Clarksville, TN – This year marks the 50th year of Northwest High School (NWHS) in Clarksville, Tennessee. Built in 1970 with its first graduating class in 1971, the school hosted tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students with a capacity of 1,200 students. The first principal was Peter Kyriakos.
The NWHS stadium is named after the first football coach, Esau Lathon. Early athletic accomplishments include the 1974 Girls Track team as the State Runner-Up. The Boys Cross Country team were State Champions in 1974 and 1979.
Throughout the years, Northwest has acquired many individual achievements such as: Bob Rush #83 -football (1969-1973); Cedric Wilkerson #24 – football (2001-2005); Jessica Elery – wrestling (138 lbs) (2015, 2016, 2017); Catherine Palmieri – wrestling (190 lbs) (2019); Marques Maybin #5 – basketball (1992-1996); and Ashley Haynes #44 – basketball (1998-2002). There have been many team accolades as well.
The growth in Clarksville caused the district to renovate the school with additions in the early 1980s and the most recent addition opening in the Fall of 2014. Northwest is a popular place to work for its alumni! Most recently, former principal Theresa Bremer Muckleroy (1979) and current principal, Jessica Monfries Peppard (2005). An additional nine alumni are currently employed at Northwest!
Many other graduates are politicians, researchers, military officers, Broadway performers, business owners and model citizens in the Clarksville community and around the world. Current Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts is a 1976 graduate!
Northwest is inviting all to come and celebrate 50 years of Viking Pride during monthly school-wide activities throughout the year.
For more information please visit the Facebook page of Northwest High School or the website https://northwesthigh.cmcss.net
This article was compiled by Northwest English teacher Adriann Freeman with Northwest school counselor Karen Stasiorowski.
