Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (commonly referred to as "Mervo" or "MerVo-Tech") is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is one of the two premiere vocational-technical high schools of the city, the other being Carver Vocational-Technical High School, on Presstman Street, on the other side of the city in West Baltimore.
Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School | |
---|---|
Address | |
3500 Hillen Road , 21218 United States | |
Information | |
School type | Public, Vocational-Technical, Magnet |
Motto | "Reimagining Excellence" |
Founded | 1953 |
School district | Baltimore City Public Schools |
Superintendent | Gregory Thornton [CEO] |
Area trustee | Janice McCoy |
School number | 410 |
Principal | Jada Langston |
Grades | 9–12 (freshmen/sophomores/juniors/seniors) |
Enrollment | 1,692[1] (2014) |
Area | Urban |
Color(s) | Gold and Royal blue |
Mascot | Mustangs |
Website | www |
Mervo was opened in 1953, established as a vocational-technical school that is named after printer Ottmar Mergenthaler (1854-1899), the inventor of the linotype machine which revolutionized the printing and newspaper industries.
The school, according to its website, uses its curriculum to "educate students to function in an industrial and challenging technological society."[2] All students must apply and meet certain standards of entrance criteria for acceptance to the school.
In 2008, "Mervo" had been named by the U.S. News and World Report magazine, as a "Bronze Medal" school. In 2012, The Mervo Mustangs Alumni Association was established. The association has united classmates from the 1970s to the present. Mervo also has accelerated curriculum which has both Advanced Placement (AP) courses and Honors Classes in all areas of education.
Mervo has 22 state-approved trades courses for students to enter into, including: Accounting and Finance, Allied Health, Auto Body and Repair, Automotive Technology, Business Management, CADD (Computer Aided Drawing and Design), Carpentry, Childcare, CISCO Networking Academy, Commercial Baking, Cosmetology, Electrical Construction, Food Services, Graphic Arts and Printing, Law and Leadership, Masonry, Plumbing, Project Lead The Way (Pre-Engineering), Teacher Academy and Welding.
Graduating rates
Mervo has one of the highest graduating rates in the several high schools of the Baltimore City Public Schools system. The average graduating rate is above 85%.[3] The students rather get into college or pursue their trade of choice and make a career out of it as soon as they graduate out of Mervo.
Football field
The football field was named Art Modell Field at Mervo in honor of Art Modell, the longtime owner of the former Cleveland Browns professional football team franchise in the National Football League (NFL), that later relocated in 1995 to become the Baltimore Ravens. The field's renovation was spearheaded by The Ravens All Community Team Foundation, successor Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, CB Chris McAlister and the NFL Youth Football Fund. The $1 million project includes installation of a Sportexe turf field (like that at M&T Bank Stadium at Camden Yards), additional bleachers on the home/away sides, a ticket booth, and upgrades to the restrooms and concession stand. Serving as the primary home to the Mergenthaler Vo-Tech High School football team "Mustangs", the stadium will also host the nearby Northwood Youth Football league and the Baltimore Nighthawks of the Independent Women's Football League. The new $1 million football stadium will bear the name of deceased former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell.
Mervo clubs
Mervo has many clubs for their students to be involved in and support groups. There are over 28 clubs after school for the student body too keep busy and help them be
- Cheerleading
- Choir
- Student Government
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Track & Field
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
- Dance
- Drama
- Band
- Majorette
Championships
Mervo has won championships against other schools.
Recently entering into the city conversation as a football powerhouse after reeling several city titles and playoffs appearance from 2013 to 2016. However, Mervo is historically a Track & Field and Cross Country powerhouse with a massive amount of MSA A & B Conference Regular Season and Championship Meet titles. When Baltimore City public schools were entered into the MPSSA to compete with county public schools their dominance continued. Mervo Track boasts the only State Titles in school history 95,96 and 98. Led for decades by Coach Fred Hendricks Mervo was always in the conversation for championships and on the national stage, stellar Penn Relay performances.
Mervo Football
- Varsity Vo-Tech Bowl:(2010, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- JV Baltimore City Championships: (1984,1994,1996,2012)
- Mervo Varsity Baltimore City Championship:
(1975, 2014*Undefeated, 2015)
Mervo Baseball
- States:(1996,1997) *Regionals:(1996,1997) *City:(1996, 1997)
Mervo Wrestling
- State:(2009) *Regionals:(2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014) *City:(2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Mervo Girls Basketball
- JV Baltimore City Championships:(2012, 2013) *Varsity City Championships:(2012, 2013)
Mervo Basketball
- JV Baltimore City Championship:(2012) *Varsity City Championship:(2012) Regionals:(2012)
Mervo Tennis
- City:(2012) *Regionals:(2012) *State:(2012)
- Mervo Step Team Diamond Divas: *Undefeated Baltimore City Champions(2007-2008)
Cheerleading Championship(2012)
Mervo Cross Country
- MSA C Conference Championship 1991
- MSA B Conference Championship 1993
- Baltimore City Championship 1993-1997
- Regional Champion 1994 & 1996
Mergenthaler crest
The official Mergenthaler crest is a blue and gold cogwheel for 10th-12th graders, which is representative of the original printing heritage and now vocational and technical industries that Mervo prepares its students for. The official Mergenthaler Vo-Tech uniform shirts for 9th graders is a gold shirt with a blue cogwheel.
School song
The Mergenthaler School song was penned by the president of the senior class of 1955. The Song is performed by the Mergenthaler Mass Choir before each school assembly.
Following the playing and singing of the national anthem of the United States with the "Star-Spangled Banner" - composed in Baltimore by Francis Scott Key during the British attack on Fort McHenry in the Battle of Baltimore, September 12-13-14th, 1814, during the War of 1812.
The lyrics of the M.V.-T.H.S. school song are as follows:
- Mergenthaler, Mergenthaler. To thy colors we'll be true
- In the Shining Sun lies thy gold, In the Heavens thy Royal Blue.
- From the earth we grew to meet the sky, is there any wonder why?
- Our love burns strong for MVT! And the embers never die.
- Alma Mater, Alma Mater, thy glories we will sing.
- Let thy Mergenthaler praises echo as our voices ring.
- For we love the spacious campus, and our spirit staunch and true.
- All the symbols that God gave to me! Wrought in Gold and Royal Blue.
Notable alumni
- Bossman, rapper
- James Carter, Olympic athlete
- Marcus Hatten, former NBA player, 2006 top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League
- Brandon M. Scott,[4] Mayor of Baltimore City
- Sisqo, R&B singer
- Maurice Tyler, former NFL defensive back
References
- "Enrollment for All Grades All Students : Demographics : Baltimore City - Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High : 2014 Maryland Report Card:". Maryland State Department of Education. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/410
- "Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High in Baltimore, MD - US News Best High Schools". US News. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- Brandon M. Scott