Another Hughes First, from the Class of 2003

My first memory was Freshman orientation as well. I remember sitting in the "Professional Lunchroom" (the small one in the new building) with my brother who was also going to be attending. He was going into Zoology and I was going into Health Professions. All the teachers were introducing themselves and telling us a bit about their classes. I sat, listening in fascination as my brother and his best friend commented on the looks of all of the parading teachers. Then, a science teacher, Ms. Pfeiffer, got up and said something that stopped us all in our tracks.

She told us that people swallow approximately six spiders a year. It was then that I knew, I was going to love this school....

Tiffany Wanamaker

Health Professions, class of 2003

What's your first Hughes memory?

By Liz Hiles, ’94
Director, Hughes Alumni Foundation

I can remember back to the Summer of 1990 when my father, mother and I pulled up to the curb in front of 2515 Clifton Avenue for Freshman Orientation. My dad was just dropping Mom and me off. So out of the car we went.

I took a few steps before I actually looked up. As my eyes went further up, my jaw went further down. My elementary and junior high schools were both really small. Hughes was, well, HUGE! (Do you think they noticed the similarity in the two words when they built the building?)

“Mom, if I don’t come home the first day of school, call a search party ‘cause I’m LOST!”

Some weeks later, school began for the year and I was there with all the typical freshman-first-day-butterflies in my stomach. Glad to see my friends from previous schools, anxious to make new friends…and terrified of becoming endlessly lost in the vast halls of our alma mater.

Luckily, I only got turned around a time or two…nothing serious enough to actually use the word “lost.” I made it through that year…and the three to follow and I LOVED every moment of it.

So, take some time to share your first Hughes memory!

If you can’t remember the first, how about the most exciting…or the most memorable? Take a few moments, dig deep into the recesses of your mind and bring forth those things that you haven’t thought about in YEARS! Write them down and send them to hughesalumni@yahoo.com. (All submissions have the opportunity to be posted. The Hughes Alumni Foundation reserves the rights to edit submissions.)

Welcome to the Hughes Alumni Blog!

By Liz Hiles, ’94
Director, Hughes Alumni Foundation


I want you to go a on a little trip with me in your mind…

Think back to Cincinnati in the early 1800s. A time when buildings were not just built for function and purpose, but when they were built for beauty and symbolism. A time when education was not a right, but a privilege that few could afford…

This is the time that Thomas Hughes lived. Hughes, a cobbler and business man, immigrated to Cincinnati in the beginning of the nineteenth century. He had a vision, a dream, a desire for young people to be educated regardless of their social situation. Revolutionary at the time. Hughes had no children and is said to have lived on Liberty Street downtown between Main and Sycamore with his wife, a horse, a dog and a hen, he relentlessly gave his own money in the form of scholarships so that the youth of Cincinnati could attend school.

When he passed away in 1824, he left his entire estate to the soul purpose of public education in Cincinnati. Twenty-seven years later, Hughes High School was established, starting a legacy that is still continuing today: the legacy of quality public education for the youth of Cincinnati.

As a school that is nearly 160 years old, we have an absolutely amazing history, including that in those 160 years our school has had 3 unique locations (Clifton Avenue has been occupied the longest. We will celebrate our Centennial in 2010.), a mere 17 principals, and droves of alumni nearing a total of almost 40,000.

Yes, we have been through changes… I walked across the stage at Music Hall a mere 15 years ago and even in that time, so much has changed. Change is constant, however, and despite all that has and will change, one critical thing remains: Hughes still represents an outstanding legacy of excellence in education.