A Century at Denver South High School

On Saturday, April 10, more than 500 alumni, students and educators gathered at Denver South High School to commemorate the historic campus’ centennial. Among the alumni returning that morning was U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, who graduated from South in the 1970s.  

“I am so proud of our school,” DeGette said, “and I’m bustling with pride that our ravens are having our 100th anniversary.”

Throughout the day, former students shared stories about friendships, teachers and experiences that shaped their time at South. For some, the anniversary marked the first time they had seen classmates in decades.

The celebration also included a series of alumni speakers representing different eras of the school’s history, including Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr. John Hall and NFL defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

Hall, who graduated from South in 1952, said the school’s academics helped prepare him for his future career in physics. When Hall later attended Carnegie Mellon University, he expected college coursework to feel far more demanding than high school.

“I expected to feel challenged,” Hall said. “I wasn’t.” He credited South High with giving him the strong academic foundation that prepared him for the work ahead.

A historic campus

South High itself is part of Denver history. Built in 1926 using bond dollars during the City Beautiful Movement, the campus is one of the city’s four historic “compass schools.” The building’s Romanesque architecture includes distinctive elements that have long intrigued students and visitors alike.

The exterior features gargoyles depicting mythical creatures, a massive clock decorated with zodiac symbols, and sculpted figures hidden throughout the façade. One architectural detail often noted by students includes two severed heads beneath winged lions, which some say symbolize the fate of final exams.

The building was designed by the same architectural firm responsible for downtown’s Midland Savings Building, another notable Denver landmark. During the anniversary celebration, alumni toured the campus and revisited hallways and classrooms that held decades of memories.

An evolving identity

While the anniversary honored the school’s long history, speakers also reflected on how South High’s identity has changed over time. For most of its first century, the school’s mascot was the Rebels, inspired by Confederate imagery and Civil War symbolism. The school newspaper was called The Confederate, and the yearbook carried the name Johnny Reb.

Controversy around the imagery dates back decades. DeGette recalled that students were already debating whether the symbolism was appropriate when she attended the school in the 1970s.

“I remember when I was here at South, we began discussing alternatives, alternative directions that we could have for our identity,” DeGette said. “We realized maybe a school whose mascot was a Confederate soldier and whose yearbook was called Johnny Reb really wasn’t appropriate.” 

After years of discussion, focus groups and community meetings, the school officially adopted a new mascot in October 2020, becoming the South High Ravens.  Current students say the change better represents the school community today.

“We got a lot of negative feedback when we were the Rebels and, like, kind of culturally, a lot of negative feedback,” said Mania Porras, a sophomore at South. “So I feel like showing off as the Ravens, and as a good, massive bird, is really empowering for a lot of the students.”

Former NFL player Calais Campbell, who attended South before the mascot change, said the Rebel imagery had long been uncomfortable for him as a Black student. When the school adopted the Ravens identity, Campbell donated $30,000 to help pay for the costs associated with replacing uniforms, signage and other materials tied to the former mascot.

Memories that span generations

Much of the anniversary celebration focused on the personal connections alumni built during their time at South. For Liz Crosby Martin, a member of the school’s alumni board, the campus holds a particularly meaningful memory.

“I met my husband here,” Martin said. “Homecoming senior year, we sat together at the game. Neither one of us had dates for the dance, so we decided to go to the dance. After that we’ve been together ever since — 62 years.”

For alumnus Charles “Chip” Berry, memories of the school’s golf team stand out most clearly.

“We won state golf my junior and senior year, and I finished second in the state both years,” Berry said. “It was the people. I mean, just, we grew up in the best of times.”

The anniversary celebration itself took nearly a year of planning, coordinated by the school’s alumni association and a large team of volunteers.

“It was a huge, huge amount of teamwork,” said Jackie Dobrovolny, one of the event’s organizers. “Getting all of those people headed in somewhat the right direction is a huge undertaking.”

Dobrovolny spent months compiling a list of notable South High alumni, organizing graduates by profession and documenting their accomplishments. The list now includes more than 200 alumni, and she hopes it will continue to grow.

“I think this is a living document,” Dobrovolny said. “I’m hoping that we will add to it as we learn about the successes or the achievements of some of the more recent graduates.”

Looking back on her own time at South, Dobrovolny said one of the most noticeable changes has been the school’s evolving culture.

“It is a much more diverse population. Much more accepting of diversity,” she said. “Not only accepting it, but celebrating diversity. That’s what’s changed.”