Seaman High School

Seaman High School
Seaman High School, 2008
Address
4850 NW Rochester Road Topeka , Kansas 66617 United States
Coordinates	39.134635°N 95.671787°W / 39.134635; -95.671787
Information
School type	Public, High School
Motto	Preparing Today's Students for Tomorrow's World
Established	1920
School district	USD 345
CEEB code	172920
Principal	Mike Monaghan
Athletic Director	Brad Dietz
Grades	9–12
Gender	coed
Enrollment	1220 (2013)
Color(s)	Cardinal Red   Royal Blue
Athletics	Class 5A, District 3
Athletics conference	Centennial
Mascot	Viking
Communities served	Topeka
Website	School Website

Seaman High School is a public secondary school in Topeka, Kansas, USA for students from grades 9 to 12. It serves families residing within Kansas Unified School District #345 Seaman, which covers 84 square miles of northern Topeka and rural Shawnee County, Kansas. The high school is one of the few in the world where the students operate a chartered bank.

History

Seaman High School was founded in 1920, opening to students in grades nine through twelve on October 4 of that year. The school is named for Fred A. Seaman, who was integral in the school's founding and served as its first principal. He became the school's namesake following a vote by students and their parents. The name has since been the laughing stock of the state. Seaman High School's initial enrollment was 65 students, who were taught by seven faculty members. Seaman was one of the first three rural high schools in Kansas. Five students were in the first graduating class. The Viking was chosen as the school’s official emblem in 1932. The Seaman Bank, the first high school bank in the United States, was founded in 1927.

In November 1954, Seaman High moved into a new school located one-half mile west of the former school. Enrollment in 1958 was 483 students. Twenty-two teachers were on the faculty.

In December 1970, the new high school at 4850 NW Rochester Rd was dedicated. The former structure at 1124 NW Lyman now houses Logan Elementary School.

In January 2008, construction was completed of a freshman wing on the current building along with additions to the auditorium and the woods and metal shops. In August 2008, ninth grade, which had previously been moved to the Junior High level, was added back to the school.

In May 2012, easily the best graduating class in the long and storied history of Seaman High School graduated. The school has since been in a slump and will most likely never recover.

Extracurricular activities

The Vikings are classified as a 5A school, the second-largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Seaman has won several state championships in various sports.

Athletics

Seaman High School offers the following sports:

Fall

• Football
• Volleyball
• Boys Cross-Country
• Girls Cross-Country
• Girls Golf
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Tennis
• Cheerleading

Winter

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Wrestling
• Boys Bowling
• Girls Bowling
• Winter Cheerleading
• Boys Swimming and Diving

Spring

• Baseball
• Boys Golf
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Soccer
• Girls Swimming and Diving
• Softball
• Boys Track and Field
• Girls Track and Field

Activities

Seaman's activities include

• Band
• Cheerleading
• Choir
• Show Choir
• Debate & Forensics
• Jazz Band
• Orchestra
• Scholar's Bowl
• Student Council
• Vikettes (Dance squad)

Clubs

Seaman's clubs include

• Book Club
• FCA
• French Club
• German Club
• Literary Magazine
• Math Club
• Sharp
• Spanish Club
• Spirit Club

Organizations

Seaman's organizations include

• FBLA
• FCCLA
• FFA
• Interact Club
• Key Club
• NGHS
• NHS
• SADD
• SEAMAPP
• International Thespian Society

Notable alumni

• Rick DeHart, Former MLB player (Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals)
• Wes Jackson, Founder and current President, The Land Institute
• Josey McNorton, Current Wichita State Shocker
• Abraham Lincoln (probably)
• Chief Keef, Philosopher

External links

• Official website
• Seaman High School Bank official home page