Bedford North Lawrence High School

Bedford North Lawrence High School
Tradition Never Graduates
Location
595 Stars Boulevard Bedford, Indiana 47421 USA
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	1974
School district	North Lawrence Schools
Superintendent	Dr. Dennis Turner
Principal	Mr. David Beaver
Faculty	95
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1606
Color(s)	Red, White, and Blue
Athletics conference	Hoosier Hills
Mascot	Stars
Affiliation	None
Location	Suburban/Small City
Website	[1]

Bedford North Lawrence High School [2] is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in the eastern part of Bedford, Indiana and is accredited by the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Established in 1974, the school consolidated seven area high schools: Bedford, Tunnelton, Shawswick, Needmore, Fayetteville, Oolitic, and Heltonville. Bedford North Lawrence, or simply known as "BNL" is fed from Bedford, Shawswick, and Oolitic Middle Schools, as well as the private St. Vincent de Paul School.

BNL's mission: "as a purposeful learning community that each student reaches his or her full potential."

History/Recent News

The 7-point Star represents each of the consolidated schools.

The present school building was not complete in 1974, but the consolidation proceeded, busing all students to what was previously the Bedford High School. The school was also nearly known as Eastbrook High School, with their colors being green and gold, however, the name "Bedford North Lawrence (best known as "BNL") was the name chosen with the mascot being a 7 point star, hence, BNL Stars. Their colors are red, white and blue. BNL was remodeled in the 2005-06 school year, adding new classrooms, reconstructing hallways to improve congestion, and new IMC and Cafeteria.

In 2005-06, the Bedford North Lawrence graduating class averaged a composite 983 out of a 1600 possible on the SAT Reasoning Test. On the ACT test, students averaged a 22.3, which is above average for the state of Indiana. BNL has an 82% graduation rate, 64% of those pursuing higher education, and 32% graduating with honors. Bedford North Lawrence maintains a 93.3% attendance rate. BNL offers 18 Honors level courses for students, ranging from AP Psychology to AP Chemistry. Seven of these courses can also be taken for dual high school and college credit through Indiana University's Advanced College Project. The school features traditional eight-period scheduling and runs on two semesters, one August-to-December, the other January-to-May.

Principal David Beaver was placed on administrative leave on February 9, 2012 after allegedly having an affair on school grounds.

Demographics

Bedford North Lawrence is situated in the city of Bedford, Indiana. Ethnically, the school is 93.% White, the next closest group being Hispanics at 2%. 20% of the school is on Indiana's free-lunch program.

Athletics

The BNL Fieldhouse seats 6,347 spectators.

The school offers boys and girls basketball, cross country, track, golf, baseball, softball, football, swimming, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and wrestling.

Basketball

The boys' basketball squad won a state title in 1990 with Indiana's all-time high school leading scorer Damon Bailey and the girls won titles in 1983. The Stars have not won a sectional game since 2001-02, when they were defeated by Notre Dame's Chris Thomas, Purdue's David Teague, and Pike High School at Hinkle Fieldhouse. From 2004-06, Bailey returned to his alma mater to coach the Stars to a 23-19 record over two seasons. BNL plays on the newly renamed and refurbished Damon Bailey Court, in BNL Fieldhouse, which consistently sold out through the early 90's all 7000-plus seats.

Bedford North Lawrence tournament history (boys)

Sectionals (18)

1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2001

Regionals (7)

• 1976
• 1982
• 1987
• 1988
• 1990
• 1995
• 2001

Semistates (3)

1987, 1988, 1990

State titles (1)

1990 Hoosier Dome (Largest crowd ever for a high school basketball game over 41,000)

Bedford North Lawrence tournament history (girls)

Sectionals (21)

1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2012

Regionals (9)

1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

Semistates (4)

1983, 1990, 1991, 1992

State titles (2)

1983, 1991

Football

The BNL boys' football team finished the 2011 season with the first sectional championship in school history. The stars finished the season with an overall record of 9-4. This is the best year the Stars have had since winning the Hoosier Hills Conference in 2007, the same year they reached the Sectional Championship before falling to Evansville Reitz.

Golf

The BNL boys' golf team has been consistently the top team for the Stars. In the late 80's PGA Tour member Craig Bowden led the Stars. The program has produced numerous Division I college players throughout their history. The golf team has won 15 conference titles, 20 sectional titles, 7 regionals, and has had 27 state finals appearances. This is the most state finals appearances without a championship. They have also had 7 All-State performers. From 1974-2005, the Stars advanced to regional play, the longest streak of this kind in the school's history. After a down 2006 campaign, the spring 2007 Stars finished off the year with a sectional title and a 12th place ranking in the final poll.

BNL took the 2007 Sectional Championship with a state low round of 295.

Clubs

Clubs, organizations, and academic/arts groups at BNL include:

• Anime Club
• Athletic Training,
• Art Club,
• Beta Club,
• BNL Star Newspaper,
• Business Professionals of America,
• Chess Club
• Chorale,
• Drama Club,
• Drumline,
• EPICS,
• Environmental Club,
• Future Farmers of America,
• FCCLA-an amazing, life changing club,
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes,
• Fieldhouse Fanatics,
• French Club,
• German Club,
• Habitat for Humanity,
• I-Care Council,
• IMPACT Club,
• InSight C*Jazz and Concert Bands,
• Key Club
• Latin Club,
• Marching Band,
• Mixed Ensemble
• National Honor Society,
• Yearbook,
• Orchestra,
• Renaissance,
• Science Club
• Spanish Club,
• Starlets
• Star Sound,
• Star Station 14 Television,
• Star System (color guard)
• Student Council,
• Symphony Orchestra,
• Teens For Kids First,
• VERITAS Magazine

Notable alumni

• Damon Bailey, former professional basketball player
• Craig Bowden, professional golf
• Ken Bowersox, astronaut
• Mark Kinser, former World of Outlaws champion