The Pine Hills community will experience its first community parade on Saturday, January 21st to commemorate the dedication of the new Evans High School.
The dedication parade was added to the celebration at the request of State Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, who has been an advocate for the redevelopment of the Pine Hills community for years.
“I wanted this parade to serve as the catalyst for the community to begin a new era of pride in Evans High School and the Pine Hills community as a whole,” stated Siplin.
In 2005, after years of operating in a subpar learning environment with deteriorating physical conditions, the Orange County School Board moved Evans High School to a top priority on the list of schools in need of renovations. When plans to construct a new school on a new site were rejected by County officials, Siplin, with the help of former Senate President and current Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater, was able to secure a Castaldi waiver for Orange County Public Schools that allowed Evans High School to be demolished and rebuilt in its original location.
As a result of those efforts, there now stands a beautiful, state-of-the-art education facility on the corner of Pine Hills and Silver Star Roads that Siplin feels will serve as the springboard for excellence and high student achievement in the area for years to come.
“I believe that this multi-million dollar educational edifice will serve as the foundation of the social and economic rejuvenation of the Pine Hills Community,” Siplin said.
Festivities commemorating the opening of the school began on Friday, December 30th with a prayer walk initiated by Senator Siplin followed by tours for Evans’ students and parents.
A committee consisting of representatives from the State, County and Pine Hills Community collaborated to make Senator Siplin’s celebration concept a reality.
“I’m really looking forward to enjoying the day’s events with my constituents and the community,” Siplin stated.
Invited participants for the event include U.S. Representatives Corrine Brown, FL-3, and Daniel Webster, FL-8, who is a 1960 Evans High alumnus, Governor Rick Scott and Cabinet Members, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and many other elected officials and dignitaries from the City, County and State.
The parade, which will start at the intersection of Powers Drive and Silver Star Road and continue eastward along Silver Star Road, will begin at 10am followed by the Dedication Ceremony at the Evans High School Stadium, which is set to begin at 12 noon.
