Central's centennial

The 2011-2012 graduating class from Cape Girardeau Central High School will be a special one, for this year the tradition-rich high school turns 100.

Since the high school's first four students graduated on May 22, 1912, at the Presbyterian Church, thousands of graduates have been produced and many have enjoyed great success.

On Monday the first of many celebrations will begin with the launch of the centennial website, which can be accessed through the district's website, www.capetigers.com. The website will list the many different events marking the centennial year.

One of the early events this year is the high school's Hall of Fame induction. Terry Kitchen, junior high school athletic director whose connection with the high school spans more than 30 years, said four individual nominees and the 1964 state golf championship team will be inducted this September.

Central will also be playing football for the first time at the new high school this year. The first football game to be played at the new events stadium will be Sept. 2. In addition to the events stadium, construction on 22 classrooms and an auditorium will begin this year thanks to a $40 million bond issue passed by voters in April 2010.

"There's never been a better time to be a Cape Central Tiger than there's going to be starting with this fall," said Dr. Mike Cowan, the high school's principal. "It's like the divine hand of almighty God at work in our community, bringing it all together."

We congratulate the high school, its teachers, administrators, staff, alumni and students on this historic anniversary. And we encourage all Central alumni to check out the centennial website and consider participating in some or all of the year's festivities.