Volume Spring2012 2014 Volume 18.220 Spring
a publication of the
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
1101 South 90th Street Omaha, NE 68124 | 402.390.2183 | westside66.org
Westside's Athletic Legacy To Be Etched in Stone at Champions Plaza Outstanding athletes, coaches, state championships, Westside's athletic legacy that's what alumni, fans and players think of when they walk through the gates of Westside's stadium. And now that will all become a permanent part of the stadium. The Westside Foundation is currently engaged in a fundraising effort to update the stadium entrance at Westside High School. Champions Plaza will honor Westside state athletic championships, great sports moments, and bring expanded restrooms and a concessions stand to the facility.
"We will be putting a new front door on our stadium and everyone who walks in there will know 'this is our house'." In 2003-04, the Westside Foundation renovated the stadium but didn’t have enough money to add new restrooms or concessions. Champions Plaza will be constructed this summer with much of it slated to be built by businesses with Westside ties. “We will be putting a new front door on our stadium and everyone who walks in there will know ‘this is our house’,” stated Foundation Board President, Sue Seline. “The plaza will have two 13-foot tall walls which will honor Westside’s great teams of the past, plus leave room for future success.” The $650,000 renovation will also include doubling the current number of restrooms, tripling the size of the north concession stand, adding a family restroom and creating space for drinking fountains as well as an ADA approved picnic area. "The stadium is full of great memories. Many student athletes have given 110 percent there. With this plaza, our alumni will now have a way to remember those memories or salute a past coach or teammate by sponsoring a brick to something much bigger."
Champions Plaza will welcome fans and guests as they enter in the stadium. State Championships will be recognized, as well as more restrooms and an expanded and concessions stand.
A unique aspect to this project is that students will be involved in the build wherever possible. The Architecture 2 class presented to local professionals their designs for the best concession stand. Art classes are discussing potential murals. “It is getting harder and harder to find skilled masons, carpenters, painters, plumbers and electricians. We want to expose students to these career possibilities. Many Westside alumni have had great success in these fields and this is a way to spark interest for the next generation,” Seline said. The project will also have ramifications for Westside’s DECA students, who will benefit from increased westside alumni association
concession stand space. Construction will take place this summer and wrap up in time for the first home football game in September. For more information about Champions Plaza, contact Laura Iliff at liliff@westside66.org or visit the Foundation's website at www.wcsfoundation66.org.
REUNIONS
Class reunions are fast approaching! Sue Coyne Gausden (scgplus3@cox.net), Karin Stay up-to-date on your reunion at Milnes Menghini (kmenghini52@hotmail. com), Dorothy Davis Morrow (dorothydavis. www.alumni.wcsfoundation66.org morrow@gmail.com).
1959
55 Year
October 3-5, 2014 The Class of 1959 is planning to attend the Westside Football Game on Friday night followed by dinner. On Saturday, a tour of the school, an evening cocktail hour, dinner and social activities are planned, as well as brunch on Sunday. Please update your profiles and information to keep up-to-date on the weekend activities at www.Westside-59.com
1979
35 Year
1984
30 year
June 27-28, 2014 Contact Marcie Hagery Berguist (mebergq@ cox.net) or on Facebook (Westside Class of 1979 Reunion).
June 27-28, 2014 On June 27, 2014 the Class of ’84 will have a golf outing followed by a casual gathering at Fox and Hound, 506 N. 20th Street at 7:30 p.m. 50 year On June 28, the class will meet at Embassy August 1-2, 2014 Weekend activities include Friday night, Suites LaVista, 12520 Westport Parkway at August 1st at Regency Lake & Tennis Club, 606 6:30 p.m. All information can be found at Regency Parkway. Saturday night activities will westsideclassof1984.webs.com or contact Lisa be at Happy Hollow Country Club, 1701 South Patterson Anderson (lisaclassof1984@aol.com). 105th. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at 25 year the Regency Lodge, 909 South 107th Avenue. July 18 - 19, 2014 Call 402-397-8000 for reservations. Contact The weekend begins Friday, July 18 at Jones Dan Loring (danforth@cox.net) and Susie Bros. Cupcakes (Aksarben Village) at 7 p.m. On Parks Baechle (spbaechle@gmail.com) for more Saturday, July 19 join in for the school tour at information or go to www.westside-64.com 10 a.m. and Family Picnic at Elmwood Park at noon. Please bring your own lunch. More info on Facebook (Westside Class of 1989 Reunion). 45 year Join the Class of 1969 on September 27, 2014 at the Regency Lake & Tennis Club. Contact 20 Year Jeanne Backlund (jlbneb@gmail.com) or Debbie August 8, 2014 Wilbeck (dwilbeck@cox.net) for more info. A gathering is planned at The Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill (501 N 13th St) the evening of the 8th. Please contact Kjirsten Jessen Finnegan 40 year (kjirstenj@yahoo.com or 402-312-9955) or on July 25-26, 2014 A golf outing as well as a casual meet-and- Facebook (www.facebook.com/whs94reunion) greet at the Redeye Tavern is scheduled for for more information. Friday, July 25. On Saturday, July 26 a WHS tour is scheduled for the morning followed Plans are unknown for the following classes: by a dinner at Champions Run Club House. 1999 – 15 Year Updated information will be posted on the class 2004 - 10 Year Facebook page, Omaha Westside Class of 1974. 2009 - 5 Year Please contact the following classmates with Please email alumni@westside66.org to set up questions: Steve Davis (DavisSteve74@aol.com), your class reunion.
1964
1989
1969
1994
1974
t we nty-f ir st
Get a
BLAST FROM THE PAST
with the online archive of The Shield and The Lance! Sponsor a yearbook or newspaper to open up memories from your time at Westside High School. Go to www.wcsfoundation66.org and click on Resources to see all sponsored yearbooks and newspapers today. If your year isn't there, consider sponsoring your yearbook or newspaper!
In Rememberance
The Westside Alumni Association now honors and recognizes all deceased alumni online at www.alumni.wcsfoundation66.org.
Annu al
Westside Open
hall of fame golf outing june 30, 2014
Registration Now Open! www.westsidegolf .c om 2 | westside alumni association
at The Players Club
Twenty-Four Hours to donate for Omaha Gives! The Omaha Community Foundation is gearing up for Omaha Gives - the second annual charitable Omaha holiday. On Wednesday, May 21st from midnight to midnight, you have 24 hours to support the causes you care about by making a donation of $10 or more to nonprofits that serve Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties. The Westside Foundation is on board again this year to raise money through Omaha Gives. The Omaha Community Foundation has set up an online platform at omahagives24. org with searchable profiles of participating nonprofits and a leaderboard on the day of the event. All donations will be processed through this website. Anyone can donate through Omaha Gives on May 21 from midnight to midnight via omahagives24.org or through a link at www.wcsfoundation66.org. Last year, the first annual event raised over $3 million for local nonprofits. The Westside Foundation raised $14,700 in last year's campaign and received $3,700 in matching funds from the Omaha Community Foundation. The Westside Foundation put the money raised last year towards programs and
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 The Westside Community Schools Foundation will be participating in this year's Omaha Gives on Wednesday, May 21. The Westside Foundation would appreciate your donations to help support programs and projects within the Westside School District.
projects in the District such as classroom grants, teacher recognition and facility improvement. The Foundation hopes to raise even more this year to continue to help fund the oustanding work being done by students and teachers in the District. Mark your calendar for May 21 to help raise money for the Westside 66 District!
Congratulations Class of 2014! We are honored to have you as new members of the Westside Alumni Association
Nominations Requested for Westside Alumni Hall of Fame
support the
Westside Open become a sponsor! Go to
www.westsidegolf.com to see a list of sponsorship opportunties. Consider becoming a hole sponsor or donating a raffle prize. Contact Lindsey at alumni@westside66.org for more details. Your help is appreciated!
Every two years, Westside Community Schools and the Westside Alumni Association honor outstanding graduates and boosters by inducting them into the Westside Alumni Association Hall of Fame. The next Hall of Fame event will be held in the Fall of 2014. We want to honor Westside graduates who have made significant professional accomplishments and/or boosters who have made noteworthy contributions or service to Westside. In 2012, Hall of Fame inductees were Jacquie Estee (᾽68), Kristin Grady-Gilger (᾽71), and Karen Sokolof Javitch (᾽68). The Alumni Association is accepting nominations through September 1, 2014. Details about the nomination process, as well as the nomination form, are available on our website at www.alumni.wcsfoundation66.org under Alumni Happenings. A maximum of
2012 Hall of Fame Inductees at the Hall of Fame event with Superintendent Blane McCann
four inductees can be chosen and alumni can be nominated posthumously. If you have any questions about the process, feel free to contact the alumni office at alumni@ westside66.org. We look forward to partnering with you to honor our Alumni and loyal supporters!
stay connected with Westside
Update your contact information online at www.alumni.wcsfoundation66.org
westside alumni association | 3
Westside Community Schools
Westside Alumni Association
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
909 South 76th Street Omaha, NE 68114-4599
PAID PERMIT NO. 861 OMAHA, NE 68124
westside alumni association
2014 Board of Directors
Westside Alumni Association The “W” Newsletter Westside Alumni Association 909 South 76th Street Omaha, NE 68114-4599
402.390.2183 (Voicemail) 402.390.2177 (Fax) alumni@westside66.org (Email)
President:
directors:
Jason Hellman, ’90
Rick Berkshire, ’72
Martha (Williams) Nielsen, ’82
Vice President:
Mark Dudley, ’73
Rob Owen, ’87
John Hoich, ’76
Mike Guinane, ’74
Mark Sempek, ’80
Rob Laughlin, ’75
Tom Thompson, ’83
Beth (Williams) Leach, ’98
Meagan (Davis) VanGelder, ’88
Kristin Lynch, ’89
David Williams, ’82
TREASURER: Marc Lowe, ’76 SECRETARY:
Nick Mazgaj, ’01
Phyllis (Donaldson) Choat, ’65 Debbie (Moss) McGrew, ’88
Support Your Alumni Association If you would like to make a donation to the Alumni Association, please mail your donation, payable to “Westside Alumni Association”, 1101 South 90th Street, Omaha, NE 68124. Your tax-deductible donation is appreciated.
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