Oliver Elders, my basketball coach, set a very high standard. He wanted us to be gentlemen and respect people and we learned to play hard as a team. Sharon Ball got me on track in biology and Principal Faulk kept the environment calm and disciplined.” What were your initial plans after high school? “I went to the University of Central Arkansas on a basketball scholarship with aspirations of becoming a coach. My coaches inspired me so much.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for those plans? “I’m a child of integration in Little Rock Public Schools, which taught me how to adjust and relate to people of different races. I learned how to develop relationships and friendships and how to negotiate conflicts. It helped prepare me to be more accepting of others and not be intimidated by people different from me. I also learned the importance of looking at people for how they are and not how they look. Hall helped shape my ability to do well after high school and certainly after college.”
What was your favorite class during your time at Hall? “I loved my AP English class. It’s where I fell in love with reading classic literature. Both Mrs. Madison and Mrs. McKinnon did a great job of making the material relatable. At Hall High School I found out Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Dolls House’ was simply the story of women and our place in society. It’s still one of my favorites. Every once in awhile I’ll read it again and each time I find something new.” Favorite extracurricular activity? “Basketball. Basketball and more basketball. Along with fellow classmates DeeDee Brown, Daisha Reed and Shaneika Lewis, as seniors in 1997, we beat Bentonville to win the very first girls basketball championship at Hall. People always showed up early to watch the girls’ games. We had the support of the entire school and the community.” Which teacher left a lasting impression on you? “Hands down, my chemistry teacher, Dr. Meadows. Aside from being brilliant, she cared so much about her students. I’ll be honest, I barely passed her course, but not because of her, because of me. She was amazing. Dr. Meadows had a very unique way of making you feel like you could conquer the world. She didn’t bother you much, just waited for the perfect time to drop nuggets of wisdom that you simply couldn’t ignore.”
DIONNE JACKSON
Dionne (Bennett) Jackson, a 1992 graduate, is vice president for Diversity and Inclusion and chief diversity officer and associate professor of education at Hendrix College in Conway. After college at Hendrix, she earned a doctorate in education from Baylor University. Her research focus is the recruitment and retention of science teachers – a subject for which she developed a passion during her time at Hall. What was your favorite class during your time at Hall? “Zero-hour physics was my favorite class because you had to be pretty motivated as a student to take a course before school each day. To this day, it was one of the best learning communities I have experienced.” Favorite extracurricular activity? “Students for Cultural Awareness was one of the clubs I enjoyed most. It provided an opportunity for students to unite for the common cause of promoting understanding of cultural diversity.” Which teacher left a lasting impression on you? “All of my science teachers. They were a phenomenal group of educators. They developed my interest in science to the point that I decided to major in biology at Hendrix.”
ERICA BRASWELL
Class of 2016 graduate and current Baylor University student Erica Braswell was a 2016 Dell Scholar and also received the 2016 Gates Millennium Scholarship. The Gates Millennium Scholarship pays 100% of the student’s financial needs including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and living expenses through completion of their higher education all the way through doctorate level. This scholarship not only pays for an undergraduate degree, but can also be renewed for a graduate degree in specific fields.
What were your initial plans after high school? “Since I loved being a Warrior so much, my plan was to become a Hendrix College Warrior and major in biology with a pre-med emphasis.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for those plans? “By teaching me the importance of hard work and cooperation. Even when I decided that the pre-med track was not for me, I maintained my plans of majoring in biology and instead became a licensed science teacher. Due to Hall High, I was very prepared for the rigors and challenges of life in college and beyond.”
CELIA ANDERSON
Basketball star and Senior Class President Celia Anderson graduated in 1997. She is director of national accounts for the Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau and is a noted author and public speaker. A former Lady Razorbacks basketball player, Anderson also played professionally in Greece before going to work for New York Times bestselling author, the late E. Lynn Harris. In 2011, she sat on a panel at the Congressional Black Caucus and was inducted into the Multi Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.
What were your initial plans after high school? “College.” How did your time at Hall help prepare you for those plans? “Although my AP courses certainly helped prepare me for college, Hall also prepared me socially. We had students from all walks of life. They helped me expand my mind and to see the world outside of my neighborhood. When I got to the University of Arkansas, I was comfortable in any circle and had a healthy respect for all walks of life.”
CHEYANNE HAMPTON
Cheyanne Hampton, Hall High class of 2012, is now pursuing her master’s degree at Notre Dame University. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science in Human & Organizational Development degree, Hampton moved to Indiana to work on her Master of Science degree in management. What was your favorite class at Hall? “I really enjoyed English classes all four years.”
Favorite extracurricular activity? “I loved being a member of Key Club because I was able to learn from and work with great nonprofit organizations in Little Rock for different causes and meet a lot of other high school students across the state through volunteering.” Which teacher left a lasting impression on you and how? “I’ve had several teachers who have left a lasting impression on me, but my counselor, Ms. Boyle, was someone who helped guide me throughout my four years at Hall. My tenth-grade English teacher, Ms. Artis, was someone who really encouraged me in the classroom and pushed me to be better academically. Also, my calculus teacher, Ms. Hudson, and history teacher, Dr. Rush, were very influential to me and I learned a lot in their classes as well. I think all of the teachers at Hall were great because they were able to relate to, understand, and help students succeed.” How did your time at Hall help you prepare for life after high school? “At Hall, one of the main things I learned was how to manage my time in order to balance academics and extracurricular activities. This is a skill that is needed, not only in college, but as a young adult.”
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ARKANSAS TIMES UNDERWRITERS Hall High Alumni Association, The Tribe Hall High Classes of 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, and 1992 Jimmy Moses and Rett Tucker, Moses Tucker Real Estate, Classes of ‘67 and ’68 Kathy Webb, Little Rock City Director, Vice-Mayor, Executive Director Arkansas Hunger Alliance, Class of ‘67 Capi Peck and Brent Peterson, Trio’s Restaurant, Classes of ’71 and ‘74 Allen Mendel
HALL HIGH ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS Linda Brown and Tisha Gribble, Co-Chairmen Marsha Scott, Chairman Emeritus Wayne Ball Beverly Dunaway Danny Fletcher Peter Kumpe Susan Hestir Dionne Jackson John May Brandon Scott Liz Sendejo Anika Whitfield Carol Young