Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic President Robert Knapp Staff 17 Founded 1971 Colors White, Blue | Established 1971 Principal Christopher Bloomer Phone +1 316-634-0315 Number of students 837 (2014) | |
School type Private, High School, Coed, Parochial school Address 8506 Central Ave, Wichita, KS 67206, USA Similar Catchit Kansas, East High School, Wichita Collegiate School, North High School, Bishop Carroll Catholic Profiles | ||
Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, sometimes called Kapaun, is a private, four year, co-educational, secondary school operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita. It is located in the east side of Wichita, Kansas. The school colors are blue and white. The average annual enrollment is approximately 850 students.
Contents
- History
- Academics
- Athletics
- Track and field
- Science Olympiad
- Scholars Bowl
- Eco Meet
- Notable alumni
- References
Kapaun Mt. Carmel is a member of the Kansas State High School Activities Association and offers a variety of sports programs. Athletic teams compete in the 5A division and are known as the "Crusaders". Extracurricular activities are also offered in the form of performing arts, school publications, and clubs.
History
Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School was named after Chaplain Emil Kapaun, a priest of the Wichita Diocese who served and died in the Korean War. It opened in 1956 another site on east Central Ave (not the same as the present site), in east Wichita, and was operated by the Jesuits as a preparatory school for young men. Jesuits served at the school in various capacities until the early 1990s. Alumni of the initial Chaplain Kapaun school recall that under the basketball court's "floating floor" was a rifle range, where students - under supervision - practiced marksmanship with school-supplied .22 cal rifles, and that supported a school rifle team.
Mount Carmel Academy was established in 1887 by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) as a girl's boarding school. The BVM sisters served the school until the early 1990s. John (Jack) Vickers (1891-1940) was an oil mogul who got his start in Butler County oil fields and former "Vickers Oil Refinery" in Potwin. In 1934, Vickers built a large mansion at 8500 E Central (named "Vickridge"). In 1961, his estate became the new site for "Mount Carmel Academy".
Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School was established in 1971 as the result of the merger of "Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School" and "Mount Carmel Academy" at the current Vickridge location.
In 2006, Kapaun Mt. Carmel began a $2.3 million expansion to the school. A new restroom was constructed, as well as expanded art and debate rooms, new teacher lounges, and a new student commons area. The expansion was completed in August 2007.
Academics
Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School is also accredited by the State of Kansas, and the National Catholic Educational Association. Institutional membership is held in the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and several other professional organizations.
Athletics
The Crusaders compete in the Greater Wichita Athletic League (GWAL) and are classified as a 5A school, the second-largest classification in Kansas according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Throughout its history, Kapaun Mt. Carmel has won 100 state championships in various sports. Many graduates have gone on to participate in Division I, Division II, and Division III athletics. The Crusaders' primary rival is Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, located in west Wichita.
Track and field
Kapaun Mt. Carmel currently has the most Kansas state championships in football, wrestling, and golf as well as holding the only two grand state wrestling championships in Kansas, coached by Duwane Miller. The grand state championship tournament was discontinued. Kapaun won the only two Grand State Wrestling championships ever held.
Science Olympiad
Kapaun Mt. Carmel won the Kansas State Science Olympiad competition from 2003 to 2007.
Scholars Bowl
The Crusaders won the Scholars Bowl State Tournament in 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2013.
Eco Meet
Kapaun Mt. Carmel won the State Eco-Meet competition in 2005 and 2006.