Established 55 years ago, Shawnee High School has gone through lots of changes, but at its core has remained the same. Quite literally, with C hall standing in the center of the building just as it does now. It was among the first hallways built alongside A hall when the school first opened its doors on November 1st, 1971. Originally, Shawnee High School was built in order to help relieve Lenape High School of its 1500 students. But when that population kept soaring to new numbers, it was clear another school had to be built- that being Shawnee.
This month, I was able to take a look at the yearbooks of Shawnee High School, stored safely in Mr. Campbell’s conference room. Inside them displays the life of each class, from 1971 to our current year, 2025. The yearbooks of Shawnee showcase and tell us about our school’s history and how life has changed since then (and in many ways, stayed the same).
Sports have remained an integral part of Shawnee culture, and that was no different back in the early ‘70s. There was always a focus on giving students the opportunity to participate in their favorite sport, from football to fencing. While fencing isn’t around anymore, it goes to show their commitment throughout the years to making these different activities available to the student body. The same message was being told to students back then: to get involved!
If any seniors or juniors remember Shawnee’s Snowball Dance, that wasn’t the first time the school has had a unique dance outside of the usual Prom and Homecoming. Back in the 70s, Shawnee had a dance called “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” named after the 1968 song by Tommy James & The Shondells. Instead of a DJ, a live band played music.
Looking at photos of staff and students, we can see how simple things like everyday fashion have changed, teachers dressing in turtlenecks and suits-much more formal attire compared to today. On the more abstract side, seniors’ goals for their future were listed alongside their address, which isn’t something commonly seen in yearbooks nowadays. What’s more commonly seen are senior quotes. Both share with us something personal about each graduating senior.
Another thing that has been here for over 50 years, is the Renegade Report- It was founded in 1979. 55 years is a lot of time, just over half a century. By looking back at how we’ve changed and how we’ve stayed the same, we can learn something new about our history. The Renegade Report will continue to showcase and celebrate what Shawnee has to offer throughout it all, from sports to student life. How do you think Shawnee will have changed in another 55 years?
Sources:
Shawnee Highschool Yearbooks
