MACC and SWAC

Vickie Gillespie– Commissioner

325 East Buck Avenue

Rural Retreat, VA 24368

Phone: (School) 276-686-4234 (Home) 276-686-5723

Fax:276-686-4601 (Cell) 276-620-3316

Email: vgillespie@wythe.k12.va.us or TigerLily43@yahoo.com

History of MACC

History of SWAC

The History of MACC

During the summer and fall of 1985, meetings were held dealing with the creation of an organization which would allow students of area high schools an opportunity to compete with their peers in academic areas of the schools' curricula. The organization adopted the name: MOUNTAIN ACADEMIC COMPETITION CONFERENCE (MACC).

Charter members of MACC were: Auburn High School, Floyd County High School, Fort Chiswell High School, Galax High School, Giles High School, Narrows High School, Radford High School, Rural Retreat High School, and Shawsville High School (now known as Eastern Montgomery High School).

In subsequent years, Blacksburg High School, Bland High School, Carroll County High School, Christiansburg High School, Craig County High School, George Wythe High School, Grayson County High School, Pulaski County High School, and Rocky Gap High School joined the organization.

 

Craig County High School will not participate in MACC after 2008.

The Mountain Academic Competition Conference was recognized at the Excellence in Education Conference sponsored by Virginia Tech in the fall of 1986. More than fifteen years later MACC continues to grow.

The History of SWAC

 

The superintendent and directors of instruction from Smyth County, the city of Bristol and Washington County school systems met in December, 1986, to discuss organizing a league which would allow students of area high schools an opportunity to compete with their peers in the academic subjects of the school’s curriculum.  Additional meeting ensued, budgets were established, and school boards committed to the program. 

 

In the spring of 1987, the program was presented to the principals of the high schools and they named themselves the Southwest Academic Conference (SWAC). 

 

Charter members of SWAC were as follows:

 

Abingdon High School

John S. Battle High School

Chilhowie High School

Patrick Henry High School

Holston High School

Marion Senior High School

Northwood High School

Virginia High School