Payson High School 1050 S. Main
THE SCHOOL
Built: 1967
Attendance area: Payson, Elk Ridge, Genola, Goshen and Santaquin, as well as the West Mountain, Spring Lake, Elberta and Haskellville communities.
Mascot: The Lion. According to rumors, PHS changed its mascot from Maple Leafs many years ago, when the Payson Lions Club helped purchase uniforms for a school team.
Number of teachers: 55
Number of students: 1,075: 10th grade: 389, 11th grade: 364, 12th grade: 323
THE PRINCIPAL
Cary Bailey became principal in 1987.
Before becoming principal: Assistant principal for eight years; taught Spanish, history, English and physical education as well as coaching at various schools.
What he likes about being principal: "You associate with so many super young people and staff members every day. Each day at a high school brings new challenges. It is a great thrill to watch the growth, maturity and successes that high school students have."
What he dislikes about being principal: "Seeing many students waste their potential and not strive to do quality work."
DID YOU KNOW?
Columbia Pictures filmed most of the musical-drama "Footloose" on the PHS campus, even remodeling the infamous "P" mountain into a B for the pseudonymous Bomont High School. In addition, hundreds of students were hired as paid extras for the film, which was also shot in locations in Provo, Springville and Lehi.
THE STUDENTS
Hitting the books: Most popular elective classes: Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Russian. Also, auto mechanics.
Making the grade: Senior class GPA: 3.368.
Current athletic titles and activities achievements: Boys basketball, region champs and third place in state; wrestling, region champs and fourth in state; girls soccer, region champs; the school's FFA diary and horse judging teams placed well in national competitions; its vocal and instrumental groups were judged superior at region and qualified for state.
Student body officers: Kendall Call, president; Celeste MacNaughton, vice president over assemblies; Rachelle Palmer, vice president over dances; Daniel O'Bryant, vice president over announcements; Chrissy Quackenbush, secretary; Ryan Davis, historian.
THE GRADUATES
1991 graduation rate: 97 percent.
Percent of seniors receiving scholarships last year: 33 percent, for a total of $155,000.
Hall of fame: Maj. Gen. Chesley Peterson, U.S. Army; Dean Wilson, U.S. Steel executive; Jerry Cahill, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Phil Jones, vice president of Geneva Steel; Blake Sudweeks, "top gun" pilot; Jay Jolley, dancer for the London Ballet Company.