Old Woodford County High School Walk-Through

Take a look into an event held at WCHS that allowed current students and alumni to walk through the beloved school one last time.

Lily Slayton, Landon sears, and Lilly Zaparanick-Brown • November 12, 2024

Lily Slayton

WCHS Cheer Squad welcoming in people in front of the school.

As the doors to the building that has served the Woodford community since 1963 close and the doors to the new building that will serve Woodford for many years to come open, a bittersweet feeling washes over current students, alumni, teachers, and staff. Saying goodbye to a place that holds so many memories for generations of Woodford County residents can be difficult. To help ease the transition, the district held an event to celebrate and honor the memories stored in the building’s 61-year history.

Old Channel 4 video playing in the hallway. (Lily Slayton)

Attendees were greeted at the front doors by the enthusiastic Woodford County High School Cheerleading Team and a speaker playing various “throwback” songs. As alumni made their way through the building, there were many mementos. In the halls, podiums were set up describing significant facts about that specific part of the building. In addition to this, there were TVs set up playing old Channel 4 segments. Walking into the cafe, attendees could see pictures and videos from past WCHS events shown on a projector over the stage. There was also the option to purchase Woodford County-themed merchandise at various tables and booths. In the Library, there were displays of varying Woodford County High School graduates. Most of the people recognized were Hall of Fame inductees. Nat Turner, an inductee, spoke with the Jacket Journal Press about his experience in Woodford County:

Nat Turner standing next to his Hall of Fame plaque. (Lily Slayton)

Nat Carter attended school here and graduated with the class of 1969 before returning to WCHS for a successful 30-year teaching career. When asked how the building and environment have changed since he was last here, Carter stated, “Over 30 years, I’ve seen two complete renovations of the building, as well as changes to the environment and the new surroundings; kids naturally change, the old days and the new days are so different.” Nat Carter is a Woodford County legend most known and recognized for his contributions and impact on the WCHS band. When asked how it felt to be nominated and inducted in the Hall of Fame he said,

Kathy Stout (Right) and her husband (Left). (Lily Slayton)

Kathy Stout, graduating from the 1965 class, discussed her achievements and club involvement. Kathy was a Spanish club, beta club, National Honors Society member, and the first-ever Woodford County High School valedictorian. Kathy had been a significant contributor to early WCHS history, and when asked how Woodford had contributed to shaping her life, she responded,” Lynn Houston was kind of my hero in a way.” Lynn Houston was her math teacher, inspiring her to follow in her footsteps and become a math teacher herself for 27 years, becoming that person for hundreds of other students.

While the new building is being welcomed with open arms, the old building will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Woodford County community. The building’s rich and spirited history will continue to live on in the hearts of all WCHS alumni.

About the Contributors

Lily Slayton, Staff Editor

Lily Slayton is a senior at WCHS. This is her third year as a journalist and second year as an editor for The Jacket Journal. She is a member of the National Honors Society and Beta Club and serves as one of the founders of the Yoga Club. She also plays volleyball and softball for the school. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, cooking with friends, and hiking. She is looking forward to publishing articles about the Woodford community and her travels.

Landon sears, Co Editor-in-Chief

Landon Sears is a senior at Woodford County High School. He enjoys spending his free time volunteering and going to the lake. Landon is passionate about cars and making money. This is Landon's fourth year as a staff reporter for The Jacket Journal, and he is excited to keep working as a journalist.

Lilly Zaparanick-Brown, Staff reporter

Lilly Zaparanick-Brown is a junior at Woodford County High School and is a first-year reporter. In her free time, Lilly enjoys reading, cooking, and art. She is a Track and Field team member and does triple jump. Lilly has been on the Track and Field team since 8th grade. She is also an active member of FCCLA where she was national runner-up for level 2 knife skills sophomore year and winner of ¨Put an Egg on It¨ competition Junior year.