Front row, left to right: Maria Gonzalez (Mavis Lukson Scholarship); Martha Molina (English Department Scholarship); Tangi Brantley (Nancy Tully Memorial/Business Scholarship); Jaimee Wood (Turnaround Scholarship); and ZamZam Abdulgani (Harry Lemon Memorial Scholarship).
Middle row: Alex Lopez-Wilson(McEachern Family Foundation/Fine Art Scholarship); Audrey Arbow (Dr. Uli and Gayle Chi Math Scholarship); Melvin Hortman (Social Studies and Turnaround Scholarships); Lan Ahn Nguyen (Mavis Lukson Scholarship); and Victor Madura (Linn, Schisel, Demarco Scholarship).
Back Row: Patrick Ufkes (Dr. Alan Gunsul Scholarship); Walter Guity (Emily Nishimura Herod Scholarship); John Koch (Science and Linn, Schisel, Demarco Scholarships); and Sam Vicklund (Dick Dahlgard Memorial Photography Scholarship).
Not pictured: Karla Belmonte (World Language Scholarship).
HHS Alumni Foundation President Howard Call
From the Pres… Howard Call, Class of ‘57
Do others know Highline High School has an Alumni Foundation? You are receiving this because you obviously know about the enrichment graduating Seniors receive from the Foundation’s scholarships, giving them a little jump-start toward a vocation or college degree. We'd like you to spread the word about memberships, donations, and estate giving. Amazingly, one mention leads to another, then another; until like weeds in your garden, you've got a bumper crop. Imagine the numbers’ growth - as rabbits in the bush, fruit flies in a jar, mold in a dish, or diseases of nations deprived. Like father, like son or daughter, ten thousand of you, averaging twenty-five dollars a year, would provide a quarter million dollars annually. All contributions are tax deductible. The likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and others prompt goodwill donations, lighting up the lives of and opening opportunities for many. Currently the Alumni Foundation funds scholarships for each curriculum department and gives special awards for volunteerism, citizenship and student involvement. We sponsor scholarships for a boy and girl who "right their ship" between eighth grade and graduation, for those needing funds to participate in school extracurricular programs, and for the new Robotics Team at Highline High, among many others. You can be the spark that fuels our growth from hundreds to thousands and perhaps reach out to even thirty thousand Pirate graduates. Thank you, and do visit our website for additional Alumni information.
The Highline High School Alumni Foundation Golf Tournament has a new venue for 2012. Because of scheduling conflicts with the Auburn Golf Course, this year’s event will be held at Washington National Golf Course Friday, August 17th. Check-in time is 7:00 a.m. No-host breakfast in the clubhouse, driving range, and putting practice available if you wish at 6:30 a.m. Actual tee times anticipated at about 7:25 a.m. Lunch and awards will follow after the shotgun scramble event concludes at about 12:30-1:00 p.m. Directions, registration information, and additional details obtained by contacting Cathy Low at 206-244-3044 or Howard Call at 253-941-5139. Put together your foursome to reserve your space. Driving range, golf, cart, lunch, and awards just $75.00 per person. Enter now and support your Highline High School Alumni Foundation Scholarship fund!
If Your Lucky You Can Come Away With the Big Prize Next Year!
What Highline Means to Me
by ZamZam Abdulgani, winner of 2011 Harry Lemon Memorial Scholarship
It’s an old school, with a brick façade and a stained glass window at the front that’s only visible at night. Not until my junior year did I even realize the glass window held our mascot, a pirate. It’s a simple, historical landmark on 152nd. It’s my school, our school; I’ve spent over half my time these last four years at Highline High School. The pep rallies and football games where the real pirates showed their spirit, the assemblies, the dances, the club meetings, the whole shebang; I loved it. It was an amazing high school experience, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the most amazing people here. Yet, the biggest thing I’ll take away from these last four years is the sense of community.
Highline isn’t only a community in the sense that we all attend school together and live in the same area. Our school is filled with a caring and considerate staff and a diverse student population who can still come together to help each other. To me, Highline means a respecting population who can still come together to help each other. To me, Highline means respecting your peers whether your opinion differs from theirs or whether you come from completely different walks of life. Highline taught me responsibility, especially in consequences. I came into the school set in stone, not willing to share with others or change my ways. However, the events I’ve experienced with the people here have changed me for a lifetime.
My junior year of high school I lost someone close to me to cancer and I felt completely alone. I couldn’t stay home, so I went to school, acted like I was fine. One question from my APUSH teacher, a certain Rex Post, was all it took. "How are you?" That was all it took for me to break down and cry, for the first time in public, I was scared and embarrassed…but everyone was there for me, teachers, peers, my amazing counselor, Ms. Amanda Zuber. Highline, for me at least, is a school filled with compassion for others. Highline has taught me that life is about trusting your feelings and taking chances, losing and finding happiness, appreciating the memories and learning from the past.
Have inquiries, articles, pictures, ideas, updates for our website?
Contact Michele (Ham) Miller ’78 - Memill59@comcast.net
Through the Spyglass...
Who do you know that knows your mother or father or your sister or brother that graduated from Highline High School? Maybe it's a neighbor or someone who has moved to another location. Perhaps you have a working relationship or landlord/tenant association leading back to Pirate Ville. At a construction site recently, I had opportunity to exchange names and converse with a gentleman in a fancy pick-up truck about the construction site, permits, politics, city regulations, improvements, taxes, timing, delays, infractions, expectations, and whatever. As we were about to depart--he going one way, I another, I discovered he had graduated from a neighboring high school. Further discourse revealed that his father was a graduate of Highline High School. At this point we reintroduced ourselves and clarified the paternal name. Additional questioning uncovered the year his parent had graduated and what do you know, it was the same as this writer. Yes, his father and I graduated the same day back in 1957. Suddenly people familiar to both of us flowed as he recalled his father throwing around names from fifty-five years ago, some of which I'd known since elementary school. The world is full of small coincidences and roots that bring back memories. As we finally departed, I encouraged him to remind his dad of the Class of '57 mini one- evening pizza engagement on August 17, 2012. Would liked to have talked more, but this young guy is a working man and the construction needs to progress. Speak to each other---you never know when or where a friend might suddenly emerge.
Lieutenant Colonel Vickie D. (Mitalas) Stenfors, Class of 1986
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Vickie D. Stenfors, from Seattle, Wash., speaks to an audience of almost 100 deployed Soldiers during a women's equality day observance at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Aug. 26, 2008. (Photo by Dustin Senger)
Lieutenant Colonel Stenfors was born in Seattle, Washington, attended the United States Military academy at West Point from 1986-1990. Upon graduation, she was commissioned as a Quartermaster Corps officer. She completed the Master Fitness Course, Quartermaster Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, Support Operations Course, CGSOC, and the Inspector General course.
Her first assignment as a platoon leader was in Germany, with C Co, 118th FSB in Mainz, followed by A Co, 708th MSB/125th MSB in Dexheim and Bad Kreuznach. In 1994 she took command of the Dallas Recruiting Company for two years, a challenging time as the Army was finishing a draw down of personnel. She was then stationed at Ft Stewart, Georgia, with the 3ID(M) ACofS G4 office, with duties as the Chief, Supply and Maintenance. In 1998 she and her husband Jeff moved to Ft Drum, NY, where she took command of the 590th Field Service Company, 548th CSB, 10th Mtn Div (LI) for almost two years. Following her company command she became the battalion S3 and was promoted to Major. During her assignment in Korea, she held two jobs, the first as a plans officer for the 19th Theater Support Command and the second as the operations officer for the Base Operations office, a position normally held by an engineer officer. She served for one year as a curriculum planner and guest speaker coordinator for CGSC at Ft Leavenworth, KS, during the interesting year of the pilot program now known as Intermediate Level Education. From there was a two-year assignment at Ft Lewis, WA as the Group S4 of the 6th MP Group (CID). In 2005, she became Chief, Logistics Branch Proponency Office, Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), Ft Lee, VA, executing the plan for the creation of the Logistics branch. From August 2008 through August 2009, she deployed to Camp As Sayliyah as the Director of Logistics, Area Support Group-Qatar. Upon her return, she was nominated to be the Command Inspector General for CASCSOM & ScoE, Ft Lee, VA, where she will serve until her retirement.
LTC Stenfors’ awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Army Recruiting Badge.
LTC Stenfors has been married to LTC(R) Jeff Stenfors for fourteens years. They have two children, Katherine (&), and Michael (5).
Congratulations, Lieutenant Colonel Stenfors.
Thank you for your service to our Country!
Vickie will be honored at this year’s Senior Reception, June 7th at HHS
Past Alumnus of the Year Honorees
2007 - Dick Dahlgard 1954
2008 - Dr. Jim Rice 1963
2009 - Patti Burgess 1954
2010 - William Odekirk 1954
2011 - Uli Chi 1972
2012 Vickie Stenfors 1986
ALUMNUS/ALUMNI
We used to have “alumnus” (male singular), “alumni” (male plural), “alumna” (female singular) and “alumnae” (female plural); but the latter two are now popular only among older female graduates, with the first two terms becoming unisex. However, it is still important to distinguish between one alumnus and a stadium full of alumni. Never say, “I am an alumni” if you don’t want to cast discredit on your school. Many avoid the whole problem by resorting to the informal abbreviation “alum.”
From Paul Brians Common Errors in English Usage
2011 Highline High School Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees
L-R David Schever, Dr. James Rice, Leo Kuehn, Mick Michaelson
Dave Schever ’83 Football, Basketball, Baseball, West Pt.
Dr. James Rice ’63 Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Tennis and Team Doctor
