in 2007, following which the team has had few successes. The Taft Union High School District authorized the establishment of classes at the junior college level starting in September 1922. Taft Junior College was the 16th junior college formed in the state. In 1962 Taft Junior College formed its own district: the West Kern Junior College District. Student activities Taft High has many extracurricular activities for students. The school holds many dress-up weeks, including but not limited to dress-up days prior to the weeks of Christmas and spring break. The school also offers numerous sports, including golf, swimming, football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and others. Taft High's drama department puts on one musical a year; roles are open by audition. Its music department (band, string orchestra, jazz band, choir, advanced choir) holds concerts that are free to the public. 2013 shooting On January 10, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., a gunman, later identified as 16-year-old student Bryan Oliver, armed with a 12-gauge shotgun entered a second-floor classroom where 28 students were present. He shot and seriously wounded 16-year-old Bowe Cleveland, who was treated at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield. Oliver shot at another student, but missed. The teacher, Ryan Heber, suffered a graze wound to the head. Heber and campus supervisor Kim Lee Fields persuaded Oliver to drop his weapon and surrender and evacuated the students from the room. Police quickly arrived and arrested Oliver. Per standard response, the school was placed on lockdown and students were later picked up by their parents. Counselors were available after students returned to classes. Oliver will first be eligible for parole in January 2027. He is currently incarcerated at Pelican Bay State Prison. Oliver had complained of being bullied. Said to have a hit list, he was charged as an adult with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Oliver took a plea deal in the criminal case and was sentenced to 27 years and 4 months in prison. After sentencing, Cleveland filed a lawsuit against the school District claiming the shooting could have been avoided. Representation in popular culture The school was featured in the 1986 movie The Best of Times starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. Taft was also seen in For My Daughter's Honor (1996). Parts of the 2004 movie Frog-g-g! were filmed at TUHS as well. Notable people Faculty Vern Mullen Students Jeanne