Tiger Pride Day
Tiger Pride Day was established by Ivy Wynn Fowler, founder of the Tiger Den and Jones High School Boosters President, in 2016, which the approval of Mr. Roderick Waldon, the Principal, during the 2016 year. On February 6, 2016, the 1st Tiger Pride Day was about to Celebrate the Cultural and the Rich History of Jones High School, a predominately African American High School that is still in existence today; established on January 1, 1885, as we celebrated its 121st Birthday on that Day.
Each Alumni Class was asked to participate with Tents and tables provided for on fee to showcase their Class with pictures, as well as keepsake memories during their time of walking the Halls of Jones High School, and there were classes as far back as 1953. We had 20 Alumni Classes that participated.
This Day was Day of Celebration when the City, and County Mayors did Proclamations by painting the city Orange & Green. The Fountain in downtown Orlando was turned Orange & Green highlighting that Day, with WESH-channel 2 providing media coverage.
Former Cheerleaders, Majorettes that danced showed their Pride to the current students of Jones High and what it meant to them while walking the halls of Jones High School.
The Students were overwhelmed by what they saw that Day; it was like a one “ Big Family Reunion”, It also gave the Alumni & Community to interact with the current Students to provide them with their perspectives of what they knew. At the same time, they were enrolled during their time.
Attendees can visit the only School in Orange County that has a Historical Society on their Campus in Orlando and Orange County that is now on the National Register to look at memorabilia, books, articles, music works, and art by graduates and students of Jones High School preserving History and Legacy of Jones High School.
2,000 attendees came out that Day, and a little rain did not damper that Day. But, as we say, “WE PAINTED THE CITY ORANGE & GREEN !! The City of Orlando lent its support by lighting the Fountain at Lake Eola that night before with Orange & Green lights for Jones High School Tiger Pride Day.
Thus Tiger Pride Day was Born, and each year, this Day is set aside to bring the Alumni and Community back. Attendance has now grown from 3,000 to 4,000 attending, with over 50 Alumni Classes and many Food Vendors, Clothing, Art & other Vendors in Attendance.
Tiger Pride Day is not just one Day. Tiger Pride Day is about Every Day at Jones High School, rich in Culture and History. No other school can do this, and all other School Alumni who attend are so impressed by all the accomplishments that this School has been to the Community.