alumnus Jeff Aldridge. Since their high school years at Rose on Elm Street, they have sent four children to Rose. 

     “We attended Aycock in seventh, eighth and ninth grades and elementary school was through sixth grade,” Patti said. “A few years before we were in high school, Rose was ninth through twelfth grades, and then it went tenth through twelfth, and then back to ninth through twelfth.”

     Looking back on his years as a Rampant, Jeff reminisces on his years spent in high school as one of the best times in life. Jeff was a part of the football and baseball team as well as National Honor Society and Key Club, a volunteer club that mainly focused on community service projects. At the time of Jeff’s attendance at Rose, the football team hosted games East Carolina University’s Ficklen Stadium. This was a big deal for Jeff and all of his teammates because they were playing on a college field in such a large atmosphere. Above all, Jeff’s fondest memories of his time at Rose were homecoming, pep rallies and the football state championship. It was the norm to attend pep rallies and students would show up with a lot of school spirit and high levels of excitement.

     “The entire school was in the gym at one time, nobody would skip it, everyone would participate and it was overall cool to be a part of that experience,” Jeff said. “As far as homecoming, there would be a huge parade and if you were a football player, you would have a sponsor, and then borrow a convertible and be driven through the parade.”

     While social events are major and memorable parts of high school, the lessons learned throughout the four years of high school will last a lifetime. 1960 Rose alumnus Lawrence Davenport, shares advice that he lives by and wishes to pass on to both current and future Rose students.
     “Take advantage of the high-level free education that you are given, because in the long run it truly will help you whether it is helping you to get into the college you want, a job you want to have, or even in life overall,” Davenport said. “You need to
take your time in high school very seriously and work as hard as you possibly can, because no matter what anyone will tell you, it does make a difference.”

     Aside from the high level of academics offered, many have watched the relationships they made in high school last throughout their lives.
     “Beyond academics, your social education is important,” 1970 Rose alumna Sarah Davenport said. “You need to encourage
friendships made at school, and getting together, and embrace your time spent in high school, because there is nothing else like it.”
     Davenport also married her high school sweetheart and is still best friends with many of those she met at Rose.