Clear Lake High School Turns 50

Clear Lake High School celebrated 50 years on October 7-9, 2022, during several special events for alumni and the community. The weekend’s sizable and spirited turn out for Clear Lake High School’s 50^th Anniversary Celebrations may just be indisputable proof that the school’s motto, “Once a Falcon, Always a Falcon,” passes the test of time.  

Clear Lake High School opened its doors in 1972 to relieve crowding at the District’s first high school campus, Clear Creek High School, due to the flourishing human spaceflight program and continued influx of employees to the NASA Johnson Space Center from all around the United States. The rest is (a rich) history celebrated for three days over this past weekend. 

Clear Lake High School alumni, past and present school administrators and staff, and the surrounding community were invited to the school campus to commemorate the golden anniversary.  

The weekend of celebrations kicked off at the Clear Lake High School Homecoming game at CCISD Challenger Columbia Stadium on Friday, October 7. Alumni from the 1970s to the 2020s went onto the field during halftime accompanied by a musical backdrop of popular songs from their respective decades. 

A 43-year-old structurally and technologically-outdated campus, Clear Lake High School was rebuilt through the 2013 Bond program for Clear Creek ISD, with construction of the new state-of-the-art facility completed in 2018. With current students as tour guides, hundreds of alumni with family members walked the halls, gymnasiums and classrooms of the “new” Clear Lake High School on Saturday, October 8. 

The cornerstone of the celebration was the Clear Lake High School 50^th Anniversary Ceremony, conceived of and curated by Clear Lake High School Orchestra Director Bryan Buffaloe. The ceremony, held in the Performing Arts Center, featured a musical showcase of alumni and student choirs and musicians conducted by former choir and orchestra directors. The multi-generational performance included several emotive arrangements including the specially-commissioned “Future Falconry,” a composition by James Tabata of the Class of 2012.   

The ceremony also featured a welcome message from Dean Muths, former Director of CCISD Visual and Performing Arts, Class of 1975 and Clear Lake High School Principal Elizabeth Raska, and “Reflections” remarks by CCISD Interim Superintendent of Schools and former Clear Lake High School Principal Dr. Karen Engle. Video messages were also played from author and publicist Dan Heath, Class of 1991, and Congressman Pete Olson, Class of 1981. A proclamation from Mayor Sylvester Turner declaring October 8, 2022, “Clear Lake High School 50^th Anniversary Day” in the City of Houston was presented during the ceremony. Finally, the audience viewed a photographic 50-year timeline of Clear Lake High School, collected and presented by the Clear Lake High School yearbook staff. Click here to enjoy the slideshow.  

Aaron Troyer, Clear Lake High School assistant principal and 50^th anniversary committee lead, closed the ceremony by inviting guests to a reception that followed. 

“Clear Lake is special because of you,” said Troyer. “The alumni, teachers, administrators and families who have walked these halls, established and honored time held traditions, and set the standard of excellence that has been carried out through the decades.” 

On Sunday, October 9, hundreds of parents and children enjoyed food trucks, bounce houses, and games led by student organizations in the courtyard of Clear Lake High School. An epic basketball game between alumni and current team members was played on Lynn McDonald court in Krueger Fieldhouse. Right before tip off, Clear Lake High School legendary coach and fieldhouse namesake Bill Krueger was joined by another former Lake coach, Mark Barker, and current Lake coach, Tommy Penders, as well as Amy McDonald representing her husband and beloved basketball coach, the late Lynn McDonald. 

 

 

 

Media Coverage and Photo Galleries

Clear Lake High School Homecoming and 50^th Anniversary On-Field Recognition Program 
i45Now Coverage 
Photo Gallery (Photo Credit: CADY)

Clear Lake High School 50^th Anniversary Ceremony and Reception 

Photo Gallery (Photo Credit: CADY)

Family Fun Day and Alumni vs. Current Players Basketball Game 

i45Now Coverage 
Photo Gallery (Photo Credit: Heather Blackmar Photography)

Community Sponsors for the Clear Lake High School 50^th Celebration weekend include Title Sponsor University of Houston - Clear Lake; Anniversary Sponsors Dr. Robert Kratschmer, M.D., Entourage Real Estate, Gay Family Auto, Lisle Violin Shop, Simeon Properties, Sandra Rancifer and Jacki Sarabia-Stallings; Falcon Sponsors Buck’s Pizza, Raising Cane’s, Fairmont Orthodontics, Dustin Hopkins, HTeaO, Lindsay and Magruder Orthodontics and Temperature Solutions, with several other businesses and organizations supporting the events through monetary and in-kind contributions.