WELCOME BACK PENGUINS!

Open House Map
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Special Activities

CCCC/UHS Counselors: Inviting alumni to post on a “Where did UHS take you?” board
Dance/Allyson Yoder (former room of Braun/Cheeseman): Dance alumni photo at 3:30 pm
Library/Karen Mitchell: Yearbooks dating back to 1984
Room 106/Phillip Dukes: Applied Sustainability OPEN
Room 118/Leiba Schuneman  (former room of Serkowski/Roberts): OPEN
Lower Level 4/Ilan Davidowitz Sheets (former room of Sheets/Clifford): OPEN
Lower Level 5/Ben Ancharski and Adam Velasco  (former room of Hosmer/Stuart): OPEN
Loower Level 6/Jacob Ollanik (former room of Lazarewicz/Lerch): OPEN
Lower Level 8/Matt Trouard (former room of Karlowicz/Tully) OPEN- Tell us about your mock election party
Room 400/Kerstin Meyers OPEN-Inviting German class alumni to post on display board
P-17/Kerry Balzer (former room of Herring): OPEN
T-8/Mike Schmidt: Maker Space OPEN
Alumni Patio: New alumni mosaic on display
Central Campus: Selfie Station with Pablo the Penguin

UHS Hall of Fame Ceremony Program
5:30 in the auditorium

Opening Remarks         

Emcee Chris Baker ’89, UHSFAA President

Recognition of 2024 Hall of Fame Recipient

Kris Tully      *Introduced by Kerry Balzer  *Received by Kris Tully and her daughter Meg Tully

2026 Hall of Fame

Tim Reckart ‘05     *Introduced by Mike Schmidt

Hank Pilote             *Introduced by Chris Baker

Germán Aguilar ‘97 *Introduced by Amanda Rohrbach ‘97      *Received by his mother Rita Sanchez

Erica Pan ‘88  (not present)  *Introduced by Chris Baker ‘89

Jack Nolan               *Introduced by John Hosmer

Francisco Aguilar ‘95 *Introduced by Bruce Burke (Past TUSD Board and past UHS parent)

Carol Ditsch              *Introduced by Paul Karlowicz

Liz Bowman Baker ‘06 *Introduced by Leiba Schuneman ‘96

Lois Blondeau             *Introduced by Liz Bowman Baker ‘06      *Received by her husband Randy Blondeau

Oscar Morales            *Introduced and received by his son, Jose Morales ‘86

TIME TO GET ENERGIZED

Cathy Nichols ‘88          *Introduced by Claire Knipe ‘16

Shery Milo                       *Introduced by Cathy Nichols ‘88                *Received by Jami Proctor Xu ‘92

Gabrielle Giffords ‘88    Video     *Introduced by Emily Nottingham and Cathy Nichols ’88

Gabe Zimmerman ‘98    *Introduced by Gabrielle Giffords ‘88 and Cathy Nichols ‘88    *Received by his parents Emily Nottingham and Ross Zimmerman

Pat Yovonovitz  (not present)  *Introduced by Leiba Schuneman ‘96

Patrick McAndrew          *Introduced by Connor Mendenhall ‘06     *Received by his sons Wes and Chris McAndrews

Eileen Sherlock (not present)     *Introduced by Jack Nolan

Al Eichelberger                *Introduced by Berry Roberts                         * Received by his husband Bill Schoening

John Hosmer                     *Introduced by Ben Ancharski ‘17 (current APUSH teacher)

Final Thank You Comments

 Chris Baker

One Last Thank You

 John Hosmer

See some of you tomorrow!

See some of you tomorrow at the brunch for Dr. John Hosmer with special guests Paul Karlowicz, Jack Nolan, Sarah Stuart and emcee James Martin (’89 and past faculty)! There are a limited number of tickets left!

A Message from the UHSFAA Board

The UHS Foundation was initially created in the early 2000’s to serve as a non-profit entity that could accept a planned gift from the estate of Hank and Angelina Pilote. That gift has provided an annual college scholarship for one UHS student since its inception. 

For several years after that, the UHS Foundation volunteer members supported the school providing supplies and volunteer time.  Around 2014 the name was changed to the UHS Foundation and Alumni Association.   At that time, the purpose was refined to focus on sustainable resourcing for students and the classroom, and a pledge was made that only alumni (not current families) would be solicited, in order to differentiate itself from the mission of the UHS Parents Association.

Over the last decade the UHSFAA has been driven by several dedicated alumni.  They share a similar attitude: 

1. their experience at UHS was personally transformative
2. they believe that the power of public education is immeasurable, especially for first-generation college bound students
3. they know that UHS builds great citizens who are thoughtful, critical thinkers and make our country a better place

Today UHSFAA has built several sustained funds supporting students and faculty (see “Grants” on the UHSFAA website) and also has helped strengthen the UHS community through the Hall of Fame, alumni happy hours and professional networking.  It is an honor to be a penguin!

Thank you to these amazing sponsors!

UHSFAA Board Members

Officers
President: Chris Baker (’89, P ’26)
Secretary: Daniel Tellez (’09)
Treasurer: Darin Guthrie (’95)

Members
Randy Downer (‘81, P ’28)
Amy Hartmann-Gordon (’89, P ’27)
Michelle Mixer (’95)
Marcus Montaňo (’12)
Amanda (Karam) Rohrbach (’97, P ’28, P ’29)
Leiba Schuneman (’96, P’25, P’29, and Current Math Dept. Chair)
Kerri Sierra (’95)

Ex-Officio Board Members (Non-Voting)
Alberto Ranjel (’00)  (Principal)
Jason Miller (Assistant Principal)

* and thank you to all the alumni and UHS friends who have served on this board over the years since it began

A Special Thanks to Three Who Have Served UHSFAA For Over A Decade Each

Chris Baker ‘89
Darin Guthrie ‘95
Amy Hartmann-Gordon ‘89

What Does A UHSFAA Board Member Do?

Would you like to get involved?  The main functions handled by the all-volunteer board are:
     -financial stewardship
     -grant management and awards to students/faculty
     -annual appeal/fundraising
     -future Hall of Fame events or alumni networking
     -database and website management
     -point of communication for reunions

We invite you to go to “Our Track Record” at UHSFAA.org to see past annual reports and our history of giving.

50th Anniversary Event Planning Committee 

Co-Chairs: Amy Hartmann-Gordon and Leiba Schuneman

Alumni
Chris Baker
Randy Downer
Darin Guthrie
Amy Hartmann-Gordon
Michelle Mixer
Marcus Montaño
Amanda Rohrbach
Kerri Sierra

Staff
Laura Feigenbaum
Martina Kimball
Katrina Messing
Jason Miller
Leiba Schuneman (also alum)

* and many thanks to all UHS staff and students who volunteered this weekend

Hall of Fame Nomination Review Committee

Amy Hartmann-Gordon (‘89)
Paul Karlowicz (Retired faculty)
Alberto Ranjel (‘00, Current Principal)
Leiba Schuneman (‘96, faculty)
Alison Yoder (‘12, faculty)

It is our hope to present the next Hall of Fame in a few years (TBD).  UHS alumni are encouraged to nominate faculty and fellow alumni. Volunteers are needed to plan the event and be on the review committee! Is that YOU?

Legacy Gifts and Estate Planning

It is never too soon to document your desires for the future and to consider how to make a lasting impact. Are you a faculty member who has invested your career at UHS?  Or perhaps you are an alum who had a formative experience during UHS years.

As the Pilote family did, we encourage you to consider a legacy gift to UHSFAA which can sustain the future excellence of UHS and its graduates.  You might consider a scholarship in your name, or a gift that provides resources for the school. Consult your attorney.  Our non-profit tax identification number is 86-0862856.

About UHSFAA Funds

FOR STUDENTS
Keys-to-College Fund

Small scholarships to assist in accessing college. This fund assists students with fees associated with college entrance exams (such as the ACT and SAT), Advanced Placement tests, college applications, prep classes and school visits to in-state school.

Carolyn Kemmeries Memorial Student Micro Grant Fund

Grants to further educational development. In recognition of the tremendous contributions from former UHS Principal, Carolyn Kemmeries, the UHS Foundation and Alumni Association has named this fund in her honor.  Its purpose is to support UHS students, particularly those who are first generation college bound focused on building opportunities for themselves.  Kemmeries Student Micro Grants of up to $500 per student are awarded for projects or needs that further educational development. They are available at the discretion of the counseling department, and are based on available funds. Needs might include costs associated with internet access, academic supplies, travel, academic program fee or even meals for food-insecure students. These grants are meant for students in need or with extenuating circumstances and are meant to create opportunity and remove barriers.

FOR TEACHERS
Teacher and Classroom Success

Your donations go to provide supplies to be used in support of excellence in the classroom. Funds are allocated by department, and donors may select individual departments. Use of the funds is at the discretion of each department chair, with oversight from UHS administration and accountability to UHSFAA.

FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Principal’s Discretionary Fund

Competitive college preparatory schools around the country typically have resources available for recruitment events, alumni events and community building used to celebrate and build on the success of the school. This fund helps UHSFAA enhance the reputation of University High School by allowing its principal to provide resources where most needed.

ENDOWED FUND
The Pilote Scholarship

Dr. Henry Pilote was the second director at Special Projects from 1980 to 1985.  Pilote and his wife Angelina left a legacy gift in their will which is now stewarded by the UHSFAA. This scholarship is awarded to one student who best meets the criteria established by the Pilote family. It recognizes all-around excellence and achievement by a UHS senior.  Character, integrity, and leadership are among the criteria.  The scholarship is given to a recipient who is attending a four year accredited university.