East Grand Rapids High School is a public high school in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. It serves students in grades 9 through 12 for the East Grand Rapids Public Schools.
Athletics
The EGRHS Pioneers are part of the Ottawa-Kent Conference. The school's colors are blue and gold. The following sports approved by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) are offered at the school:
The boys' and girls' water polo teams compete in the Michigan Water Polo Association (MWPA). The coed crew team is part of the Scholastic Rowing Association of Michigan. The sailing team belongs to the Midwest Interscholastic Sailing Association (MISSA). The girls' field hockey team is part of the Michigan High School Field Hockey Association. Girls also join a competitive dance team that is part of the Universal Dance Association (UDA). The boys' lacrosse team won six titles from the Michigan High School Lacrosse Coaches Association (MHSLCA) before the sport was officially supported by the MHSAA. The school has a well-known rivalry with Lowell High School.
Performing Arts Center
The Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a performance hall with 671 seats. It is used for plays and musical performances. The building includes a space for an orchestra, rooms for actors to prepare and apply makeup, and a green room. The facility was completed in October 2002 and cost $21 million to build.
On April 20, 2007, President George W. Bush visited East Grand Rapids High School's Performing Arts Center to talk about the war on terror. This event was organized by the World Affairs Council. On December 5, 2007, former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos spoke to students about leadership.
Notable alumni
- Jim Boylen, former head coach of the Utah Utes men's basketball team, former head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
- Bridget A. Brink (class of 1987), diplomat
- Doris Cole (born 1938, class of 1955), architect and author
- Allie Dragoo (born 1989), USA Cycling Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling professional cyclist
- Luke Glendening, NHL hockey player
- Adam Herz, screenwriter
- John Hockenberry, journalist
- Luke Jensen, former professional tennis player
- Laura Kasischke, poet and novelist
- John McNamara, writer
- L. William Seidman, economic advisor to Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, chairman of the FDIC and co-founder of Grand Valley State University.
- Chris Van Allsburg, author and illustrator of children's books
- Peter Meijer, Republican who represented Michigan's 3rd congressional district from 2021 to 2023
- Elizabeth M. Welch, Associate Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court
- Austin Beutner, Businessman, former publisher and CEO of Los Angeles Times, superintendent of Los Angeles Public School District
- Henry F. Schaefer III, one of the most highly cited chemists in the world
- Gillian Sorensen, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations
- Martha Teichner, television news correspondent
- John Ronan, Architect, designer and educator
- David McLaughlin, 14th President of Dartmouth College
- Ryan McInerney, President of Visa Inc.
- Natalie Fratto, Vice President at Goldman Sachs
- Dave Engbers, co-founder of Founders Brewing Company
- Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Co-Director of the National Center for Children and Families at Teachers College, Columbia University
- Steve Belkin, founder of Trans National Group
- Steve Pestka, former member of the Michigan House of Representatives
In popular culture
The original name for the movie American Pie was "East Grand Rapids." The movie is inspired by the real-life experiences of writer Adam Herz during his time at East Grand Rapids High School. In the film, the town is named "East Great Falls," and the high school in the story has the same school colors—blue and gold—as well as a similar mascot, the Trailblazers, instead of the Pioneers.