A charge of excitement was in the air Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013, as students, teachers, parents and patrons joined Canyons District leaders at a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of the new Corner Canyon High School.
The sun shone brightly on the crowd of at least 400 people who gathered to help the Chargers open their new school with the snip of a ceremonial red ribbon.
“It’s been a labor of love for so many people, and it’s been a privilege to work with all of you on this school,” Corner Canyon Principal Mary Bailey told the crowd. “It’s truly an opportunity of a lifetime. Now I can check ‘Open Up A High School’ off my bucket list.”
Construction on Corner Canyon High began in 2011, less than a year after voters approved a $250 million bond to renovate, build or rebuild schools in the District. Completion of the new high school marks the first time a public high school has ever been built in Draper a historic accomplishment that was not lost on those gathered to celebrate its opening.
“I am humbled to be a part of this historic moment, where we bridge our past to a promising future,” Canyons Board of Education President Sherril Taylor told the crowd in his opening remarks.
Current and former members of the Canyons Board of Education were joined by Draper Mayor Darrell Smith and the Draper City Council at the event. Reps. Greg Hughes and LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, also were in attendance, as well as the United Fire Authority and Draper’s police department. Hughes and Smith also spoke at the event. Both thanked the community for supporting the new school.
The new high school has some exciting features that set it apart. The campus has a collegiate feel to it, Canyons Board of Education member Chad Iverson told the gathering. The atmosphere is purposeful and in sync with Canyons’ philosophy that all of its students will graduate college-and career-ready.
The school also has ample natural light inside, a 120-seat lecture hall, a 1,200-seat auditorium, a 3,300-seat capacity gymnasium meeting NCAA standards, a state-of-the art track and artificial turf football field with seating for 3,500 home spectators and 1,200 visiting spectators. These and other features were brought to fruition by Sandstrom Architects and Hogan and Associates Construction.
One of the features Bailey is most excited about is the “victory light” the school will illuminate when great accomplishments athletic and academic are achieved by students. “The light will unify the community behind the achievements of the school,” Bailey said. “It will serve as an announcement to the world that good things are happening at Corner Canyon, and I predict great things will happen here on a daily basis.”
Students begin attending Corner Canyon on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, the first day of the 2013-2014 school year in Canyons District.
Find photographs of the event on Canyons District’s Facebook page.
