Wilson HS ... now known as Ida B. Wells High School
Alumni Update - February, 2024
http://www.wilsonalumni.com
edited by Linda Doyle
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
NEW CBS COMEDY SERIES CREATED BY SCOTT PRENDERGAST ’88
Created by our very own Scott Prendergast ’88, SO HELP ME TODD is a new CBS comedy series that premiered in 2022 and has now returned with a 2nd season. Set in Portland the series is based and filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia but is filled with local Portland-area references. Prendergast is “hoping to get a 3rd season of 22 episodes. And if we do - I am really hoping to get down to Portland to shoot some scenes with our actors on location.”
Photo of Scott Prendergast, courtesy Lindsay Siu, CBS
Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden stars as attorney and mother Margaret Wright, and Skylar Astin from the movie Pitch Perfect stars as Todd, the talented but aimless son hired as the law firm’s new in-house investigator. Todd’s character attended Wilson High School in the series. According to Kristi Turnquist (The Oregonian), Prendergast says that, “while he drew from his relationship with his real mother in creating the characters of Todd and Margaret Wright, other characters are fictional, though solidly placed in Portland.”
Photo of Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden, courtesy CBS
Prendergast tells us that “the 2nd season premiere of SO HELP ME TODD has a PHANTOM OF THE OPERA theme running through it - partially because the student who played Dorothy to my Scarecrow in WIZARD OF OZ at Wilson High School was fellow student Kelly Grant (Hedtke) ‘88 - who was in PHANTOM on Broadway. And I was following her on Instagram and reading about the show and started learning more about the story and that found its way into my show.”
 1988.png)
Photo of Kelly Grant (Hedtke) ’88, courtesy Broadway Rose Theatre Company
We last heard from Prendergast in 2007 when he premiered his first feature film, KABLUEY, at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The film stars Lisa Kudrow as his sister-in-law. Stephen Farber from the Hollywood Reporter stated “working in the tradition of Chaplin, Keaton, Tati or the Woody Allen of Sleeper, Prendergast makes a striking debut with Kabluey.”
When asked about high school, Prendergast remembers Wilson drama teacher Julie Accuardi. He says, “my career is directly tied to the support Julie Accuardi gave to me in the drama department. She believed in me, encouraged me. I am always hoping to make her proud. I want her to like the show! We are going to have to name a vicious serial murderer after her one of these days…”
Photo of Julie Accuardi, courtesy Wilson HS Yearbook
"When I was at Wilson I was so heavily involved in the drama department. Three shows a year and the Improv Marathon. I found my home in Room 108. And I was always wondering if I could make it in entertainment beyond Wilson, beyond Portland. But the things that helped me get here are the skills I learned in Room 108. Listening, trusting, keeping the audience's attention. Mrs. Accuardi doled out wisdom and stage notes with such casual elegance and honesty. I clearly remember her telling a student in class "During that scene I wanted to walk up onstage and take that book out of your hands. You weren't listening to your scene partner at all." And she was right! When she directed THE WIZARD OF OZ my senior year she created this incredible world onstage. There was the scene in the poppy field when it began to snow and it was so mesmerizing and enveloping. The kids onstage got to be in this incredible fantasy world for a short time every night. All those moments onstage and in Room 108 have stayed with me. The stages change but the truths don't. She knew what worked, what she wanted. Even as I write this, I'm realizing she was a director in her own right - creating shows and directing performances. She wasn't just a high school teacher. She was an artist - and a collaborator - showing us the way into a future in the arts. Watching her find moments that worked in WHERE'S CHARLEY - trusting me to play Charley - helping me to land the jokes. It was all so wonderful and good. Happy, happy days in Room 108.”
When reflecting on words of wisdom for current students, Prendergast says, "I think if you want a career in entertainment you have to really sacrifice a lot and keep trying. It's not easy, it's not quick. I struggled for years and years. You have to have a way to earn money and stay alive. And you have to KEEP WORKING even if it's just making short films on your phone. You can't work ONLY when you are being paid to work. You have to work to learn what you are good at and what you can do and how to tell a story.”
JOEL STOCKS '05 OPENS NEW RESTAURANT IN PORTLAND
Photo of Joel Stocks, courtesy L'Orange
Joel Stocks spent a lot of his high school years working at the restaurant JoPa in Southwest Portland. After graduating high school, Stocks attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York and has traveled the world working at restaurants Park Kitchen, Noble Rot, The French Laundry, Willow's Inn, The Bent Brick, 50 Plates, JoPa, Holdfast (a restaurant he co-owned and ran for nearly seven years), AND JEM Supper Club with his wife Emily. Now Stocks has opened another restaurant called L'Orange. It is a small wine-focused restaurant in Portland's Ladd's Addition neighborhood, 2005 SE 11th Ave and is open Monday through Saturday.
Stocks says that his, "favorite teachers would be Mr. Penk who I took AP Chemistry from and was the chemistry TA, and Mr. Zaraza who I took Physics from and haphazardly sat in on his AP Physics classes quite frequently. Zaraza holds the record for dining at Holdfast more than any other customer, and is already a great diner at L’Orange."
Advice for current students, Stocks reflects, "is that, it may be cliche, but if you have a passion for something, don’t feel like you have to follow the traditional route of setting up your life. Figure out a way to turn your passion into a career and your life will be much more fulfilling."
There is a place for you at the table at L'Orange, so reach out and make a reservation. Who knows how many other Wilson folk you may run into while dining.
CLASS OF 1972 TO HOLD MAPLEWOOD ES CLASS OF 1968 REUNION
We are trying to put together a reunion for Maplewood’s class of 1968, which would be Wilson High class of 1972. We are having trouble locating students from Maplewood. We sent out a notice to Wilson Class of 1972, so we’re expanding. If any of you know of any Maplewood students of 1968, please let us know or pass our information on to them!
Thank you,
Diane (Scuito) Kleve '72: Klevfam@gmail.com
Kay (Starkey) Ellison '72: Ellisonka@yahoo.com
Debbie (Rand) Turney '72: Dturney1@yahoo.com
NEW HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Congratulations to Wilson 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees
Julie Scherr Class 1985
5 Time Letter Winner
2 x Volleyball
3 x Basketball
2 x 1st Team All PIL
1st Team All State
MVP State Tournament
Post High School - University of New Orleans Basketball
Cory Nakata Class 1995
8 Time Letter Winner
3 x Softball
3 x Volleyball
2 x Basketball
2 x 1st Team PIL Volleyball
1st Team PIL Softball
2 x All State Softball
PIL Softball MVP
Post High School - Yale University Softball
David Jackson Class 1996
6 Time Letter Winner
4 x Basketball
2 x Football
2 x 1st Team PIL Basketball
2 x All State Basketball
3rd Team Parade All-American
Post High School - University of Utah Basketball, University of Oregon Basketball
Lisa Gunderson Class 2000
8 Time Letter Winner
4 x Track
3 x Basketball
1 x Swimming
2 x 1st Team PIL Track
2 x PIL Champion High Jump
Pil Champion Pole Vault
State Champion High Jump
Post High School - 2007 PSU Athlete of the Year
Joe Bozikovich Class of 2004
8 Time Letter Winner
4 x Football
3 x Track
1 x Wrestling
2000 2nd Team All PIL
2001 1st Team D-Line, 2nd Team O-Line
2002 1st Team D-Line, 2nd Team O-Line
2002 PIL Defensive Player of the Year
2002 3rd Team All-State
2003 1st Team O-Line and D-Line
2003 PIL Defensive Player of the Year
2003 1st Team All-State D-Line
2003 2nd Team All-State O-Line
Post High School - Boise State Football
Austin Andrews Class of 2013
7 Time Letter Winner
4 x Soccer
3 x Baseball
3 x 1st Team PIL Baseball
2nd Team PIL Baseball
2 x Honorable Mention Soccer
2012 State Champions Baseball
Rawlings 2nd Team All American Baseball
Post High School - Western Nevada Baseball
PIL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES OF THE MONTH
Profile written by Dick Baltus (Wilson, 1973)
.png)
Congratulations to Gwen Olson Rhodes (Jackson 1982)
According to Dick Baltus '73, Gwen was a "4-year letter winner in track & field; Qualified for hurdles at State 1980-82, was 1982 PIL champion 100-m and 300-m hurdles as a senior; holds the Jackson school record in both events. 1982 team won PIL championship. 3-year letter winner in soccer, 2nd team All-PIL as junior. 2-years of JV Basketball. Rhodes left Jackson holding the school’s fastest-ever times in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. As a senior, she also had set a then-PIL record in the 300-meter hurdles. Read the full story at: https://pilhalloffame.org/members-of-the-month/gwen-olson-rhodes/.
Do you have any stats you would like us to remember and document on the alumni website? Send your details to Linda Doyle.
RECALLING GREAT MEMORIES THROUGH STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
If you would like to share stories and/or photographs with names, places/events, and the year, please send them to Linda Doyle: Lsdoyle@earthlink.net. So, make sure to look for RECALLING GREAT MEMORIES THROUGH STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS in every alumni e-newsletter.
SEND YOUR UPDATES
Send us the details on where/what you have been doing since graduation from Ida B. Wells/Wilson, and we'll post in an upcoming IBW-WWHS Alumni Update e-newsletter. Send details to Linda Doyle.
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:
JEAN ELLISON HAND '76
TODD NOACK '70
STEVEN CRAMER '68
JOHN RIEKE '71
MIKE BLOOM '72
SUSAN SHULA (SANTELL) ’78
RICHARD FORSTER JR. '74
LAURA BEEBE (PETERSEN) '61
MARY ENGEL '73
PAUL DUNCAN '72
JACK MALCOM DUNCAN JR '64
ARTHUR LOWELL '63
BOB BRISBAN '67
JAY ERWIN '61
PAUL ROGERS '71
HARRY HARPER '65
CHERYL WACKER HEWITT '74
TERRY LEE VARISCO '66
TONY VARISCO '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.
REUNIONS
GET ALL THE DETAILS ... updates to reunions are happening all the time, so make sure to check out upcoming reunions at: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/reunions.htm.
MILITARY SERVICE
GRADUATES WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Please check out the IBW-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/Ida B Wells:
Military branch:
Years of service:
Service description:
Photo (optional):
Do you give permission to post this information on our website (required):
WWHS (now known as IDA B. WELLS) ALUMNI
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
Wilson High School (now known as IDA B. WELLS HS) ALUMNI
- WEBSITE
Check out the 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 (now Ida B. Wells) High School classmates about the Alumni website and the opportunity to register. Tell your friends.
UNSUBSCRIBE
If you are receiving the Wilson HS (now Ida B. Wells) 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.