The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source: GSMJ
Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:24 PM
Cocke County High School Celebrates 100 Years
Cocke County High School's centennial committee comprised a choir made up of members from the past, present and even the future. Elementary school students were able to join the predecessors in singing a song called "Celebrate."
"We are celebrating the 100th day of the 100th year of Cocke County High School. Beginning this school year, we started our centennial year and in this day in age, because so many schools are consolidating and with new growth, it's very rare to have a school that's celebrating 100 years," said Nancy Brawley, who is an alum and teacher at Cocke County High School.
To gain some insight into the past, students fashioned different dress codes ranging from 1928 to present day.
"Because dress code is always an issue - no matter what school you're in," Brawley laughed.
Beth Freeman is a former superintendent. She not only remembered her time involved in the school, but she also looked forward to the future of CCHS.
"Well I think the auditorium, it is now what it was then," she insisted.
As of January 2018, the school's gym, which doubles as an auditorium, is not handicap accessible. Changing that is the first step in their $2.5 million project to build a brand new auditorium.
"For years, we've not been able to have concerts or programs in the auditorium because it's basically a concrete box. So hopefully, in celebration of 100 years, we're going to change all that," Brawley said.
As a grand finale for Tuesday's centennial celebration, the school presented a $100,000 check to kick off the fundraising.