Wellington C. Mepham High School


Wellington C. Mepham High School is a public high school located on a campus in North Bellmore, New York. It is the oldest of three high schools in the Bellmore–Merrick Central High School District. The school is known locally as "Mepham", and was named in honor of the first school superintendent in the district.
As of the 2018–19 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,241 students and 83.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.9:1. There were 146 students eligible for free lunch and 26 eligible for reduced-cost lunch.

History

The school opened in 1937. It was designed by Valley Stream, New York-based Frederic P. Wiedersum Associates.

2003 Hazing Sexual Assault Incident

In May 2003, it was reported that, while at a football training camp, at least three members of the Mepham football team were sexually assaulted by their teammates. Three members admitted to the acts, two of whom appeared in court. The sexual assault included anally penetrating the boys with foreign objects, including broom handles, pine cones, and golf balls. The team's season was canceled early, and two coaches were transferred to administrative positions.
On October 27, 2003, members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas staged an anti-gay rally outside the school. Led by the church‘s lead spokesperson Shirley Phelps-Roper, the protestors blamed the hazing incident on the fact that parents and school administrators had allowed the formation of Mepham’s Gay-Straight Alliance three years prior.

Notable alumni

  • Roone Arledge – American sports and news broadcasting executive
  • Mark Belger – American middle-distance runner
  • Dean Blandino – sportscaster
  • Donny Brady – American football player
  • Lenny Bruce – American comedian and social critic
  • Tyler Davis – American football player
  • Storm Field – American television meteorologist
  • Jon Gabrus – American actor and comedian
  • Thomas J. Kelly – American aerospace engineer
  • Amos Zereoué – Ivorian gridiron football player
  • Eric Chester – Author, socialist political activist, and former economics professor
  • Jason Foley – Professional baseball player
  • Lester Prosper - Professional basketball player
  • Carl Strommen - Music composer