Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Update - March 2010
http://www.wilsonalumni.com
Don't miss your upcoming reunion - make sure to check the reunion section below.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
THE NORTHWEST'S PREMIER CAR ENTHUSIAST
After graduating from Portland State University with a degree in Chemistry, Brian Cone '68 gained valuable experience in his first job with the City of Portland in the Water Pollution Control Lab. Wanting more challenges, Brian landed a job at Tektronix, eventually becoming the manager of the Chemical and Environmental Evaluation Laboratory. After 18 years at Tektronix, Brian moved to Portland General Electric’s Oregon Analytical Laboratory as the Organics Laboratory Manager. Due to problems with the Enron situation, PGE sold the lab to what is now one of 45 labs in the Test America network. Brian is a Project Manager, specializing in serving the accounts of, not surprisingly, municipal, industrial, and utility customers.
Recently, Brian lead an effort to establish the Oregon Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America. The CCA Chapter is the first state-wide BMW Club to meet the needs of CCA members and other BMW enthusiasts. An enthusiastic group of 30 people worked very hard to meet CCA new chapter requirements, submitting a petition for approval at the national board meeting in January. The petition was approved on January 23rd and the 67th chapter in the CCA was created! http://bmworegoncca.com/. Brian is the pro tem president and is working with a full slate of officers to create events that the 700 members will enjoy, including technical sessions, touring events, social events, participation in BMW and other regional events, and will cooperate with other clubs’ High Performance Driving Schools at Portland International Raceway. One of the regional events that the new chapter will support is the Sunriver Festival of Cars, to be held the weekend of September 18th. This is a very fun concours style annual event with many very rare automobiles on display. As a board member, Brian helps to line up sponsors and volunteers, and is responsible for logistics on the day of the show. The BMW Oregon Chapter will play an important role to make this event a success. Click here to check our the website for the event: http://www.sunriverfestivalofcars.com/index.html.
As a student at Wilson, Brian’s love of cars was instilled by his father, who would go out and buy a car on a whim much to the chagrin of his mother. His favorite family car to drive to Wilson was a 1961 Ford Thunderbird, now a true classic. He would put the automatic into first gear and drive through the Wilson parking lot with the window down, quite a treat! Brian’s most influential teacher at Wilson was Mr. Guthrie. He instilled the love of chemistry in Brian that persists to this day. Current Wilson students, what Brian advises is to network! "The more organizations you join and the more people you know will greatly increase your chances to land a good job," adds Brian. "When a job opening suddenly opens, they will think of you first." A good example is Brian’s daughter, Melinda who graduated from OSU with a degree in mechanical engineering. As a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Mindy landed a job with Intel after her first interview because Intel had contacted the society looking for recent graduates. "It pays to have connections!"
COMPOSER TO WATCH
Kenji Bunch, a 1991 alumnus of Wilson High School, is coming back to Portland as a special guest at the Portland Youth Philharmonic’s Winter Concert on March 13, 2010 in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Kenji was in the Portland Youth Philharmonic (PYP), America’s first youth orchestra, from the age of 12 until he graduated from high school. He will be returning to hear PYP perform one of his own compositions, "For Our Children's Children". This successful alumnus of Wilson High School and PYP is currently living and working as a performer and composer in New York. His awards and commissions are many. The New York Times calls him a “Composer to Watch.” To buy a ticket to Kenji's upcoming concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, call PYP, Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 5:00 at 503-223-5939. To read more about Kenji, go to: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/alumni-spotlight/bunch.html.
A WILSON GRAD'S LIFE AS SUCCESSFUL AND CELEBRATED PHOTOGRAPHER
Cherie Hiser '57 (known as Sherri Jenkins in high school) was Wilson's first May Queen but she didn't stop there. Cherie began her study of photography after completing graduate studies in psychology in Hawaii in 1963. Her first workshops at the Portland Art Museum were with master teachers Minor White, Ruth Bernhard and Imogen Cunningham. She became impassioned with the medium and has become an internationally known artist, teacher, and “Photographic Evangelist”. To read more about Cherie, click here: http://www.photographicimage.com/bios.ihtml?pid=76&step=2.
Cherie was recently featured in a story in the Southwest Community Connection newspaper. She has been exploring and attempting to understand people on the fringes of society, including ground-breaking early photographic studies of people who were tattooed, transgender or gay. To read the February 2010 story, click here: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/alumni-spotlight/Cherie_Hiser_57.pdf.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Send us the details on where/what you have been doing since graduating from Wilson, and we'll post in an upcoming WWHS Alumni Update e-newsletter. Send details to Linda Doyle.
ALUMNI RECALL WILSON'S PAST
MIKE MAURICE '64 REMEMBERS HILLSDALE
What great memories! Click here and be transported back in time: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/school-history/Hillsdale.html.
MESSAGES FROM CLASSMATES
1962 GRAD RETIRED AND LIVING IN LONG BEACH
I worked for Norcrest China Company in Portland, Oregon from 1974-1976; I was a Transcriber Typist there. Later, from 1976 to 1985, I worked for First National Bank, later First Interstate Bank, as a Clerk Typist. After meeting my husband, Max Berry, just before Christmas in 1984, I moved to Long Beach, California in June 1985. Starting in September 1985, I worked for Kelly Services as a Clerk Typist/Transcription Typist for three months, after which I worked for the County of Los Angeles for 9 years as a Transcriber Typist. I hope to eventually do some part-time clerical work, combined with my Spanish or Political Science study at Portland State; I got a degree in Political Science from Portland State in 1966 and in Spanish in 1967. Edre Berry (Reese) '62
EXCHANGE STUDENT CHECKING BACK IN
I am retired now and will be very happy to get news from girls and boys who graduated in 1964 and also from Satohi Suzuki, the other AFS exchange student. I'd also like to hear from my teachers : Mr Botti, Mrs Guinazz, and Mr Stanton. Sincerely yours, Colette Grosse '64, Montlouis Sur Loire, France
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT REUNION
I missed the 40 year celebration but will make the 45 year. Dave Boutelle '69
IN MEMORY OF
KNOWN CLASSMATES/TEACHERS NO LONGER WITH US
Please send an email with details to Linda Doyle if you have an obituary that should be posted here. Below is a list of classmates who have passed away. Here are the names for those who have just been added to the list:
OFFICER WILLIAM "BILL" BROWN 1965
Read more about classmates, teachers, community members who have passed away...
REUNIONS
CLASS OF 2000 TO HOLD 10-YEAR REUNION ... AUGUST 21, 2010
CLASS OF 1990 TO HOLD 20-YEAR REUNION ... AUGUST 13-14, 2010
CLASS OF 1980 TO HOLD 30-YEAR REUNION ... JULY 30, 2010
CLASS OF 1970 TO HOLD 40-YEAR REUNION ... AUGUST 27, 2010
CLASS OF 1965 TO HOLD 45-YEAR REUNION ... JUNE 18, 2010
CLASS OF 1960 TO HOLD 50-YEAR REUNION ... SEPTEMBER 10-11-12, 2010
CLASS OF 1957 HOLDS PICNIC ... AUGUST 14, 2010
CASUAL GET TOGETHER PLANNED FOR HAYHURST ALUMNI ... MARCH 13, 2010
Classmates are organizing a casual get together for Hayhurst Alumni from the 1970s who graduated from Wilson in 1982, 1983, and 1984. The event will take place at the Raccoon Lodge restaurant in Portland in the Raleigh Hills area on Saturday, March 13 at 6:30pm. Questions, contact Linda DeLong @ salad.delong@verizon.net or 503-538-7516.
Click here for all the reunions and the latest details.
CURRENT STUDENT BODY
There are so many ways to support the current Wilson High School students. You can contribute to individual programs, you can attend athletic and performing arts events, or you can volunteer to help clean up the campus, just to name a few. If you would like to help the next generation of Wilson graduations, please contact Erica Meyers, WHS Business Manager, at emeyers@pps.k12.or.us.
WILSON PLANT AND ORGANIC VEGETABLE SALE sponsored by Wilson PTA
Attention All Gardeners! Do not miss Wilson's Spring Plant and Organic Vegetable Sale Fundraiser! Spring is the perfect time to plant, then sit back and wait for the explosion of color. These are great presents for Mother's Day. Select from a wide variety of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, planters, and organic vegetables in all price ranges! Proceeds from your order will go to your favorite group/program at Wilson. Click here to get a copy of the order form. Questions, contact Linda Doyle at lsdoyle@earthlink.net.
Plant Sale begins......Monday, March 29, 2010
Plant Sale ends........Friday, April 9, 2010
Delivery Date..........Friday, May 7, 2010. Pick-up Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location.................Wilson High School, 1151 SW Vermont, in the Foyer just inside the front door
HELP AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL STAY EXCELLENT - WILSON ALL-SCHOOL AUCTION, APRIL 10
Tickets on sale now! We’re all in this together. Email us today! wauction@pps.k12.or.us
· Order form attached or available on our web site at http://www.wilson.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/10325
· Sponsor a table of 10 for your Sport or Activity
· Tickets are $65 and cover the costs for dinner and wine
· Can't make it? Buy a ticket and donate it to a current Wilson teacher
Procure for your favorite sport or activity!
· Groups receive the funds from the items they procure
· Plan a party or put together a basket
· Can't make it? Donate an item for the auction
WILSON HIGH SCHOOL PRESCHOOL NOW ENROLLING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
The Wilson High School Preschool is now enrolling for the 2010-2011 school year. The Wilson High School Preschool Program gives Wilson students the opportunity to learn and implement developmentally appropriate practices and creative curriculum to 3-5 year old children. Under the direction of a certified teacher, preschoolers work one-on-one with mentor students giving both the high school student and the preschooler a beneficial learning experience. Please visit our website for more information http://www.wilson.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/10277.
STAY IN TOUCH
WWHS ALUMNI - WEBSITE
Check out the WWHS Alumni website and don't forget to complete the simple online form to join the WWHS Alumni database. To help us reach as many graduates as possible, please consider adding the link to our website (http://www.wilsonalumni.com/) from your website. Pass the word along to your Wilson High School classmates about the Wilson High School Alumni website and the opportunity to register. Tell your friends.
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