Thousands of residents lined the streets to greet the first-ever Pine Hills community parade which kicked off the dedication of the new Evans High School on Saturday. Under the theme “Evans High School Born 1958 – Reborn 2012,” the parade made a big splash along Silver Star Road beginning at Powers Drive and continuing eastward to the new Home of the Trojans.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle brigade led the procession, which featured more than 60 organizations, clubs, church groups and private sector businesses.
Maynard Evans High School Marching, also known as the “Green Machine” put on quite a show and drew loud cheers from the crowd, as trumpets and saxophones blared all the way to the new Evans High School.
Among the participating groups were, Evans High School- Class of 1960s, Central Florida Urban League, YMCA of Central Florida-Teen Achievers, Ajose Afrikan, a drum and dance ensemble, Pine Hills Community Church, Evans High School Beta Club, Evans High School Spanish Club, Celebrity Education, Inc. and Young Blacks in Action.
One standout in the parade included a fleet of classic antique cars which transported several Orange County, city of Orlando and state officials. They included, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, City Commissioners Daisy Lynum and Samuel Ings, Orange County Commissioners Tiffany Moore Russell, S. Scott Boyd and Fred Brummer, U.S. Sen. Daniel Webster and Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Ronald Blocker. Sen. Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) was spotted walking along the parade route, mingling with constituents, as he had vowed to do.
The parade, which began at 10:30 a.m., was followed by a formal dedication ceremony at the Evans High School Stadium.
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