By: Las Vegas Now Staff
After many delays and a lot of controversy, the Las Vegas Academy finally has its name on the high school campus it has occupied for nearly 15 years. It was no easy task.
The school had to win the approval of historical preservationists. The monument marquee represents an important compromise between old and new Las Vegas. It's art deco style compliments the original architecture of the original Las Vegas high school campus.
It's digital flashing message represents the energy of new generations now making their own mark in these old classrooms. While most high school kids try their hardest to blend into the crowd, here at the Las Vegas Academy, standing out is what it's all about.
Principal Stephen Clark said, “It's a school where kids thrive and are free to express themselves.”
Which is why it was important for the school – Las Vegas' only performing arts magnet high school — to have its own identity.
“For 15 years now, this school has never had anything to identify it as Las Vegas Academy. The building says Las Vegas High School,” said Clark.
That's because the old Las Vegas high school built back in 1930 was placed on the national register of historic places in 1994, even before it became home to LVA. Preservationists frowned on the idea of placing any kind of flashing digital sign anywhere on the site.
But LVA students, parents, and staff, persevered for three years, and finally came up with an approved design that compliments the original architecture of the historic building, where some of Las Vegas' most famous residents once attended school.
Former Nevada governor and U.S. Senator Richard Bryan graduated from Las Vegas high school. “When I went to Las Vegas High School, it was the only high school in town.”
He remembers well the time he accidentally torched the homecoming float in 1955. Today, alumni and current students gave the new marquee a big thumbs up.
Alex Ludwig said, “It was a long time coming, I think it's great. This way we can reach out to our community and let them know about all the wonderful events we have got going on here at LVA.”
The new marquee costs $25,000 — none of which came from the school district coffers. All of the money was raised by the schools fund raising committee, friends of Las Vegas Academy.
Email your comments to Reporter Alyson McCarthy.
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