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Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Update - March, 2017
http://www.wilsonalumni.com

edited by Linda Doyle

SCHOOL NEWS

WILSON AUCTION 2017
Tickets On Sale Now at https://wilson.schoolauction.net/2017
April 22, 2017, 6-10pm, PDX Sports Center, 8785 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy
Dinner, Party Sign-Ups, Silent Auction, Live Auction and more!
Please join us for this fun and informal event to raise money for Wilson High School teams and clubs, and the Wilson Foundation. This year’s theme is Parents Just Wanna Have Fun—80’s garb encouraged but by no means required, but you might want to be appropriately dressed for the 80’s dance party to follow the live auction!

WILSON HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
The Wilson Foundation raises money for additional staff and impacts every student in the school. Please consider signing up today for a recurring monthly donation of $10 or more. All monthly donors will receive a gift in appreciation for their support; for donors signing up to give $20 or more monthly we have a limited supply of PIL passes, good for one person for a year’s worth of free admission to all PIL athletic events. Establish a monthly donation or make a one-time contribution at https://allhandsraised.org/donate/. To learn more about the campaign and about the Wilson Foundation, read Principal’s Chatard’s recent letter to the Wilson community here, and thank you for your support!

IT'S SCHOLARSHIP SEASON @ WILSON - PLEASE DONATE TODAY
by Sue Stahl, Volunteer Coordinator, Wilson Scholarship Initiative
Greetings Wilson Alums, the outlook for Oregon high school graduates seeking financial aid for college remains grim. Sadly, there are only four states that provide less funding for higher education than Oregon.  This means our costs are high and financial aid is all important.  University of Oregon has approved a 10.6% increase in tuition for next year.  As our legislature continues to cut funding to state universities, the financial burden for college shifts to students and families.  The average college debt for Oregon college graduates in 2015 was $27,697, highlighting the need for additional funding resources.  Last year we launched the Wilson Community Scholarship Initiative to provide scholarships to our deserving graduates.  We were gratified to have support from many local businesses, Wilson alumnae, and others.  We gave 2 $1000 scholarships to Wilson graduates and plan to do the same this spring.  So I am asking for donations to move us toward our goal of a $50,000 endowment that will permanently endow scholarships for Wilson students. Thank you to all who supported our project last year. 

To join this year’s Scholarship Project, please Send a donation to: Wilson High School, Attn:  Sue Stahl. 1151 SW Vermont St, Portland, 97219.

or

Go to https://pps.schoolpay.com/pay/for/Scholarship/Id7CX for a direct donation.

We were truly gratified by the alumnae support of our scholarship fund in our first year.  It was wonderful to hear from alums, many of whom shared their experience at Wilson and their belief in giving back.  I hope we can depend on alum support again this year.  Alums contributed $3000 in 2015-16.  It would be great to double that this year.  Consider putting your class on the graph this year.  Go Trojans!


WHERE ARE THEY NOWWHERE AREHEY NOW?

1981 GRAD WINS OSCAR FOR ANIMATED FILM ZOOTOPIA

Photo ... Clark Spencer ... ... ... ......Photo ... Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer

Clark Spencer graduated from Wilson in 1981 and has gone on to become a successful American film producer, businessman and studio executive, best known for his work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. His latest success includes receiving a 2017 Oscar for co-producing the Academy Award winning Zootopia, this year's Best Animated Feature Film. After Wilson, Clark graduated from Harvard University in 1985 with a degree in history. His bio reads that he joined Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1993. He was director of planning but moved on to be senior vice president of finance and operations. He moved on to the Florida animation division of the company where he was the head of studio before becoming the producer of Lilo & Stitch. Since then, Spencer has gone on to also produce the Disney animated film Bolt, as well as Winnie the Pooh, and Wreck-It Ralph. Congratulations, Clark!
Click here to watch a video with Clark discussing Zootopia:
https://www.nytimes.com/video/movies/100000004222310/zootopia-clark-spencer-on-the-city-of-zootopia.html


1982 GRAD ... CRITICAL READER AND LOVER OF WORDS

Jenny Niemeyer (Long) graduated from Wilson in 1982. She attended University of Oregon and Portland State University, majoring in history. Jenny worked as a newspaper reporter and later as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and also has always done a variety of styles of art, and "even sold some of it," she says.

Jenny edited two memoirs Wolfer (2010) and Wolf Land (2016). Both cover her husband Carter Niemeyer's career as a trapper and biologist in the federal quest to reintroduce wolves to the American west. The book website is www.carterniemeyer.com. Jenny currently is co-authoring a history of Oregon prisons. Jenny's email is bottleflypress@gmail.com. Both books available at: https://www.amazon.com/Wolfer-Memoir-Carter-Niemeyer/dp/0984811303.

Jenny remembers Mr. Murray and Mr. Basaraba as being particularly influential English/writing teachers at Wilson. "They both encouraged individual thinking rather than conformity, and were always interested to hear my interpretations of things," she says and adds, "I encourage that same kind of thing for students today: figure out what you do best and do more of it"


KEEPS TWIRLING HER BATON

Patti Waitman-Ingebretsen (Ransom) graduated from Wilson in 1961. She was a majorette. In 2015, the Wilson Band Director, Nick Caldwell invited alumni band members and majorettes to the 2015 Homecoming Football game to play with the current student band. Patti showed up and twirled her baton, "it was an experience!" she says.

. Wilson football game ~ 1959 ... ...Wilson Homecoming 2015

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHOPS WITHOUT PLAYING A NOTE

According to Amazon.com, David Boe '75 is an author, musician and linguist, with a history of developing fresh, innovative ideas. His groundbreaking first book, How To Improve Your Chops Without Playing A Note, introduced a concept already widely accepted by athletes—cross training—into musical performance. Do you love playing the horn but can't put in enough hours to keep your chops in top shape? This little book describes simple isometric exercises that can help to keep your "face" in shape. And if you're already in great shape, this shortcut will make you even stronger; the best shape of your life. An updated YouTube video demonstration of the "Primary Exercise" may be seen here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3gyAVvuGXQ. "As musicians, our bodies are the primary, essential instrument," he said. "You can have the most beautiful instrument in the world, but if you don't have the chops to play it, it won't do you any good."  A lifelong musician, creative thinker and francophile, Mr. Boe has played the trumpet for almost 50 years. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Check it out at: https://www.amazon.com/HOW-TO-IMPROVE-YOUR-CHOPS-ebook/dp/B00AK12M5K.

..........................SHARE YOUR STOR

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.

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 just been added to the list:

GARY NORMAN YOUNG '66 killed in combat in Vietman in 1969
BRADLEY GEORGE BRAINARD SR. '58

J. DAVID RICHEN '58
GARY PHILIPS '59 (over 20 years ago)
SHARON LEE COLLINS '63
JACOB "JACK" LAUTERSTEIN DRIESEN '63
IRENE LANGSTON (CAPITOL HILL TEACHER)

BRIAN RICHARDSON '79
WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER HURST ‘65
ALLAN W. GRAY (WILSON TEACH, COACH)
GERALD ALLEN SWANSON '71
GIL D. TOLAN, MD '60
CARLO SPOSITO '59
CALDON R. NORMAN (COLLINS VIEW PRINCIPAL)

GREGORY W. MOORE '80
ELIZABETH AL. SAMSON '67
SCOTT R. SAMSON '70


Click on this link to read more about classmates, teachers, community members who have passed away... 
Once on the page, scroll down to find the class year.

 

UPCOMING REUNIONS 2016

CLASS OF 1962 ... September 16, 2017
CLASS OF 1965 ... September 16, 2017
CLASS OF 1967 ... August 4, 2017
CLASS OF 1977 ... July 22, 2017
CLASS OF 1992 ... July 15, 2017

... ALREADY HELD IN 2016
CLASS OF 1959 ... July 23, 2016
CLASS OF 1961 ... July 15, 2016
CLASS OF 1965 ... August 13 2016
CLASS OF 1966 ... September 24, 2016
CLASS OF 1971 ... September 24, 2016
CLASS OF 1976 ... August 6, 2016
CLASS OF 1991 ... July 30, 2016
CLASS OF 1996 ... August 5-6, 2016
CLASS OF 2006 ... September 24, 2016

GET ALL THE DETAILS about upcoming reunions at: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/reunions.htm



MILITARY SERVICE

WILSON GRADUATES WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY

Please check out the WWHS Military Alumni page and read all about our amazing military graduates. To add your name and information to the WWHS Military page, Send your information to Linda Doyle at LSDOYLE@EARTHLINK.NET.

Name:
Year graduated from Wilson:
Military branch:
Years of service:
Service description:
Photo (optional):
Do you give permission to post this information on our website (required):

 

NEW WWHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Alumni and community members are continuing to move forward to establish the WWHS Alumni Association.  Application process for tax-exempt status of association is progressing (with special thanks to Jack Bertell '58).  If you would like to join them, contact Jack Bertell '58.

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.

UNSUBSCRIBE
If you are receiving the WWHS Alumni Update, please make sure to add the following email address to your address book (lsdoyle@earthlink.net). This way your internet/email provider will not view the e-newsletter as spam. Thanks! If you would like to be removed from the list, just send an email to Linda Doyle.