Last year, Litzy Bautista was talking to a friend who attends Culver City high school and is part of this great program, Girls Build LA.  Girls Build LA is the local chapter of the organization co-chaired by Michelle Obama that challenges public middle and high school girls to make a difference in their communities and to make sure their voices are heard by their elected leaders.  The organization sponsored an event held at the Galen Center this year to help girls pre-register to vote, and Uni was able to send […]

As the librarian, I must confess I am not as avid a sports fan as the previous (and more skilled) writer of this report.  At some point this year, I began to realize that junior David Cheatom, as one of the three captains of the varsity basketball team, is big man on campus who plays guard and forward for our beloved Coach Ackerman.  From my perch on the third floor of the Administration Building in the library, David was not on my radar as our campus superstar speaks, and this speaks to […]

Erin Garcia, Class of ’88, is the managing curator of exhibitions for the California Historical Society, located in San Francisco. During the time that Erin was a student at Uni, she took photography with Arnie Rubinoff all three years. This passion for photography sparked here at Uni continued as she majored in Art History at Berkeley and earned a Master’s degree in Art History from The University in New Mexico with an emphasis on photography. She has recently an amazing exhibit called Boomtowns: How Photography Shaped Los Angeles and San […]

Ms. Vollmer is not a teacher who necessarily expected to be on the forefront of using technology in the classroom, but that is where she has found herself this year. This summer she pursued her longtime interest in psychology by taking a course at UCLA. In the class, students were asked to engage in online discussions using a forum similar to Facebook, wherein students posted short, informal essays and then responded to one another’s posts. Ms. Vollmer enjoyed this very much. This year Uni’s Instructional Leadership Team started off our […]

After winning SIX games in a row, girls Volleyball has advanced to the semi-finals with 18-13 winning record so far this season. Congratulations are in order to Coach Randick, Coach Alvarado, and of course the Girls Volleyball Team!

On October 5, Uni’s Junior Varsity Football team took down Venice with a 40-0 win. Sadly, our varsity Homecoming game was canceled due to rain. Was Hamilton scared off by our JV’s crushing victory the week before?  We will never know as Hamilton is not available for the make-up game. However, the dance must go on, and it did.  School spirit week was kicked off last Monday with college sweatshirt day and a performance by the drill team in The Grove.  By Friday, the gym was decorated with Hollywood Stars honoring […]

Congratulations to our football team on their first win against Rancho Dominguez HS! They turned things around with a decisive win of 53-13.  Highlights: Uni had two interceptions.  Daryl Smith, running back,  scored two back-to-back touchdowns after a flag.  Anthony Smith, wide receiver, scored a touchdown on an 80-yard pass. Congratulations go out to our varsity girls volleyball team, who secured a 3-1 victory over LACES Friday as well.

Below you can read the message from Uni’s new principal Claudia Middleton, who was welcomed back to Uni with standing ovation from the staff, most of whom remember her wonderful work during the year she was our assistant principal.  There are even a few staff who remember her from her earlier days working here in the nineties. “It is with great pleasure that I reunite and reintegrate myself into the University High School family.  I have been at Uni for approximately 10 years in my educational career. My initial work […]

Uni Beats the International Pass Rate for A.P. Seminar Uni’s first crop of Advanced Placement researchers returned from a summer of preparing for our new A.P. Research class.  Last year all of these students completed the pre-requisite year-long course, A.P. Seminar, in which they explored assigned topics through a variety of lenses.  Led by their teacher, Nancy Phear, Uni students beat students internationally with a pass rate of 87%, surpassing the international pass rate of 82.2%.  Students from all over the world in American Schools and Department of Justice schools […]

[Posted July 2, 2018] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

[Posted June 30, 2018] The purpose of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds to support University High School beyond what is provided by the Los Angeles Unified School District. The newest example is the creation of the Warriors and Wildcats Strength and Conditioning Center, made possible by The Lance Robbins Family, including Uni alumni Lance Robbins ‘65 and brother Stephen Robbins ‘62. The new facility will replace and expand the current weight-training room in the South Gym with world-class equipment from top-flight manufacturers including Life Fitness, Hammer, […]

[Posted June 27, 2018] School is out and Uni’s book donation program is taking a short break for the summer! Easily one of the best success stories for the Uni Hi Education Foundation over the past couple of years has been the library donation program which began in December of 2016. No one expected that a stunning 566 new books have been sent in by generous alumni and friends. And a new list of books will be posted once school comes back into session in August. Uni librarian Tascha Folsoi […]

[Posted June 25, 2018] A familiar face will be in the Principal’s Office at Uni this fall to replace the retiring Eric Davidson. It’s Claudia Middleton, who was a teacher assistant at Uni in 1993 and was most recently the Principal for two years at Whitman Continuation High School on the Fairfax High campus. The selection process was quite lengthy, with the Los Angeles Unified School District setting up a search committee that included four teachers, four parents, a non-teaching staff member and a student. Six candidates were interviewed and […]

[Posted June 20, 2018] Uni’s 16th principal, Eric Davidson, retired at the end of the school year, completing a remarkable 10-year run at Uni that began in the Fall of 2008. To say his tenure has been one of achievement would be an understatement. Consider the academic standing at Uni at the end of the 2007-08 school year prior to his arrival and the situation at the end of the 2015-16 school year, the last for which LAUSD School Report Cards are available: Enrollment: => 2007-08: 2,320 => 2015-16: 1,671 […]

[Posted June 18, 2018] The high-profile “Best High Schools” list compiled annually by U.S. News & World Report for 2018 identifies about 6,000 schools from among 20,000 surveyed nationally as “Gold,” “Silver” or “Bronze” medal winners. Uni joined the list of medal winners this year, as noted by the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles (AALA) newsletter for June 18, 2018: “Congratulations to the LAUSD schools included in U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best High Schools. The periodical reviewed data from more than 20,000 high schools across the country and […]

[Posted June 15, 2018] The year of 1968 was one of massive changes and turbulence in America, with the Cold War and the Vietnam War both going strong, wild swings in politics, devastating violence in our cities and against civic and political figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. What was the environment at Uni 50 years ago this spring? From the 1968 Chieftain, this from Fall (1967) Student Body President Dave Simmonds: “Uni is a fine school, but it is still far from perfect. […]

[Posted June 12, 2018] Beginning with the Class of 1926, Uni has seen its graduates move on from the high school ranks with pride in their achievements, both at the school and in the future. So it was on June 7, when the Class of 2018 was recognized at Kampmann Stadium and saluted by Uni principal Eric Davidson: “Class of 2018, Parents, friends, and my esteemed colleagues: “Most of these speeches can go on longer than they should. Especially when there are 380 or so graduates waiting to walk this […]

[Posted June 10, 2018] The Class of 1960 – the Elysians – will be 60 years “old” in 2020 and Gail Grant Day (daysies1@hotmail.com) is ready to get started on a reunion: “Attention: Class of S’60, if anyone is interested in a 60th Reunion please let me know, (it has seemed in the past that not many of our class would attend). “We would need a local chairman and a reunion company to organize the event. I’m in Colorado and it was difficult to chair the 50th reunion from afar. […]

[Posted June 5, 2018] Uni’s annual evening of senior honors took place on May 23, with awards distributed by 25 departments and scholarships and special-recognition awards made to multiple outstanding students. Included in this program were four awards provided by, or coordinated through, the Uni Hi Education Foundation. These included: UHEF Community Service Award, to a senior who has shown exceptional dedication to community service during their tenure at Uni, awarded this year to Chris Park. He wrote movingly about his experiences at the South L.A. Animal Shelter and informing […]

[Posted June 2, 2018] It’s the high school awards season, so why not have an awards program for Uni Theatre? Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76, made that a reality in 2018, with the first-ever Uni High Thespian Awards. Awarded on May 22, the actors and technical staff voted for male and female awardees in 23 categories, which ranged from the serious to the quite silly, such as “Best Hugger,” Biggest Slob” and “Best Shoulder to Cry on.” In the more traditional categories, the winners included: Best All […]

[Posted May 20, 2018] Uni’s petition to become an Affiliated Charter School is moving along, and quickly. Principal Eric Davidson recently wrote to the UHEF, noting: “The Charter petition has been submitted to the District’s Charter School Office for review. The plan will be presented to the LAUSD Board of Education on June 5, 2018. We anticipate the plan being approved.” When approved, Uni’s name will change slightly to reflect its Affiliated Charter status; many of you voted on possible name changes earlier this year on the Uni Web site. […]

[Posted May 12, 2018] Coach Eric Temena’s Uni boys golf squad finished 6-1 in its dual-meet season and won the Western League title on April 30, posting a score of 492, with three finishers in the top 10: 4.  Anuv Gupta, 89 9.  Lawrence Kim, 96 10.  Dylan Elliot, 100 Playing 18 holes at the par-72 Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park, Uni outscored Carson (494) and RFK (625); L.A. CES, Venice and Fairfax had incomplete teams. Brian Kang of RFK was the individual winner and the only one to […]

[Posted May 8, 2018] Believe it or not, we’re running toward the end of the 2017-18 school year, coming in just more than a month. Along with the students from the Class of 2018, this will also mark the end of some outstanding careers at Uni for eight teachers and administrators who are retiring: Karen Crowley-Marks ~ Dean of Students (pictured above/right) Eric Davidson ~ Principal Ali Galedary ~ Former Assistant Principal; Operations Coordinator Cleo Ingram ~ Teacher, Community-Based Instruction (pictured above/left) Maria Morales ~ Food Service Martha Morinaka ~ […]

[Posted May 1, 2018] Four shows and four near-capacity crowds filled Stivelman Theater for the third-ever Uni production of Grease! from April 18-21. “This record-breaking audiences and an extremely high energy cast made this production of Grease! a truly memorable experience for all,” said Ronnie Sperling ‘76, Uni’s Theatre Arts director. “The icing on the cake was when original Broadway Frenchy, Mews Small, paid us a visit. I think we brought her to tears and she brought us to tears. “Thanks to UHEF and our incredible teen cast, crew, and […]

[Posted April 28, 2018] Uni will graduate its 93rd class in June, but the UHEF was honored with a recent note from a graduate of Uni’s 11th graduating class from the spring of 1936! Art Kvaas wrote in to ask if we had any other ‘36 grads in the UHEF contact database and sadly, he’s the only one. He wrote back: “My own personal list of ’36 friends confirms your data, but thanks. Since I will be ‘100′ next Jan. 8 (born 1919), I should not be surprised at my […]

[Posted April 25, 2018] The Uni Class of 1954, nicknamed the Capries, might be the most cohesive class in Uni history. Starting with their 60th reunion in 2014, they’ve been holding a reunion every year! And 2018 is no exception. The 2018 edition – 64-year reunion – will be held at The Culver Hotel in Culver City on Saturday, September 29, 2018. For more information on the timing, cost and program, please contact Erin Boomer via e-mail at boomererin@gmail.com. ¶ Also in the works, but coming much more quickly, is […]

[Posted April 20, 2018] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

[Posted April 15, 2018] It’s amazing. Grease! may not be the greatest musical ever staged, but there is a special magic to this show which makes it a favorite for students, parents, alumni and friends. With Uni’s first show – the Student Preview Performance – coming up on Wednesday, Grease! has set a new record for pre-show online sales through the BrownPaperTickets.com portal, outselling every other show offered during the past three years. You can reserve your tickets now for any of the four shows here: Apr. 18: 3:30 p.m. […]

[Posted April 10, 2018] The shared-use concept that eventually placed the new Collins & Katz Family YMCA on a corner of the Uni campus was saluted as a paradigm for future uses of the L.A. Unified School District’s vast real estate holdings. The L.A. Unified Advisory Task Force recommended that a team of real estate experts be engaged to review the District’s properties and examine the possibilities for improvements and revenue. A review of the report in the Los Angeles Times noted that: The task force’s report gave some examples […]

[Posted April 5, 2018] One of the nation’s most noteworthy judges, Stephen Reinhardt, Class of 1948, died on March 29 of a heart attack. He was 87. Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas said, “We have lost a wonderful colleague and friend. As a judge, he was deeply principled, fiercely passionate about the law and fearless in his decisions.” A member of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals since 1980, when he was nominated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Reinhardt was known as the “liberal lion” of the Court; […]

[Posted April 2, 2018] Now in its 33rd year, the Uni Hi Education Foundation is looking to expand and invigorate its operations heading into the 2018-19 academic year, as Uni changes its status to become an Affiliated Charter school within the Los Angeles Unified School District. That means YOU have the opportunity to join the Foundation and help support Uni during this transitional period and join others who have helped join alumni together, raise money and provide programs and services which are not available from the District. The UHEF has […]

[Posted March 25, 2018] No end to the comments about celebrities who went to Uni, especially during the heyday of the Hollywood studio system, when Uni was often the preferred high school for graduation of studio-taught, contract-player teenagers. Louise (Kosches) Iscoe ‘46 sent a note to us and remembered: “After so many years (1946), I have fun looking back on Uni and reading your newsletter. When I read about the stars who attended graduation, I thought about my graduation. One day, at a rehearsal, the door opened and six young […]

[Posted March 20, 2018] Uni’s 2017-18 boys basketball team will long be remembered for an outstanding season that ended with a 26-6 record and a second-place finish in the City Division 1 playoffs. Coach Steve Ackerman’s squad was 23-4 in the regular season, losing only to City champion Westchester and runner-up Fairfax, both of whom happened to be in the Western League. Uni was seeded fourth in the Division I playoffs and reached the final against third-seeded Washington Prep on March 3 at Cal State Dominguez Hills. The game was […]

[Posted March 15, 2018] The proposal for Uni to become an affiliated charter school within the Los Angeles Unified School District has taken a major step forward with a new petition to the District, submitted on January 30. The term of the proposal is for July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2023 and is available for inspection here. The projected enrollment for the four-grade (9-12) program would be 1,625, slightly less than Uni’s current enrollment of 1,798. Why? In a nutshell, according to the petition: “Despite its academic, programming, community-partnership, […]

[Posted March 10, 2018] Someone has got to do a book or documentary on the Class of ‘58 graduation and grad night party … you know, that one with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr.? Ted Tanaka wrote in with more on the amazing celebration of a class which included Frank’s daughter, Nancy Sinatra: “I was there, invited by S’58 Elsie Tominaga. I was a Uni Imperials of W’57, only about 165 in the class. (https://santacruzcore.com/) Pali Hi site grounds were just starting to be leveled before opening in ’61. “I clearly […]

[Posted March 1, 2018] Uni’s annual Health & Fitness Fair is coming up on April 25, with a full array of activities, including educational seminars, information booths and – of course – food prepared by Uni students from Kerri Eich’s International Foods program. It’s free to attend and coincides with Uni’s Open House on that date. The event takes places from 5-7 p.m. at the East Gym (the old Girl’s Gym as many remember it). If you’d like to get more involved, there are sponsorship opportunities available – fully tax-deductible […]

[Posted February 25, 2018] The cast of Uni’s upcoming production of Grease is set and the show is being widely anticipated on campus. No wonder: it’s one of the most popular musicals in production across the country. Although originally written in Chicago in 1971, with specific ethnic references to that city, it is best known from Paramount’s 1978 film that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson (Sandy Dumbrowski in the musical) in their senior years at fictional Rydell High School. The Uni cast: Eugene […]

[Posted February 15, 2018] One of the outstanding athletes in Uni history, Steve Baum, lost his unhappy battle with cancer on February 5, at the age of 66. What made Baum so important was his impact on others. From being a would-be basketball star who figured out quickly that he should choose another sport, Baum made himself into a champion, under the tutelage of Uni coach Dick Kampmann, and a paradigm that Coach K would use for decades to motivate others. Baum explained the transformation at the unveiling of the […]

[Posted February 7, 2018] Uni has been the scene of much filming since its opening in the 1920s, including many feature films. But it was also used by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health in 1971 for a troubling, 29-minute film called “Social Seminar: Brian at Seventeen.” According to the description, the film “Presents an adolescent’s view of his educational needs and how school is and is not fulfilling them. Gives a perspective of his educational experience, his parents and life in general.” The film doesn’t have much to […]

[Posted February 1, 2018] Nice story in the Los Angeles Times on David Nwaba ‘11, now playing with the Chicago Bulls of the NBA and doing well. Said Nwaba, “I’m enjoying every second and they’re believing in what I bring to the team and what I can bring defensively. That’s where it all started. The Lakers gave me an opportunity because of what I brought on the defensive end, so it’s good that they can see what I bring on that end and I just look to give my best […]

[Posted January 30, 2018] A December segment of NBC’s “Today” featured both a Uni student and the new Collins & Katz YMCA. Guillermo Hercules, 17, a Uni student who has been plagued with homelessness in his young life, was profiled on “Today” by Sheinelle Jones last December 21 The segment not only addresses his challenges, but the sense of community he has found at the new YMCA on the Uni campus. A Warren Christopher Scholarship winner as a sophomore in 2016, Hercules struck up a friendly relationship with YMCA spokesperson […]

[Posted January 25, 2018] UHEF co-president Judy Wolfenstein received a note from 1939 graduate Mits Kayagowe, who actually attended Uni for five years – from the eighth grade in 1935 through 12th, in 1939 … the last class to graduate prior to the outbreak of World War II! Among the highlights were memories of how the campus changed after a major earthquake: “After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, the main administration bldg. was unusable so the city had to import half-canvas, parklike cabins for classrooms. These were lined up on […]

[Posted January 15, 2018] With the opening of the Collins & Katz Family YMCA on December 9, the question has been asked: Who are Collins and Katz? We can tell you! The “Collins” is Jim Collins, who graduated from UCLA in 1950 and enjoyed a long career in the restaurant business as a franchisee for Kentucky Fried Chicken beginning in 1960 and as the owner (and expander) of the Sizzler Family Steak House chain from 1967. Now 91 and (mostly) retired, he and his wife Carol (pictured above) have been […]

[Posted January 10, 2018] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

[Posted December 25, 2017] In Uni’s first year, the yearbook was titled La Estrella – “The Star” – but was changed to Chieftain for 1926 in honor of the school’s Warrior mascot. Thanks to an edict from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Uni became the “Wildcats” for the 1998-99 school year and the yearbook was entitled “Enter the Wildcat.” Moreover, the yearbook staff decided that in keeping with the change of name, the reference “Chieftain” was no longer appropriate. For the 75th anniversary yearbook, published in the spring of […]

[Posted December 20, 2017] Through the marvelous generosity of Uni alumni, more than 300 new books have been provided to the Uni library … and you can join in! Some 312 books have now been received by the library, from 27 donors who have self-identified and many more who wish to remain anonymous. We now have donors from the 1940s, ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s: Michael Alcalay ‘80 Geraldine Armstrong ‘59 Connor Gilmore 2022 Jeff Deckman ‘76 Ivan Finkle ‘50 Barbara Wong Franklin ‘68 Sukey (Roth) Garcetti ‘57 Kelly Gilmore […]

[Posted December 15, 2017] There are shows and then there are shows! Uni’s production of Grease is being widely anticipated on campus, as one of the most popular musicals in production across the country. Although originally written in Chicago in 1971, with specific ethnic references to that city, it is best known from Paramount’s 1978 film that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson in their senior years at fictional Rydell High School. Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76 has a special connection […]

[Posted December 11, 2017] The long-awaited Collins & Katz Family YMCA formally opened its doors on Saturday, December 9, completing the more than six years of planning and building on what used to be a seldom-used corner of University High School. The section of Uni at the corner of Westgate and Ohio Avenues was for years home to four classroom bungalows which were used mostly for storage. That all changed when the Metropolitan YMCA decided it needed to expand and modernize the Westside Y building at 1947 Sawtelle Avenue (at […]

[Posted December 1, 2017] As noted in our November 15 issue, Uni is working toward a new status as a community charter high school (more details here) in significant part because of declining enrollment. The draft outline of the proposed Affiliated Charter program notes in part, “[D]espite its academic, community partnership, and facility revitalization achievements, University High has experienced decreasing enrollment: as an increasing number of community families elect to send their high-school age students to nearby affiliated charter and independent charter high schools.” In fact, the downturn has been […]

[Posted November 20, 2017] Uni has a long history of alumni involvement, including a significant number of teachers and staff who have come back to school. Today, there are 14 alumni serving in staff positions: Steve Ackerman ‘89 Teacher/Social Studies, Leadership Advisor and Boys Basketball Coach (at Uni since 1994) Roberta Barnes ‘73 School Psychologist (at Uni since 1999) Daniel Bravo ‘91 Counselor Walter Burgos ‘91 Teacher/Special Education Leslie Coleman ‘89 Teacher/Spanish Sam (German) Estrada ‘85 Teacher/Special Education (at Uni since 1992) Brenda Fabbro ‘98 Teacher/Physical Education Dayle Fuqua-Caballero Teacher/Spanish […]

[Posted November 12, 2017] Uni’s presentation of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was another triumph, even over some technical glitches at the last performance, reports Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76: “Our final show on November 9th was nearly sold out. Audiences went bananas over this one at EVERY performance, but this night was special and made Uni history. Just a couple of minutes into the show, the computer that runs the more than 200 light cues… CRASHED. “I calmly made the executive decision to halt […]

[Posted November 6, 2017] “[D]espite its academic, community partnership, and facility revitalization achievements, University High has experienced decreasing enrollment: as an increasing number of community families elect to send their high-school age students to nearby affiliated charter and independent charter high schools. To better compete with these schools, and offer parents and students a premier, comprehensive K-12 community-based affiliated charter public school option, University High must evolve into a community charter high school affiliated with the public school system of the Los Angeles Unified School District.” That statement, on page […]

[Posted October 31, 2017] Advanced Placement courses, which can carry college credits based on a end-of-course exam, are among the most in-demand courses at high schools throughout the country. As in 2016-17, Uni is offering 20 AP classes for the 2017-18 term: AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Chemistry AP Computer Science AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition AP Environmental Science AP Government AP Macro Economics AP Physics 1 AP Psychology AP Seminar AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture AP Statistics […]

[Posted November 3, 2017] A remarkable 25 Uni alumni came back to campus on October 26 to share their life experiences with today’s students. The returning alumni included, but were not limited to: Tamar Asken (Class unknown) Ricc Bieber ‘70 Tina Davis ‘85 Jeri Gaile (Class unknown) Mark Greenblat ‘85 Larry Jacobson ‘74 Ron Kato ‘75 Sam Helmi ‘86 Susan Igdaloff ‘66 Jacky Holler, 1978 Hector Lerma, Sr. (Class unknown) Howard Lesner W ‘69 Steven Lowy ‘69 Elizabeth McGhee ‘03 Mark Pariser ‘88 Mario Sanchez (Class unknown) Andrew Santos ‘02 […]

[Posted October 20, 2017] “It’s one of the funniest shows we’ve done at Uni. We are just sitting there and laughing our heads off at each rehearsal. It’s just a funny show. So says Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76 of the Fall 2017 Uni theater production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” that starts November 1 at the Stivelman Theater on campus. “The interesting part is there is audience participation in it,” noted Sperling. “The authors of the show not only were the authors, they […]

[Posted October 15, 2017] Did you know that Uni was the first-ever Los Angeles-area school to participate in the Academic Decathlon? It’s true (details here – see p. 6)! The concept was originally developed by Orange County Superintendent of Schools Robert Peterson, with the first event held in 1968. Although a considerable local success, Peterson wanted to expand it well beyond Orange County and the next logical spot was just to the north: “In 1978, Dr. Peterson met with Dr. William Johnston, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, Harry […]

[Posted October 10, 2017] Class reunions are usually just that: reunions of one class. But not for the classes of 1958 through 1962, which will have the opportunity to come together as a group next March 12. How did this get started? We got the story from Yosh Kawahara S ’59 and Howard Uller S ‘59, and Uller provided these details: “The first reunion was of the 1959 varsity basketball team. This team won the Western League with an undefeated record; and, to wit, won the consolation/third place trophy in […]

[Posted October 5, 2017] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute and every dollar counts. We salute and thank our 25 contributors from the third quarter of 2017. Contributors are listed by class, in alphabetical order of family names: Barry […]

[Posted September 30, 2017] Good news for the Uni Class of 1997 in this note from Annie Tilles Soleymani (annietilles@gmail.com): “Wanted to let you know that Class of 1997 is doing a casual 20-year reunion on December 9th. It’ll be 7:30 p.m. at Cabo Cantina in Brentwood/West LA and is being planned by Lauren Rosenberg and Elisa Brown. The invite is on Facebook, but I can’t seem to send the link :(“ The Cabo Cantina is on Wilshire Boulevard just north of Uni, so if you’re going, please be sure […]

[Posted September 20, 2017] A Uni alum who made a major impact on high school sports in Southern California has passed after a memorable career. Pictured: Three happy coaches (left to right): former University of Arizona coach Lute Olson, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and the late Jerry Marvin, Jr. of Palisades High School, as Kerr receives the 2016 NBA Coach of the Year Award. Marvin and Olson coached Kerr in high school and college, respectively. Jerry Marvin Jr., S’48, the long-time basketball coach at Palisades High School, passed […]

[Posted September 15, 2017] We got an enormous amount of response to our September 4 post about Uni’s school song. We shared a Uni “Spirit Song” sheet passed on by UHEF co-President Ivan Finkle ‘50, which included our alma mater as follows: Standing high upon the hill-slopes By Pacific’s pounding blue, Mother of our fondest memories, Alma Mater! Hail to you! May we never prove unworthy, Bow your head, or cause you tears, Let your radiance shine upon us, Seen through mist of space and years, Let your radiance shine […]

[Posted September 15, 2017] “As part of our efforts to increase career readiness, University Senior High will host our third annual Career Day on October 26, 2017 from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. It is with great enthusiasm that we ask you to support our students and school by volunteering your time to present to students that day.” Any Uni alum who would like to give students a glimpse of what they do is welcome to participate. You’ll be speaking to two classes for 20-25 minutes each and get a guided tour […]

[Posted September 11, 2017] A remarkable honor for University High School and its faculty and staff was celebrated at the 2017 Disney Motif Awards at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, September 10, 2017. Pictured above: Uni faculty and staff at the Disney Motif Awards on September 10 at the Disney Hall in downtown los Angeles (UHEF photo by Ivan Finkle). Billed as the “Nation’s Highest Honor for Child Advocacy,” the Scholastics Medal Honor was presented to three Los Angeles schools: Granada Hills Charter, Los […]

[Posted September 10, 2017] One of Hollywood’s most respected – and recognized – character actors, was also a Uni alum: Richard Anderson ‘44. He passed away on August 31, at age 91. He was most popularly known as Oscar Goldman, the government’s supervisor of the “Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman” that ran on ABC between 1974 and 1978. But he appeared in dozens of films and as a guest star in many of the dramatic television series of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Variety had a detailed […]

[Posted September 4, 2017] Some Uni history needs your help. UHEF co-President Ivan Finkle ‘50 found a scan of a Uni “Spirit Song” sheet and passed it along. Did you know Uni has a formal school song, an “Alma Mater”? The lyrics: Standing high upon the hill-slopes By Pacific’s pounding blue, Mother of our fondest memories, Alma Mater! Hail to you! May we never prove unworthy, Bow your head, or cause you tears, Let your radiance shine upon us, Seen through mist of space and years, Let your radiance shine […]

[Posted August 28, 2017] The amazing story of Uni’s first-ever NBA player – David Nwaba ‘11 – continues to get better and better. He played for the Lakers last season, but when he was placed on waivers in order to clear salary-cap space in order to sign another player, he was claimed by the Chicago Bulls. The reaction from league observers was good: “Good move from the Bulls. Nwaba stood as arguably the best help defender in the G League. Can also dunk with the best of them … seems […]

[Posted August 21, 2017] The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce’s Business Perspective report from June 13 noted that “[T]he Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) [improved] its high school graduation rate by an unprecedented five percentage points in one year, while at the same time stepping up completion requirements and university eligibility. “LAUSD made this progress while adopting more rigorous standards to better prepare students for college. Last year was the first year graduates had to complete all courses required for admission to California’s public universities. LAUSD graduates maintained their […]

[Posted August 15, 2017] As the 2017-18 school year begins, Uni principal Eric Davidson spoke for the entire faculty and staff at Uni with this short commentary on what Uni and its students face in today’s educational and societal environment as we begin the school year: “The youth of today are in survival mode. The competition is greater than it has ever been and society has been giving trophies to everyone who participates for far too long. It’s not enough to participate anymore and we have to make sure we […]

[Posted July 5, 2017] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute and every dollar counts. We salute and thank our 17 contributors from the second quarter of 2017. Contributors are listed by class, in alphabetical order of family names: Ivan […]

[Posted June 20, 2017] Uni’s progress can be seen by the variety of colleges and universities to which its graduates will be headed next fall. Among those students who have reported their actual destinations (at present, of course, incomplete), they include: Community Colleges: Anne Arundel Community College Cerritos College East Los Angeles College El Camino College Everett Community College Glendale Community College Long Beach City College Los Angeles City College Los Angeles Southwest College Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Los Angeles Valley College Pasadena City College Pierce College Santa Monica College […]

[Posted June 15, 2017] Uni principal Eric Davidson delivered two addresses to the Class of 2017, one for the seniors only and public remarks at the Commencement Ceremonies in Kampmann Stadium on June 9. He was kind enough to share both with us: To the graduating seniors: “Good afternoon. To the parents of our graduating seniors, congratulations for surviving the uncertainties, anxieties, and chaos of being the parent of a teenager. To the families of the class of 2017, I hope you are as proud of the accomplishments to come […]

[Posted June 10, 2017] Coach Jason Tillett and his softballers finished their regular 6-10 overall and had a 4-8 mark in the Western League, with wins over Fairfax, Westchester (2) and LACES. Uni was then seeded no. 1 in the City’s Division IV playoff bracket, and won all four of its games to become City Champions! The Wildcats clubbed, in order, Elizabeth HS, 11-1; Jefferson, 14-4; Triumph Charter, 15-0 and won the title over Rivera HS, 10-3, at Cal State Dominguez Hills. For the season, Uni batted .301 as a […]

[Posted June 5, 2017] Uni’s mission is to educate, inspire and prepare young people to take the next step in their lives. Its success, as noted by the naming of University High School as one of the top-20 schools in the United States by the International Education Bureau of the nationally-recognized Walt Disney Motif Awards, is further underscored by the remarkable story of senior Jacob Abraham. His achievements were profiled in the L.A. Unified School District’s daily report on May 19, including: “[He enrolled] in University High‘s most rigorous college […]

[Posted June 1, 2017] One of the most rewarding activities of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to honor seniors with special scholarship awards made possible by alumni donations. This year, four seniors received UHEF recognition at a special on-campus awards ceremony on May 24: (Photo above: Uni Director of Theater Arts Ronnie Sperling with Alyssa Suzukaawa; below: Sperling and Kate Im. Courtesy: Ivan Finkle/UHEF) Community Service Scholarship: Given to a graduating senior in recognition of their outstanding service to the Los Angeles community: Kate Im and Alyssa Suzukawa Sharon […]

[Posted May 29, 2017] Uni’s indefatigable chief of health and environmental science programs, Kerri Eich is staging the second “Nourish Your Senses” seminar on campus on Saturday, June 3, with the public happily invited to attend. You’ll hear from Eich and: Sarah Greenfield, owner of Fearless Fig Mindy Schleger, owner of Food Fitter Don Smith, soil expert for Kiss The Ground The series will be presented from 12:00 -3:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater on campus, with thanks for grant funding from HMC Architects. You can learn how understanding food better […]

[Posted May 22, 2017] Uni principal Eric Davidson received this message on Tuesday, May 9: “The International Education Bureau of the nationally recognized Walt Disney Motif Awards has ranked University High School as one of the top twenty schools in the country to exceptionally expose students to high levels of life-changing instruction. “Because of your push to generate positive productive citizens within our nation; the Walt Disney Motif Awards International Selections Committee has elected to honor the University High School during the 2017 Walt Disney Motif Awards Ceremony, ‘The Nation’s […]

[Posted May 15, 2017] Longtime Uni teacher, coach and legend Duane LaRue passed away on May 8, based on information gathered today. Pictured above: Duane LaRue on the right, congratulating Uni coach Dick Kampmann on the City track & field title in 1970. Born in Los Angeles in 1935, he graduated from Washington High School and went to Pepperdine College – as it was known then – on a football scholarship. He came to Uni for the 1962-63 school year as a physical education teacher and the co-coach for football […]

[Posted May 12, 2017] “I can’t overstate how great an impact these donations have on making the library relevant for students and in making the collection more valuable and worthy of protection in a time when library closures are afoot. Thank you so much to our devoted alumni!” That’s Uni librarian Tascha Folsoi ‘86 on the continuing flood of new books into the Uni library, which has now reached 169, with a new donor – Carl Hagge S ‘53 – joining the club of those who have helped out. He […]

  [Posted May 5, 2017] Continuing Uni’s long history of excellence in and around the entertainment, motion picture and television industry, three Uni students were recognized for excellence in a regional animation competition. Under the direction of animation teacher Danna Coonen-Lee, these students took top prizes in the ACME Network Story Pitch Competition Award event where they competed against hundreds of other students throughout LAUSD, Orange County, Glendale, San Diego School District, and other school districts. According to Coonen-Lee, “Students had to design and develop a TV animated series and […]

[Posted May 1, 2017] An enthusiastic crowd of parents, students and friends of Uni attended the April 29 fund-raiser for Uni Theater Arts highlighted by the showing of the Sing-A-Long version of “Grease.” In addition to the movie were costume and dance contests under the direction of Uni’s own Ronnie Sperling ‘76. He noted that “The dance contest was a lot of fun. We had 20-25 kids on stage and played ‘Willie and the Hand Jive.’ We demonstrated what the Hand Jive was – a 1950s dance – and they […]

[Posted April 24, 2017] Audiences filled the Stivelman Theater last week for the four performances of “Shrek the Musical.” Starring one of the largest casts in Uni history, the special Student program last Wednesday opened to a full house and folks who came on each of the next three days were treated to a rousing show, produced under the direction of Uni alum Ronnie Sperling ‘76. “‘Shrek’ did really well,” said Sperling afterwards. “Every since I came aboard, we’ve been raising the bar every show. We had fabulous costumes and […]

[Posted April 17, 2017] Uni’s first alumnus to play in the National Basketball Association, David Nwaba ‘11, concluded the 2016-17 NBA with the Lakers, who signed him for this season, with a team option for the 2017-18 season. Although “signed” for next season, Nwaba really has to start over and make the Lakers team again as the club can decide to keep him or terminate the agreement. But he made it to The Show. For the season, he averaged 19.9 minutes, 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, with a […]

[Posted April 12, 2016] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

We’ve written a lot about the late Uni coach Dick Kampmann, who passed away earlier this year at age 92. But Kampmann always talked about the man he followed at Uni – Jim Pursell – as the inspiration for his great success. A marvelous comment about Pursell was received on the UHEF.org Web site from Ray Sanchez ‘58: “Jim Pursell was our track coach, but he was so much more. Mr. Pursell was a ‘life’ coach. He touched my life very deeply. One of my friends, John Giba, matched Mel […]

Through a national leadership program called SkillsUSA, students learn skills that can help them advance their careers beyond the classroom. Uni teacher Danna Coonen-Lee teaches Animation and Web Design and urged her students to compete in the Southern California competition and here’s their story: “Our students competed this year in the Web Design category using HTML coding and Pin Design/T-Shirt Design category, placing in both! We are trying to send the two teams that placed in Web Design and one other student that competed by himself in the Pin/T-Shirt Design […]

[Posted Apr. 4, 2017] Uni’s unique health and international foods program will be showcased during the school’s Open House on Thursday, April 27 with its ninth annual Health & Fitness Fair. Organized by irrepressible teacher Kerri Eich, the showcase will be open from 5-7 p.m. on campus. “In my class, we rotate students through 14 different jobs that support our weekly healthy meal preparation. Every student manages their own garden plot where they cultivate food and learn about nutrition and the health benefits of food. Every year our class organizes […]

[Posted Apr. 1, 2017] In the new “California Dashboard” report on school performance, Uni earned mixed marks in the first release for Spring 2017. This first “Equity Report” showed Uni doing well on graduation rates, excellent on keeping suspensions down, but poor on the progress of its English learners. A summary of the findings: Uni reported 1,671 students total in grades 9-12, of which 9% are “English learners” Of the total student body, 73% are considered “socioeconomically disadvantaged” Graduation rate: Medium ~ 87.8% (up 3.3% from 2016) Suspension rate: Low […]

[Posted Mar. 21, 2017] Hard work pays off. The first University High School alum to play in the National Basketball Association, David Nwaba, was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers to remain on the team for the remainder of the current season, with a team option for the 2017-18 season. “We have been impressed by David’s focus and determination, especially on defense,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in a release. “He has a mentality about him that is infectious, and he works hard every day to improve himself. “He […]

[Posted Mar. 15, 2017] Did you have more fun at Uni than Danny and Sandy had at Rydell High in “Grease”? Then get your gang together and find your bobby sox for a night back to the 1950s when the UHEF presents the sing-along version of the 1978 smash movie at the Stivelman Theater on Saturday night, April 29 at 7 p.m.! The Grease Sing-A-Long version, starring Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta has been digitally remastered in this special version, made for audience participation. If you’re “Hopelessly Devoted” to Grease, […]

[Posted Mar. 11, 2017] David Nwaba became the first-ever Uni alum to play in the National Basketball Association, earning a 10-day Lakers contract after a strong season with the L.A. Defenders of the NBA Development League. And his play has earned him a second 10-day contract on March 11, essentially extending his tryout with the team for another five games. He impressed the coaching staff with his defense, hustle and work ethic. Said Lakers coach Luke Walton, “He’s been great. … We talked about it as a staff. … He’s […]

[Posted Feb. 17, 2017] The exterior scaffolds have been removed and the interior work on the massive Collins & Katz Family YMCA is continuing with opening expected in April. The work has been held back slightly because of the heavy rains in the area, but the pouring of the pools is continuing and the installation of the elegant copper roof is proceeding. As noted by the project architects, Gonzalez Goodale, “the facility will provide 70,000 sq. ft. of athletic space including a rooftop running track, pool, and joint-use gym and […]

[Posted Feb. 9, 2017] The untimely passing of another member of the Uni family has resulted in the creation of a new scholarship at Uni: the Violeta Ponce Scholarship. Assistant Principal Dan Blank explained the background and asked for your help: “This past school year the Uni High community lost a beloved faculty member and friend when English teacher Violeta (Ponce) Pacheco (1975-2016) suffered a sudden, fatal heart attack. She was only 40 years old. “Her death saddened many of us because this former department chair and gifted coordinator had […]

[Posted Feb. 7, 2017] More than 150 family, friends and former students and staff said goodbye to Uni’s legendary coach, Dick Kampmann, at a memorial service on campus on February 4. Pictured above: Son Bill Stimming and grandson Christopher Stimming at the podium during the memorial service for Coach Dick Kampmann (Photos courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) Kampmann passed away on January 24 at age 92 at his home in Santa Monica. While the burial was private, the memorial service was open to allow those who knew him to salute him one […]

[Posted Feb. 5, 2017] Nasty will be nice and West Los Angeles will be “ogre-the- moon” when Uni Theater Arts troupe presents its production of “Shrek The Musical” beginning April 19th, 2017. The family-friendly musical comedy follows the adventures of an ogre named Shrek who sets off on a quest to save Princess Fiona from a dragon. However, it turns out that in order to ultimately succeed, Shrek must battle an even bigger obstacle: learning how to believe in himself and open his heart to others. Setting off with his […]

[Posted Jan. 30, 2017] To honor the greatest coach in University High School history – Dick Kampmann – a memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at Uni’s Stivelman Theater on Saturday, February 4, beginning at 11 a.m. Street parking is available and all are welcome. Kampmann passed away on January 23, aged 92, at his longtime home in Santa Monica and was surrounded by family and friends until the end. Many inquiries have been made about donations, flowers or gifts. Kampmann’s son, Bill Stimming, asks that […]

[Posted Jan. 24, 2017] One of University High School’s legendary teachers has passed away. A note sent to friends last night stated: “With deep sadness, this message is to inform you that Coach Dick Kampmann passed away this afternoon at 2:12 p.m. at his home in Santa Monica. He was with family at the end and at age 92, lived a full and meaningful life. He and [wife] Deb are now once more united, forever. “[Son] Bill Stimming is now busy making the necessary arrangements and there will be a […]

[Posted Jan. 19, 2017] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014! We salute and thank our 207 […]

[Posted Jan. 12, 2017] The Los Angeles Unified School District has posted Uni’s 2015-16 School Report Card with data on Uni’s demographics, environment and performance. Some highlights: Attendance: 1,671 students across grades 9-12 Demographics: 55% Latino, 24% African-American, 10% White, 9% Asian-Filipino; 2% did not declare Graduate in 4 years: 89% (vs. LAUSD average of 75%) Students enrolled in an Advanced Placement class: 25% (vs. LAUSD average of 25%) The breakdown of student backgrounds included the following statistics: 71% Socioeconomically disadvantaged 19% Gifted and talented 12% Students with Disabilities There […]

[Posted Jan. 8, 2017] “Dear Commissioner Goodell: “This is to notify you that as of today, I, Steve Smith Sr., will no longer be antagonizing defensive backs. I am retiring from the National Football League.” With that letter, sent January 2, the greatest football player ever to attend University High School ended what could be a Hall of Fame career as an NFL star. Smith graduated from Uni in 1997 as a standout in both football and track, where he set a still-standing school mark of 38.73 in the 300 […]

[Posted December 31, 2016] Thanks to your contributions, the UHEF was busy in 2016, not just in supporting today’s Uni, but also important projects that keep Uni’s legacy alive and tie today’s students and alumni closer. Some of the highlights: The UHEF financed the renovation of the computer systems for the Mednick College Center at Uni, a facility originally made possible by a donation from Steve Kirsch ‘74 and his wife Michelle. A new sound system was underwritten as part of the renovation of the Stivelman Theater for performing arts […]

[Posted December 15, 2016] Los Angeles is the long-time home of the U.S. entertainment industry and in the heyday of the Hollywood studios, Uni’s was its favored high school, with alums such as Jeff Bridges, Ryan O’Neal, Elizabeth Taylor and Norma Baker, later known as Marilyn Monroe. So Uni and the UHEF will partner this spring for the first University High School Film Festival, over two nights in late April, at the renovated Stivelman Theater: April 28: Friday ~ Student Film Festival (4 p.m.) April 29: Saturday ~ Alumni reception […]

[Posted December 8, 2016] “The Fantasticks” was a major-league hit for the Uni theater team, but there’s no rest, especially with another show to do! Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling, has booked Disney’s “Shrek The Musical” for the spring, bringing the beloved green ogre to the stage of the re-vitalized Stivelman Theater next April 19-22. But first there has to be a cast. So, auditions for the show will take place at the Stivelman Theater on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 13-14, with callbacks on December 15. Students interested […]

[Posted December 5, 2016] A talented cast lit up the renovated Stivelman Theater at Uni for “The Fantasticks” in front of excited audiences for four performances. Pictured above: Victoria Saxxon as Bellamy (with the straw hat) and Jasmine Mentzer as Hucklebee (All photos courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF). Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling, noted that “We ended with three great houses thanks to the efforts of [Uni principal] Eric Davidson, Sandee Yamamoto, and Lauren Franca. Giovanni Molinaro as Matt “The Friday night show was really packed. Concessions and the raffle […]

[Posted November 29, 2016] Ready for “The Fantasticks”? Pictured above: The cast of “The Fantasticks”:  (top row) Joseph Mejia, Akira Shelton, Emile Victoria Brown; (middle row) Charlene Herrella, Victoria Saxxon, Jasmine Mentzer, Giovanni Molinaro; (bottom row) Erin Washington, Nuhamin Fekade. (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) The famed lyrical and romantic musical that tells an allegorical love story about a boy, a girl, two mothers (in the Uni version) and a wall will open for four performances only at the renovated Stivelman Theater on campus on Wednesday, November 30. The schedule: (1) […]

[Posted November 25, 2016] Have you seen the Walgreens “Just Retired” commercial, where a teacher exits her classroom, sprays her papers all over the place and then heads to Walgreens to get a prescription on her road to retirement? If the background looks a little familiar, it should: the school scenes were shot at Uni! In fact, the school is a popular location for film shoots, mostly for commercials, but also for television shows. Of course, Uni was also famously the background for the 1971 mystery movie “Pretty Maids All […]

[Posted November 20, 2016] Your contributions help the UHEF support University High School with resources beyond what it can obtain on its own. Pictured above: Uni College Center Director Paula Van Norden in the refurbished College Center (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) A recent case in point: Uni’s Mednick College Center. Started with a $50,000 grant from Steve Kirsch ‘74 and his wife Michelle through their Steve and Michelle Kirsch Foundation in 1999, and named for the late long-time Uni lead counselor, Sharon Mednick, the College Center’s infrastructure had faded over […]

[Posted November 15, 2016] Congratulations to David Nwaba ‘11, who made the roster of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the NBA Development League team of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. He’s made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring 11 points (and seven rebounds) in the season opener vs. Iowa and then 15 points (and five rebounds) at Santa Cruz, both wins for the D-Fenders. Check out his two-hand finish of a fast-break alley-oop pass here. Nwaba’s Uni coach, Steve Ackerman ‘89, was a proud spectator for the season […]

[Posted November 12, 2016] Uni won the 2016 City Division III title by defeating Central City Value, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-9, on Saturday, November 12 at the Roybal Learning Center in downtown Los Angeles. Coach Emilio Alvarado’s Wildcats compiled a 17-7 regular-season record and 7-5 in the highly-competitive Western League. Uni was top-seeded in the City Division III playoffs and won its matches against Middle College (3 sets to 0), Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences (3-0) and Rivera (3-0), to get to the championship match. Uni (21-7) will […]

[Posted November 7, 2016] Thanks to the direct support of Uni alumni, the first Wish List of books for the Uni library has been completely exhausted and a second list of titles posted for your inspection! Uni alumna and school librarian Tascha Folsoi ‘86 shared the good news: “The entire list of books on robotics has been purchased! This is really exciting for us, particularly as the request for this topic was student-generated. The next list is pulled from a list of student requests for specific books, both novels and […]

[Posted October 31, 2016] There’s no gift like the gift of learning. Uni alumni are making that happen by buying books for the school library via a new program using Amazon.com’s Wish List program. Coordinated jointly by Uni alumna and school librarian Tascha Folsoi ‘86 and the UHEF, the project allows anyone to go to a Amazon “Wish List” and buy a book that will be sent directly to the school. The “University Senior High Library” Wish List enjoys Amazon Prime status thanks to Folsoi, which means in-stock books will […]

[Posted October 25, 2016] Remember IPS – Uni’s “Innovative Program School”? The unique program, as controversial for the students in it as the intentionally-unstructured instructional approach, was remembered on the Los Angeles Magazine Web site. David Kukoff’s story, published today, entitled “Sex, Drugs, and Textbooks: Inside L.A.’s Most Controversial Educational Experiment” and sub-titled “Uni High tapped into the pop-psych teachings of the ’70s to create one of the most bizarre curriculums of the era” is a preview of his upcoming book on Los Angeles in the 1970s.   It’s accompanied […]

[Posted October 15, 2016] The massive plaques saluting Coach Dick Kampmann, Uni sprinter (and double Olympic gold medalist) Mel Patton ‘43 and the school’s first principal, Angus Cavanaugh, are now mounted outside the north side of the South Gym. The plaques, made possible by donors – those who gave $100 or more are listed on a separate plaque, also now mounted – commemorate the naming of Uni’s new athletic facilities as “Kampmann Stadium,” “Patton Track” and “Cavanaugh Field.” If you would like to see the plaques, please note that Uni […]

[Posted October 10, 2016] A new study from the Pew Research Center found that 92% of younger adults (18-29) prefer to read books in print when researching specific topics of interest. That comes as no surprise to Uni alumna, teacher and school librarian Tascha Folsoi ‘86: “Our collection is aging, but our students are as young as ever. Last month, I was so excited to find one of my friend’s names written on the library card of one of our books. Next to her name, the due date was stamped: […]

[Posted October 5, 2016] The newly-renovated Stivelman Theater on campus will re-open with four performances of the famed musical, The Fantasticks. The original “The Fantasticks” opened in New York on May 3, 1960, and played off-Broadway for 17,162 performances before closing on January 13, 2002, making it the longest running musical in history. Winner of a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, The Fantasticks is a lyrical and romantic musical that tells an allegorical love story about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. This beloved musical has […]

[Posted September 30, 2016] It’s not too early to be thinking about class reunions coming up in 2017, and dates for the classes of 1967 and 1977 have been announced. Class of 1967: For the 50-year reunion of the Class of 1967, the event will take place on October 7, 2017, at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Los Angeles. For more information, please contact Judi Astrachan Doling at judidoling@sbcglobal.net. For reservations and tickets, please contact The Reunion Committee at (661) 259-5999 or visit www.reunioncommittee.com. Class of 1977: The 40-year reunion […]

[Posted September 27, 2016] Legendary entertainment talents including Marilyn Monroe (then Norma Baker), Elizabeth Taylor, Randy Newman and many, many more have been part of the University High School tradition. But in the early-‘60s heyday of the Surf culture, was anyone bigger than Jan & Dean? Both Jan Berry ‘58 and Dean Torrence ‘58 attended Uni and Torrence has told their story in his just-published book, Surf City: The Jan and Dean Story, now available at Amazon.com. About the book: “The Jan and Dean Story is a personal story of […]

[Posted September 25, 2016] The ancient English proverb “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow” applies fully to the expanding golf program at Uni. From coach Eric Temena: “I am a PGA golf professional by trade and a secondary education teacher through my college degree. As a golf professional at Brentwood Country Club, I conduct all the golf tournaments; give individual and group lessons; grow and promote junior golf programs; and assist managing the golf staff. “I was asked to revive the boy’s golf team at Uni about three years ago […]

[Posted September 20, 2016] Preliminary reporting on the post-Uni destinations of the Class of 2016 show 319 of the class of 350 reporting attending college. Of that group, the top ten destinations (as of August 30) include: 119 Santa Monica College 37 Cal State Northridge 20 West Los Angeles College 11 UCLA 9 Cal State Dominguez Hills 9 Cal State Long Beach 9 UC Irvine 9 UC Riverside 7 Cal State Los Angeles 7 UC San Diego Uni also had grads attending UC Merced (6), UC Berkeley (4), UC Santa […]

[Posted September 15, 2016] The 30-year reunion for the Class of 1986 is coming up on October 1 and an innovative idea has led to a fund-raising opportunity for the Class and for Uni! Kathleen Cohen (kathleencohen@icloud.com), who is leading the organizing effort, reports that through the assistance of classmate Brian Roberts – the Chief Financial Officer of the ride-sharing service Lyft – $25 will be donated by the company for each ride taken to the Reunion, to be matched by Roberts himself! There are conditions, of course: you must […]

[Posted September 7, 2016] The souvenir DVD of the May 15th Kampmann-Patton Honors Luncheon is now on sale through the UHEF.org Web site with about 10 copies still available. The full speaking program is included, along with personal messages to Coach K and the Patton family and a short highlights video of the event. The highlight video – which runs 2:45 – captures some of the speakers and tributes from several of the attendees for Coach Dick Kampmann and Mel Patton ‘43. You can see it here. While they last, […]

[Posted September 1, 2016] A comprehensive program of 20 Advanced Placement courses are being taught at Uni in the 2016-17 term, one more than last year: AP Biology AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Chemistry AP Computer Science 1 AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition AP Environmental Science AP Macroeconomics AP Physics 1 AP Psychology AP Spanish Language and Culture AP Spanish Literature and Culture AP Statistics AP Studio Art: 2-D Design AP Studio Art: 3-D Design AP Studio Art: Drawing AP United States Government […]

[Posted August 27, 2016] The second annual Uni Career Day has been scheduled for Friday, September 30 and alumni are invited to come back to campus and share their experience and advice. The invitation letter to alumni reads: “As part of our efforts to increase career-readiness, University Senior High will host our Second Annual Career Day on September 30, 2016 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. It is with great enthusiasm that we ask you to support our students and school by volunteering your time to present to students that day. […]

[Posted August 20, 2016] Remember the old Uni “WAC Card”? For many years the “Warrior Activity Card” and later the “Wildcat Activity Card,” it provided student purchasers with free admission to Uni athletic and performing arts events. So why not have one for alumni? Now we do! The new UHEF “Warriors & Wildcats Activity Card” will be available in late August for donations of $99 and above. All donors of that amount or more will receive a WWAC card of your very own, which will allow free admission to all […]

[Posted August 13, 2016] Uni’s first Olympian in 68 years overcame a slow start to finish 12th in the Olympic heptathlon in Rio de Janeiro. Barbara Nwaba ‘07 entered the event as the U.S. champion after winning the Olympic Trials in July and had high hopes of competing for a medal. At the Games, she started slowly in the 100-meter hurdles, running 13.81 for 1,005 points. She then high jumped 6-0 (1,016 points) and threw the shot put 48-7 1/4 (848 points) before finishing the day with a mark of […]

[Posted Aug. 1, 2016] The Uni connection to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio has deepened with the daughter of a Uni grad named to the Israeli swim team. Pictured above: Andi Murez (Photo courtesy Wikipedia, by BAswim: Own work, CC BY 4.0) Andi Murez, 24, is a decorated swimmer who won All-American honors at Stanford and represented the U.S. in several international competitions before changing her affiliation to Israel. Her mother, Melanie (Goodman) Murez, graduated from Uni in 1974 and was a member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee […]

[Posted July 21, 2016] After a drought of 68 years, Uni will again be represented in the Olympic Games by 2007 graduate Barbara Nwaba, competing in the two-day, seven-event heptathlon in track & field. Pictured above: Barbara Nwaba in competition Uni grad Jeff Slade ‘63 caught up with Nwaba by telephone last week and provides this interview with the 2015 and 2016 U.S. Heptathlon champion: Slade: So, you’re going to Rio! Tell me about that. Nwaba: Yes, going to Rio. I’ll be competing August 12 and 13, so it’s a […]

[Posted July 18, 2016] A strong turnout of more than 150 alumni, friends and family turned out for the 40-year reunion of the Uni Class of 1976 on July 9. Pictured above: Class of ‘76’s Lisa Agay Getz, Karen Morgen Baranick, Dave Baranick, Randy Cahn, Ellen Lanet, and Tally Rutenberg (Photo courtesy Ronnie Sperling/UHEF) The “Spirit of ‘76″ class – also known as Tomadachi – met at the Marina City Club in Marina del Rey. Reunion chairs Lisa Agay Getz and Leslie Messer Ward hosted a fantastic evening of reminiscing, […]

[Posted July 15, 2016] One of Uni’s most accomplished alumni, Marian Bergeson ‘43, passed away on July 6 in Newport Beach at age 90. The first woman in California history to serve in both the State Assembly and State Senate, first winning election to the Assembly (for the Newport Beach area) in 1978 and to the Senate in 1984. After winning re-election to the Senate twice more, she was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors and served from 1994 to 1996, leaving the post to become California’s Secretary […]

[Posted July 10, 2016] A powerful first-day performance set up 2007 Uni grad Barbara Nwaba to win her second consecutive U.S. championship in the heptathlon and qualify her for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pictured above: Barbara Nwaba ‘07 (Photo courtesy Santa Barbara Track Club) Competing at Oregon’s Hayward Field in cloudy and rainy conditions, Nwaba finished in the top three in three of the four first-day events in the heptathlon: the high jump (first, 6-2 3/4), shot put (third, 46-5 1/2) and 200 m (third, […]

[Posted July 8, 2016] Athletes, authors, entertainers and a couple of alums who were elected to the United States Congress are among the 27 selection of former University High School students listed in the initial compilation of 1,226 members of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s “Hall of Fame.” Pictured above: Bob Collins ‘63, a leader of the LAUSD Alumni Hall of Fame project (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) The project was developed by 1963 Uni grad (and former LAUSD principal) Bob Collins and his wife Sandy, and former Venice High […]

[Posted July 3, 2016] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

[Posted July 1, 2016] Summertime! Although Uni’s Class of 2016 has departed, there is still a lot going on, as noted in issue 44 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Check out ten new Chieftains ~ now a total of 27 years online! Video highlights of the Kampmann-Patton Honors Luncheon also online! Reunions coming up for the classes of 1976, 1986 and 1954! Highlights of the fall football and basketball schedules! Sad news of Warriors who have passed: Morley Moran, Sylvia Rhodes Sherwood and Len Hill. Click here to get […]

[Posted June 29, 2016] Ten more editions of the University High School “Chieftains” between 1937 and 1951 are now posted on the UHEF.org Web site, and available for viewing here. You can take a look at Uni as it was in 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949 and 1951. Pictured above: Cover of the 1941 Chieftain (Photo courtesy UHEF) Because of the nationwide paper drive during World War II, there were no yearbooks for 1943 and 1944, sadly creating a gap in the documentation of the graduating classes […]

[Posted June 25, 2016] If you weren’t one of the nearly 150 attendees at the Kampmann-Patton Honors Luncheon at Uni’s South Gym on May 15, you can get a glimpse of the program from a new video from the Uni Hi Education Foundation. Produced by ImagePeople for the UHEF, the 2:45 video includes snippets of the formal program, including comments by Harvey Stein ‘61, Heidi Howell ‘80, Steve Baum ‘69, Mel Patton biographer Larry Booth and Coach Dick Kampmann. In addition are tributes to Coach K from former students and […]

[Posted June 19, 2016] We’ve had plenty of requests for more pictures of last month’s All-Classes Picnic and Car Show at Uni. Happily, we have more to show you! Elliott Alper was busy snapping photos at the event and we’ve compiled and we’ve compiled some of his best shots into a PDF photo album here. He writes: “I’m Elliott Alper and graduated Emerson Junior High School on June 20,1971 and went on to Fairfax High School (graduated in 1974). “I knew about University High School, but was living in the […]

[Posted June 18, 2016] Nine additional editions of the University High School “Chieftains” between 1929 and 1965 are now posted on the UHEF.org Web site, and available for viewing here. You can take a look at Uni as it was in 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1950 and 1965. Pictured above: Cover of the 1965 Chieftain (Photo courtesy UHEF) Also available on the site is a unique scrapbook of Uni student and faculty involvement in World War II. This notebook carefully logged the participation, theater and press clippings […]

[Posted June 15, 2016] Uni graduated the Class of 2016, but memories have also come alive for nine classes whose Chieftains are now online! Get all the details in the new issue 43 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Check out nine new Chieftains posted from 1929-30-31-32-33-35-36-50 and ’65! Commencement salute to the Class of 2016 from Principal Eric Davidson! The magic of Coach K from a trackman recruited from basketball class! Reunions coming up for the classes of 1961, 1976, 1986 and 1954! Who were Uni’s first female cheerleaders? […]

[Posted June 10, 2016] A festive commencement ceremony was held for 378 members of the Class of 2016 on June 10, on the field at Kampmann Stadium. Uni Principal Eric Davidson saluted the graduates with the following address: “Families, friends, and members of the Class of 2016: “We can change the world. It won’t be one or some of you that will make the change. It will take all of us to heal the disease of complacency that infects us all. No matter the color of our skin, the language […]

[Posted June 3, 2016] For more than four decades, the female side of the Southern California surf culture was epitomized in the story of “Gidget.” In fact, the story of Gidget – in print and on the silver screen – is all about Uni! Gidget, a teenage girl who loves to surf, was written about Kathy Kohner ‘58, first in the 1957 novel, Gidget, The Little Girl With Big Ideas. The author was none other than her father, well-known screenwriter Frederick Kohner, who went on to write eight “Gidget” novels […]

[Posted June 1, 2016] June is not just for graduation, but also for reunions, with all the details in the new issue 42 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Classes of Summer 1956, 2006 and Winter 1961 all planning June reunions! Five winners named for Community Service, Mednick and Moskowitz scholarships! More than faces on a plaque: Dick Kampmann, Mel Patton and Angus Cavanaugh! Class of ’54 announces its 62-year (!) reunion for October! Remember Gidget? Both the real-life and first screen Gidgets went to Uni! Click here to get […]

[Posted May 31, 2016] One of the most important benefits of giving to the Uni Hi Education Foundation is seeing your funds at work to help young people succeed. Each year, the UHEF makes direct contributions to deserving students through three scholarship awards: Outstanding Community Service Award: This is a $1,000 cash award, normally offered to one winner. For 2016, however, the seven submitted essays documented such strong service from three entrants that two full scholarships and a $500 Honorable Mention award were made. The two recipients of the full […]

[Posted May 26, 2016] Alum Rob B. wrote to us, asking a terrific question we get from time to time: Pictured above: Uni hoodies on sale at the Student Store (Photo courtesy Chanel James/University High School) “My brother and I graduated from Uni High. I want to get him a Uni T-shirt, jersey, baseball cap for a ‘big’ birthday. Is there a Student Store where I can purchase something like this?” Answer: Yes! The only place to get authentic Uni merchandise is on-campus at the Student Store, located in the […]

[Posted May 24, 2016] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $1 million has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! […]

[Posted May 24, 2016] Spring means graduation, but does one ever really leave high school? Not for the classes of 1954 and 2006, which have announced reunion plans for October and for this June: Class of 1954: October 15 This class – the Capris – had such a wonderful time at the 60-year affair in 2014 that they have made it an annual affair. Their 62-year reunion – to include a lot of 80th birthday celebrations – is now scheduled for Saturday, October 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. […]

Nearly 150 former coaches, teachers, administrators and students crowded into Uni’s South Gym one week ago to celebrate the unveiling of plaques commemorating the naming of Kampmann Stadium, Patton Track and Cavanaugh Field.

[Posted May 18, 2016] The popular All-Classes Picnic and Car Show returned to Uni’s Upper Field for the first time in three years on May 15, with a brilliant display of vintage and customized cars. Pictured above: A glorious Ford Model T from 1924 … the same year that Uni opened! (Car Show photos courtesy Joel Rothman) Coordinated by Neal Rein ‘66, star classics like the supercharged Cord 812 from 1937 were on display, as was a 1924 Ford Model T, 1926 Ford Model T Tudor, a 1930 Ford Model […]

[Posted May 16, 2016] Four massive acrylic plaques were unveiled at a gala luncheon at the University High School South Gym on Sunday, May 15, to mark the school’s new athletic facilities as Kampmann Stadium, Patton Track and Cavanaugh Field. Pictured above, left to right: Uni Principal Eric Davidson, Coach Dick Kampmann and Shirley Patton and son Gary Patton, in front of the plaques honoring Angus Cavanaugh, Kampmann and Mel Patton (Photo courtesy Jan Fambro). The plaques measure 30 inches wide and 40 inches high, and are made of solid […]

[Posted May 8, 2016] Back by popular demand after a three-year hiatus due to on-campus construction, the Uni Hi Education Foundation presents the Uni All-Classes Picnic and Car Show! The program will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is free. Come back to campus and check out the Uni of today: Opening at 11 a.m.: Uni’s marvelous new AstroTurf football field and all-weather Rekortan running track. A bevy of collector’s cars on the Upper Field, coordinated by Neal Rein ‘66. He reports commitments for classics including […]

[Posted May 2, 2016] Roaring crowds and a high-energy cast made the Uni production of Disney’s “High School Musical” a great success from April 26-29. Pictured above: The entire cast does the Wildcat cheer! (Photo courtesy Ronnie Sperling/UHEF) With one of the largest casts ever for a Uni show, there was plenty of action on the stage for all four performances, including a 3:30 p.m. matinee on April 27 which included students from Uni-area middle schools! Attendance was excellent, including a full house on Friday evening for the closing performance, […]

[Posted May 2, 2016] One of the great Los Angeles “urban legends” is that Frank Sinatra and friends once entertained a Uni class on grad night. Well, it really did happen! Jim Wartman ‘58 wrote in about our March 23 story on the passing of Frank Sinatra, Jr. ‘61. He was preceded at Uni by his sister Nancy, and Jim notes: I am James (Jim) Wartman and am a Vagabond, the class that graduated in June 1958. Nancy [Sinatra] is in our class and did not graduate in 1959. How […]

[Posted May 1, 2016] The All-Classes Picnic & Car Show is back, along with a special salute to Uni legends Dick Kampmann and Mel Patton! Get the details in issue 39 of the UHEF Warriors & Wildcats Report: It’s here: the All-Classes Picnic & Car Show on May 15! Free from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.! Tickets going quickly for the Kampmann Stadium & Patton Track luncheon on May 15! More yearbooks to be posted this summer on UHEF.org: 1950 and 1965 will be next! Reunions coming up for the Classes of […]

[Posted April 22, 2016] If you haven’t been back to Uni in a while, now is the time to plan your trip to the intersection of Texas and Westgate for Disney’s “High School Musical”! The show will premiere at Uni’s Stivelman Theater on April 26, with three additional performances on the 27th, 28th and 29th. Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, Ronnie Sperling, is excited about this show! “Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ is our most ambitious production to date,” he notes. “Exciting choreography, a large cast, awesome sets, contemporary costumes, some […]

[Posted April 15, 2016] Four big events coming to the Uni campus: pick one or all! Get the details in issue 37 of the UHEF Warriors & Wildcats Report: Check out Uni’s production of Disney’s “High School Musical” on April 26-29! Back by popular demand: the All-Classes Picnic & Car Show on May 15! Tickets available online for the Kampmann Stadium & Patton Track luncheon on May 15! A Warrior in need: Dick Agbabian ’75 needs your help… Reunions coming up for the Classes of 1956-61-66-76 and 1986! Click here […]

[Posted April 10, 2016] Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Kenny sang “Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall” way back in 1944. That’s as true today as then, but for some, there is a little more rain. Pictured above: Dick Agbabian ‘75 (center) in happier times at Uni For those who remember Dick Agbabian ‘75, a happy-go-lucky personality who enjoyed a laugh as much as playing varsity baseball, the skies have been dark for some time. And getting darker. His sister explains the tragedy on their fund-raising Web site: My name […]

[Posted April 5, 2016] Back by popular demand: the Uni All-Classes Picnic and Car Show, back on campus after a three-year absence on May 15. In addition to the vintage autos, there will be campus tours, a short State of the School address from Principal Eric Davidson and a special luncheon to commemorate the naming of the new athletics facilities as “Kampmann Stadium” and “Patton Track.” The event is free except for the luncheon, for which there is a separate charge. Stay tuned for more information!   (https://rpdrlatino.com)

[Posted April 2, 2016] It took more than a decade and a concerted effort to get a new, quality track installed, but home track & field meets are now a regular occurrence at Uni. Pictured above: Start of the Boys Varsity 1,600 m race vs. Hamilton and San Pedro (Photos courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) The first meet was a practice (non-scoring) affair vs. Fairfax and L.A. Center for Enriched Studies (LACES) on Thursday, March 10, followed by a three-team meet vs. (https://stratnewsglobal.com) San Pedro and Hamilton on March 16. The Uni-San […]

[Posted April 1, 2016] Busy time at the corner of Texas & Westgate this spring! Lots going on all over the Uni campus: it’s time to come home! Get the details in issue 36 of the UHEF Warriors & Wildcats Report: Help Uni look beautiful and volunteer on Spring Clean-Up Day on April 16! Tickets now available for the Kampmann Stadium & Patton Track luncheon on May 15! Online tickets available for Disney’s “High School Musical” on April 26-29. Reunions coming up for the Classes of 1956-61-66-76 and 1986! Remembering […]

[Posted March 28, 2016] Congratulations to a former Uni star athlete who won another U.S. national championship in track & field: Barbara Nwaba ‘07. After becoming the U.S. Heptathlon champ in 2015 (see her throwing the javelin above) and competing for the United States in the World Track & Field Championships last summer in Beijing, China, she won the U.S. indoor Pentathlon title in Crete, Nebraska on February 26-27 with 4,415 points. Her marks included: 8.62 in the 60 m Hurdles; 6-0 in the High Jump; 46-1 1/2 in the Shot […]

[Posted March 27, 2016] If cleanliness really is next to Godliness, then you have a chance to get closer to heaven on Saturday, April 16. Pictured above: The Uni fall clean-up team from October 2015 (Photo courtesy Janet Hirsch/UHEF) That’s the date for Uni’s semi-annual clean-up session and you can help make the campus more beautiful by lending a hand on “Spring Clean-Up Day.” No need for fancy sign-ups or registration. Just get on your work clothes and come ready to help on April 16 at 8 a.m. The starting point […]

[Posted March 23, 2016] Sad news of the loss of another Warrior: Frank Sinatra, Jr. (1944-2016) on March 16. He was 72. A member of Uni’s Winter ’61 class, the Associated Press obituary noted: Sinatra Jr. followed his father into music as a teenager, eventually working for the senior Sinatra as his musical director and conductor. … Sinatra Jr. was able to provide a link to his father’s music after his death, performing his songs and arrangements on tours and especially in Las Vegas. “Since my father’s death, a lot […]

[Posted March 21, 2016] Reunions for the classes of 1956, 1966 and 1976 were announced months ago, but the Class of 1986 has stepped up. Thanks to the urging and relentless work of Kathleen Cohen and Beth Goldfarb, the 30-year get-together is set: Saturday, October 1, 2016 Marriott Marina del Rey 4100 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey 6 p.m. to Midnight Tickets are also on sale, along with other details (even a good room rate for those coming from out of town!) at the reunion Web site. Pricing depends on […]

[Posted March 15, 2016] Come back to campus! Check out Uni’s production of Disney’s “High School Musical” in April or the All-Classes Picnic and Car Show in May! Get the details in issue 35 of the UHEF Warriors & Wildcats Report: Cars, campus tours and Kampmann Stadium & Patton Track luncheon on May 15! Online tickets available for Disney’s “High School Musical” on April 26-29 Uni teachers Folsoi and Eich reaching out for grants to supplement school budgets Reunions coming up for the Classes of 1956-61-66-76 and 1986! How much […]

[Posted March 12, 2016] Stories about cuts in school funding are old news today, but Uni teachers are finding new ways to add to the curriculum in the form of grants. Pictured above: Uni’s Kerri Eich (right) and KABC-7’s Lori Corbin Two of the leaders in this effort have been librarian Tascha Folsoi and health sciences teacher Kerri Eich. Already in 2016, Folsoi has received three grants to help Uni: “This year I received a grant from DonorsChoose for $500.00. This was used to purchase biblotherapy books, or fiction books […]

[Posted March 7, 2016] The initial posting of Uni yearbooks on UHEF.org has already been a big hit with Uni alumni. This project is now getting ready for the second set of yearbooks to be posted. In response to multiple requests, a process for bringing specific yearbooks online quickly has been created, called “Advanced Publication.” For a donation to the UHEF of $499 (the average cost of digitizing and posting a single yearbook), a specific year can be brought forward in the order and shown online more rapidly than normal. […]

[Posted March 2, 2016] The all-class Uni All-Classes Picnic and Car Show is back! Check out the details in issue 34 of the UHEF Warriors & Wildcats Report: Cars, campus tours and Kampmann Stadium & Patton Track luncheon on May 15! Uni yearbooks for 1950 and 1965 will be up next thanks to Class Presenters! Online tickets available for Disney’s “High School Musical” on April 26-29 Two Uni stars advance to Cal State HS Speech Assn. finals in Santa Clara! Class of 1986: your reunion is being organized! Who’s leading […]

[Posted March 1, 2016] In just its first year as a re-formed, on-campus club, Uni’s Speech & Debate Club qualified two individuals and one alternate to the California High School Speech Association all-state tournament in Santa Clara. Club sponsor Jocelyn Tabata reported on the results from the February 20 Western Bay Forensics League Qualifying Tournament at Torrence High School: “Four members of the Uni Speech and Debate Club competed in the tournament, and all progressed into semis and then three into finals! “The qualifying tournament began with three preliminary rounds. […]

[Posted February 28, 2016] The hit story of rivals trying out for top roles in the school play is coming to Uni’s Stivelman Theater in April and tickets are now available. Uni’s spring 2016 production of Disney’s “High School Musical” will have four performances on April 26-27-28-29 and tickets are now available online at BrownPaperTickets.com. Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76 notes that “Disney’s ‘High School Musical’ is our most ambitious production to date. Exciting choreography, a large cast, awesome sets, contemporary costumes, some modern lighting, and a […]

[Posted February 23, 2016] Fourteen Uni students walked away with prizes in the Westwood Village Rotary Club “Pageant of the Arts” contests held in January. The ‘Pageant of the Arts’ contest – in art, dance, music and speech – is a Rotary International District 5280 program for high school students. The Westwood Village Rotary Club competition awarded prizes of $150 to the winners, $100 for second and $50 for third in each category. The first-place winners in each category will go to the Rotary District 5280 Art Contest at Loyola […]

[Posted February 21, 2016] Best remembered as the pilot Steve Elliott on the 1960s sitcom Petticoat Junction, Uni alumnus Mike Minor passed away on January 28, 2016 in New York City, from cancer. He was 75. Pictured above: Mike Minor in the 1960s. Believed to be a graduate in the Uni Class of 1959, Minor was a trained singer and had two albums released in 1966, but joined the cast of “Petticoat Junction” in the fall for the 1966 season, the fourth of seven in the series. Handsome and commanding […]

[Posted February 15, 2016] The first eight Uni yearbooks have been posted on the new UHEF Web site “Yearbooks” section, with all the details in the new issue 33 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Uni yearbook project now expanding: when will your year go up? Congrats to a Uni football star, signed to play at Hawaii! Uni playoff seedings and match-ups in basketball and soccer! Reunion info for the Classes of 1956-61-66-76; where are ’86 and ’96? Final lists of class names; what happened after 1981? Click here to […]

[Posted February 5, 2016] Thanks to the new Rekortan S all-weather track installed last fall, Uni will once again host track & field meets for the first time in more than a decade this spring. Pictured above: From the 1974 Chieftain, David Duffy (at right) and Steve Rosen in the 220-yard dash vs. Pali! In conjunction with this, the Uni Hi Education Foundation has received multiple alumni requests for a current list of Uni school track & field records. For decades, the Uni records “list” was kept on a giant […]

[Posted February 3, 2016] Congratulations to Uni senior and All-City football star Eugene Ford, who signed a National Letter of Intent to enroll (and play) at the University of Hawaii. Ford (6-2, 185 lbs.) played wide receiver and safety at Uni, but was recruited to be a defensive back for the Rainbow Warriors. Pictured above: Eugene Ford signing his National Letter of Intent (Photo courtesy University HS) Ford signed his National Letter of Intent in a ceremony in the Uni gym on February 3, the first day on which commitments […]

[Posted February 2, 2016] As a part of the National Football League’s salute to Super Bowl 50, Uni received a Wilson Golden Football as part of its Super Bowl High School Honor Roll. The Honor Roll initiative recognizes schools and communities that contributed to Super Bowl history and positively impacted the game of football. From the NFL: “High schools across the nation, and around the world, will receive a commemorative Wilson Golden Football for every player or head coach who graduated from their school and was on an active Super […]

[Posted February 1, 2016] The new “Yearbooks” section of the UHEF Web site is now online, with all the details in the new issue 32 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Check out the first Uni yearbooks now digitized on UHEF.org! You can page through the years, and buy a download for yourself! Uni’s first home track meet in years set for March 11 vs. Dorsey Track & field school records list posted, but help is needed Massive new YMCA building taking shape at Ohio & Westgate Classes of 1986 […]

[Posted January 31, 2016] University High School principal Eric Davidson reports that the Collins & Katz Family YMCA now under construction at Westgate and Ohio Avenues is well on its way to completion: “The YMCA held its topping-out ceremony in November. The roof structure should be complete before El Nino arrives. They are on schedule to be open November of 2016. We are collaborating on a schedule for our instructional and athletics programs.” If you are in the Uni vicinity and have a chance to see this project, it’s quite […]

[Posted January 25, 2016] The first eight of more than 90 Uni yearbooks are now online at the UHEF.org Web site and can be viewed by clicking here! When you get to the Yearbooks page, you can click on any of the covers and browse any of the books now online. If you click the “Take Me to” button below each cover, you’ll be taken to another page with options for: (1) Buying a download (PDF) of that yearbook, for $99, or (2) Buying a download (PDF) of that yearbook […]

[Posted January 16, 2016] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $800,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014 and helped out again in 2015! We […]

[Posted January 15, 2016] It’s a new year at Uni and there’s lots to report about in the new issue 31 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Auditions start for “Disney’s High School Musical” Uni Academic Performance Index up 25.5% from 2000 Uni yearbooks project in test phase; launch coming soon! Fish fry! Uni hoopsters down Palisades, 63-57! Classes of 1986 and 1996: are you holding reunions? Happy 91st birthday to Coach Dick Kampmann! Ann Karagozian ’74 named interim UCLA Vice Chancellor! All Greek to me: freestyle class names from […]

[Posted January 14, 2016] Ann Karagozian ‘74, a longtime professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and former chair of the UCLA Academic Senate, was named as UCLA’s Interim Vice Chancellor for Research on January 11, effective immediately. Pictured above: Prof. Ann Karagozian ‘74 (Photo courtesy UCLA) More from the UCLA announcement: Karagozian, who joined the faculty in 1982, will lead a research enterprise that consistently ranks among the nation’s powerhouses. In the last fiscal year, UCLA received more than $1 billion in competitively awarded grants and contracts and approved more […]

[Posted January 10, 2016] There have been several constants over the more than 90 years of University High School, such as the Administration Building, the spring, and the school yearbook. You have to visit Uni to see the campus and the spring, But soon, you’ll be able to enjoy the yearbooks without leaving home! The Uni Hi Education Foundation has undertaken, in concert with the school, the task of having all of the available yearbooks digitized and made available online, on the UHEF.org site. Once opened, readers will be able […]

[Posted January 7, 2016] Carolyn Vena S ‘56 – wildly named the “Cambodians” – has the details on their 60-year reunion: Pictured above: A classic 1956 Chevy Bel Air 2-Door Hardtop in “Tropical Turquoise” “I would very much appreciate it if you would include information about the upcoming S’56 – 60th Reunion. The Cambodians will be celebrating on Saturday, June 4, 2016 starting at Noon at The Beach Club in Santa Monica. More information will be sent out at the beginning of February. “The ‘Ad Hoc Committee’ has tried calling […]

[Posted January 6, 2016] The unstoppable Uni Theatre Arts team, fresh off the success of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” is readying its spring spectacular, “Disney’s High School Musical.” Theatre Arts chief Ronnie Sperling ‘76 posted this note, with the first step: auditions. “Exciting news! The University High Spring Musical is Disney’s High School Musical. “Auditions are Tuesday, January 19th and Wednesday, January 20th. Callbacks are Thursday, January 21st. The auditions will be held in Stivelman Theater from 3:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please be on time and expect […]

[Posted January 2, 2016] With the start of a new year, how about taking a few minutes to help Uni by making your purchases go a little further! Here’s how: Use your Ralphs Rewards Card: One of the easiest ways to donate to Uni is via the Ralphs Rewards Card. As part of its Community Contribution program, from 1-4% of monthly purchases made by members is sent to Uni, but only if you designate the school by linking it to your Rewards Card. Have your card handy (you’ll need the […]

[Posted January 1, 2016] Happy New Year, Warriors and Wildcats! And with the new year comes issue 30 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report: Uni student body snapshot: 1,670 students in 2015-16 Uni yearbooks project accelerating; launch coming soon! Massive renovation project at Emerson Middle School dedicated 60-year reunion of the Cambodians ’56 announced for June 4! Contribute to Uni via Amazon.com or your Ralphs Rewards Card! A third U.S. general was closely affiliated with Uni! Class names update: crazy names from the 1930s! Click here to get issue no. […]

[Posted December 28, 2015] The Los Angeles Unified School District requires that each of its school collect a census of the student body for each academic year. For the 2015-16 year, Uni’s demographic spread as of December was: Hispanic: 916 students (54.9%) Black: 399 students (23.9%) White: 172 students (10.3%) Asian: 126 students (7.5%) Filipino: 34 students (2.0%) Pacific Islander: 7 students (0.4%) American Indian/Alaska native: 4 students (0.2%) Unknown: 12 students (0.7%) The total of 1,670 students, in grades 9-12, is a different reality from the 3,000+ students that […]

[Posted December 20, 2015] Roger Peterson S ‘47 sent in a contribution to the UHEF along with happy news of his retirement: “[I] will finally retire after 75 years on a payroll including the United States Air Force (37 years from Private to Major General), United Technologies (10 years), Swiss Bank Corporation (12 years) and finally SunSouth Bank (14 years).” He notes that “Thanks to you wonderful taxpayers, [I] received military scholarships to UCLA (B.S.), University of Colorado (M.S.), Harvard and CalTech.” He retired from the Air Force on June […]

[Posted December 17, 2015] Two fall traditions in Los Angeles: Uni opens its doors for a new academic year The Uni High Education Foundation publishes its annual newsletter For 2015, the UHEF Annual Newsletter, edited by UHEF Co-President Judy Wolfenstein, runs to 20 pages, with features including: A list of all UHEF donors for the 2014-15 school year How your UHEF donations are used Recaps of class reunions held during the year UHEF annual scholarship awards A history of the Stivelman Theater on campus Class notes from 1939-1999! The newsletter […]

[Posted December 16, 2015] One of Uni’s main feeder schools, Emerson Middle School, has been under construction for almost two years, receiving its first major improvement work since 1940! Pictured above: Emerson principal Dimone Watson (Photos courtesy Howard Fine/UHEF) The project was formally dedicated on November 18, in the new gymnasium, which rises above Selby Avenue. Board of Education President Steve Zimmer, who dedicated Uni’s new field and track on October 18, presided over the ceremony. (www.utahcnacenters.com) The Emerson facilities improvement program included: New gymnasium, with a basketball court, dance […]

[Posted December 15, 2015] Now posted is issue 29 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report, with important news for those of you who want to see your senior-class photo online: New project will bring Uni’s 90+ yearbooks to the Web in 2016! Sparking success for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” News of Uni’s revived Speech & Debate Team! Uni class reunions schedule for 2016! Contribute to Uni via Amazon.com or your Ralphs Rewards Card! News from and about class members from 1947, 1949, 1968 and 1975 Class names update: […]

[Posted December 7, 2015] Lots of laughs, singing and enthusiastic stagecraft added up to four marvelous performances of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Uni’s Stivelman Theater last weekend. Pictured above: The happy cast of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” (All photos courtesy Ronnie Sperling) “The show rocked,” noted Ronnie Sperling ‘76, Uni’s Director of Theater Arts, who oversaw the production, and was able to share some of the following moments from the show: Coming up next: “Disney’s High School Musical,” in performance from April 26-29! Mark your […]

[Posted December 1, 2015] Now posted is issue 28 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report, featuring the premiere of Uni’s Fall show: “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” premieres December 3! First look at Uni’s winter sports calendar Coverage of the Class of ’54 annual reunion! News from and about class members from 1942, 1949, 1957, 1973, 1977 and more! Did you know that the 1925 (first) yearbook was NOT called “Chieftain”? Click here to get issue no. 28 in PDF format; for more information, check out the rest of […]

[Posted November 27, 2015] Uni’s classes of 1953 – the eLAyens of Winter and the Jamaicans of Summer – gathered for their 60+2-year reunion on October 17, with a strong turnout. Pictured above: The Classes of 1953 Reunion Committee (All photos courtesy Jane Hills) Class member Jane Hills sent along this report: “Our 60+2-year reunion was a joyful occasion. It was held at the Proud Bird Restaurant by the airport. They were exceptional in their food and decorations. “Ninety-seven of our classmates attended, [including] from Hawaii, Georgia, Connecticut, Maine, Arizona, […]

[Posted November 19, 2015] The class that plays together, stays together! Pictured above: Twenty happy Capries: (back row) Erin (Kavanaugh) Boomer, Jim Wood, Dave Ryan, Marilyn (Webb) Howard, Bob Cohen, Chuck Lichter; (middle row) Janet (Moon) Adams, Nancy (Wheeler) Branch, Pat (Morrison) Newman, Bob Nairin, Don Roth, Pam (Colvey) Najar, Jack Howard; (front row) Michaela (Rayl) Foley, Donna (Ruedy) Hermann, Barbara Taplin, Inez (Roston) Gelfand; Mitzi Kono, Carla (Sampson) Lowe. (Photo courtesy Michaela Foley) The Class of S ‘54 – Capries – 60-year reunion in 2014 was such a success […]

[Posted November 15, 2015] Now posted is issue 27 of the Warriors & Wildcats Report, with two important events coming up: Nov. 19: Uni Career Day: share your story with today’s students! (https://www.srmfre.com/) Dec. 03: “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” premieres on-campus! Report on the Class of ’55 Reunion News from and about class members from 1952, 1958, 1962 and 1973! Check out Uni’s crazy class names of the 1950s! Click here to get issue no. 27 in PDF format; for more information, check out the rest of this […]

[Posted November 9, 2015] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $600,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014! We salute and thank our 81 contributors […]

[Posted November 2, 2015] Beginning last June, the long-lost yellow-on-black California license plates, used from 1963 to 1969, came back into production again as special-order Legacy License Plates, thanks to special legislation passed in Sacramento. Larry Tistaert ‘59 didn’t waste any time and now has an elegant plate that reads “UNI 59.” He sent along an excellent picture, shown above. “I thought someone besides me might enjoy my new retro license plate. I ordered it more than a year ago and received it a couple weeks ago. I already sent […]

[Posted November 1, 2015] Check out our biggest Warriors & Wildcats Report ever: New UHEF Calendar of Events! Did you get your UHEF Annual Newsletter in the mail yet? Full coverage of the October 22 dedication of “Kampmann Stadium” and “Patton Track” Alumni wanted to speak to Uni students at Career Day on November 19 Online ticket sales now open for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Updates from class members from 1953, 1959 and 1973! Check out a vintage, Uni-themed license plate! Click here to get issue no. 26 […]

[Posted October 25, 2015] For the record, here’s a transcript of the remarks given at the October 22 dedication of the new Uni field and track, with many additional photographs courtesy of UHEF Co-President Ivan Finkle: Steve Zimmer President, LAUSD Board of Education Good afternoon, everybody. I’ve got my Wildcat hat and I do so much appreciate being here, getting the chance to emcee this dedication. I want to add to what Lorena said: Thank you to our amazing students, Color Guard, Cheer, Band. Thank you so much for being […]

[Posted October 23, 2015] A hardy contingent of 65 “Grecians” celebrated their 60-year Reunion at The Olympic Collection in West Los Angeles on Saturday evening, October 17. Pictured above: Grecians Dennis Johnson, Bob Garfield and John Fleischer at their 60-year Reunion on October 17 (Photo courtesy John Fleischer and Dr. Robert Garfield) The attendees from the Summer 1955 class came from as far away as Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Carolina to the east, and Vancouver from the north. “All had a fabulous and fun time, mostly just trying to recognize […]

[Posted October 22, 2015] In the presence of politicians, school officials and one of Uni’s two Olympic medal winners, the school’s new football field and all-weather track were dedicated on Thursday afternoon. Pictured above: The official ribbon-cutting ceremony, with (from left) LAUSD Board President Steve Zimmer, Coach Dick Kampmann and Uni Principal Eric Davidson (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) The facilities were named for two Uni legends and will henceforth be known as “Richard Kampmann Stadium” after the legendary Uni cross-country and track & field coach, and “Mel Patton Track,” after […]

[Posted October 19, 2015] Like so many civic institutions, University High School can use a little polishing. So the school organized a quite-successful, first-annual Fall Cleaning last Saturday morning (October 17). Pictured above: The Uni Fall Cleaning team, ready for action (Photo courtesy Janet Hirsch/UHEF) Uni Hi Education Foundation board member Janet Hirsch reported: “We had 84 people show up: 46 Uni students, one middle school student, 33 parents/guardians/friends, plus myself, [history teacher Rachel] Juarez and [principal Eric] Davidson . . . and boy were they workers. “We filled one […]

[Posted October 18, 2015] The stunning new AstroTurf football field and Rekortan running track at Uni will be formally dedicated by the Los Angeles Unified School District on Thursday, October 22, at 2 p.m., at the new facility. Pictured above: Coach Dick Kampmann (Photo courtesy UHEF) The public will be welcomed to the field area, where LAUSD Board of Education President Steve Zimmer – in whose District 4 area Uni is located – will preside over ceremonies marking the amazing transformation of Uni’s athletic field and track from one of […]

[Posted October 17, 2015] Uni alumni and friends are being asked to come and share their life experiences with Uni students to help show them the multitude of paths that they can take in their lives. “Career Day” will be held on November 19 at Uni from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. along the following schedule: 10:00 a.m.: Meet in the Parent Center Welcome and Program Overview 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Classroom presentations: 2 x 30 minutes Guests share their careers with two classes 11:30 a.m.: Tour of new facilities at Uni “We’d […]

[Posted October 15, 2015] Lots going on at Uni: Dedication ceremony for “Kampmann Stadium” and “Patton Track” on October 22 Uni scores on California state tests critiqued Alumni wanted to speak to Uni students at Career Day on November 19 Online ticket sales now open for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Reunions: Classes of 1954, 1955, 1966 and 1976 getting ready! Updates from class members from 1950 and 1974! When will the All-Classes Picnic and Car Show be held again? Click here to get issue no. 25 in PDF […]

[Posted October 2, 2015] Maybe you can go home again! Uni has 14 alumni serving as members of the teaching and counseling staff for the 2015-16 academic year: Steve Ackerman: Teacher/Social Studies Roberta Barnes: School Psychologist Daniel Bravo: Counselor Walter Burgos: Teacher/Special Education Leslie Coleman: Teacher/Spanish Brenda Fabbro: Teacher/Physical Education Tascha Folsoi: Librarian Dale Fuqua-Caballero: Teacher/Spanish Sam (German) Estrada: Teacher/Social Studies Susie (Koshinsky) Moreno: Library Aide Vivian Mehlman: Special Education Aide Claudia Monge: Teacher/Mathematics Jack Morgan: Teacher/Social Studies Victor Silva: Teacher/English Thanks to all of these alumni, serving the next […]

[Posted October 1, 2015] Uni’s Director of Theatre Arts, Ronnie Sperling ‘76, reports that a solid turnout of 75 auditioners for parts in the December production of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” resulted in the casting of the 11 primary parts: Charlie Brown: Andy Santiago Sally Brown: Sarai Benitez Marcie: Francesca Cojuangco Peppermint Patty: Victoria Saxxon Pig Pen: Jalon Moore Snoopy: Ayanna Jimenez Schroeder: Aaron Samos Linus Van Pelt: Ryan McNeil Lucy Van Pelt: Veraliz Cornett Woodstock: Claire Hafteck Swing/Assistant to the Director & Choreographer: Cassandra Bridges With the […]

[Posted October 1, 2015] Keeping up with the Warriors & Wildcats: Uni 11th graders score well in English section of California state exams! Online ticket sales now open for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Reunions: Classes of 1954, 1955, 1966 and 1976 getting ready! Donate to Uni by registering your Ralphs Reward Card! Updates from class members from 1952, 1963, 1974 and 1981! Check out the list of 14 Uni grads now serving as teachers and staff! Click here to get issue no. 24 in PDF format; for more […]

[Posted September 15, 2015] It’s already a busy fall semester on campus: Uni is offering 19 Advanced Placement courses; see the full list! Strong turnut for auditions for “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” Reunions: Classes of 1954, 1955, 1966 and 1976 getting ready! Ralphs shoppers: register your Rewards Card to donate 1-4% to Uni! Two Class of ’74 grads in the news for a new book and a lost voice! Longest-serving teacher at Uni started in 1980! Click here to get issue no. 23 in PDF format. Spread the […]

[Posted September 1, 2015] Uni is open for the fall semester and you can help: Ralphs shoppers: register your Rewards Card to donate up to 4% to Uni! “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” auditions coming September 9-10 Two Uni footballers earn pre-season notices from the Los Angeles Times Reunions: Classes of 1954, 1955, 1966 and 1976 getting ready! A fifth Uni grad made Judo a success at the Special Olympics World Games Because you asked: why the Warriors became the Wildcats Click here to get issue no. 22 in […]

[Posted August 24, 2015] One of the easiest ways to donate to Uni directly is via the Ralphs Rewards Card. As part of its Community Contribution program, up to 4% of monthly purchases made by Ralphs Rewards Card members is sent to Uni, but only if you designate the school by linking it to your Rewards Card. It’s pretty easy: The program is only for Ralphs Rewards Card members, so be sure you have a card (you can enroll online or get one for free at any store). Have your […]

[Posted August 15, 2015] Two beloved musicals are on tap for Uni’s Theater Arts program this year, starting with “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” set for four performances over three days in December: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 3-4-5. “Great songs, huge laughs and memorable characters will make this a show that audiences of any age are going to fall in love with,” enthuses Uni Theatre Arts director Ronnie Sperling ‘76, coming off a marvelous spring production of “Into the Woods.” Sperling has already announced the spring show, coming […]

[Posted August 15, 2015] It’s hard to believe, but it is back-to-school time for Uni students, faculty and staff for the 2015-16 academic year. University High School’s 92nd school year will begin this coming week and we’re ready with this new edition: A look at where Uni stands now and what YOU can do to help make Uni shine Uni’s Theater Arts program: two terrific shows coming in December and April Class of 2015 college choices, including a Uni grad headed to West Point! Sports schedules for the fall, plus […]

[Posted July 30, 2015] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, nearly $600,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014! We salute and thank our 35 contributors from […]

[Posted June 15, 2015] Uni’s Class of 2015 has now graduated, with 45 going attend a University of California campus and 50 more heading to the California State University system. Special congratulations to Monte Ho, admitted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and to Pablo Lopez, who enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. The following list are only highlights of the college-choice roster printed in the Senior Edition of The Wildcat, Uni’s student newspaper: Alabama A&M (1) Boise State University (1) Cal State Bakersfield […]

[Posted June 10, 2015] Please find below the full text of Steven Udvar-Hazy’s Commencement Address to the Class of 2015 at Uni’s graduation ceremonies on June 4, 2015 Pictured above: At Commencement Day were Commencement Speaker Steven Udvar-Hazy, Uni Principal Eric Davidson and L.A. School Board Member Steve Zimmer (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) “Start Now” Distinguished Graduates, Ladies and Gentlemen, faculty, parents and families, it is a pleasure to stand here 50 years after my graduation, before so many accomplished and talented students and faculty. Today we are all here […]

[Posted May 31, 2015] The Uni Hi Education Foundation delivered three scholarship awards to deserving seniors in the Class of 2015. Applicants for two of the awards wrote essays specific to those programs, and the awardees were selected by the UHEF Board of Directors. The awards were presented at the annual awards ceremony on May 20. The UHEF Outstanding Community Service Award ($1,000) was made to Abigail Diaz. She has worked with Prime Time, an after-school program for kids with developmental disabilities, sponsored by UCLA, as well as at Arlington […]

[Posted May 15, 2015] The hard, uneven dirt that was the University High School football field and track are no more. A gorgeous AstroTurf field and bright red, Rekortan S all-weather track are now available after the completion of the field and track renovation this week. The old field and cinder track were plowed under in late 2014 and the site cleared in December. From there, the lengthy process of getting the field surface installed took a little more than four months. The track under-surface was completed about the same […]

[Posted May 8, 2015] An enthusiastic cast and an equally-happy audience enjoyed the debut of Uni’s Spring 2015 production of “Into The Woods” at the Stivelman Theater on campus on Friday evening. Pictured above: Billy Ortiz as Cinderella’s Prince, pines for the girl who fits the golden slipper (Photo courtesy UHEF) From the energetic opening that filled the stage to Sarai Benitez’s charming portrayal of Little Red Riding Hood, the program moved briskly through the tale of the Baker (Ryan McNeil) and his wife (Alex Strong) who were childless due […]

[Posted May 1, 2015] Congratulations to Larry Booth, author of the just-released book, Worlds Fastest Humans, a look at three great Los Angeles-area sprint stars of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s: Charlie Paddock, Frank Wykoff and Uni’s own Mel Patton. The 72-page paperback traces the careers of these three students of USC coach Dean Cromwell, all of whom set or equaled the world record in the 100-yard dash between 1921 and 1948. The work is lavishly replete with news clippings of the day that give an authentic, “you were there” […]

[Posted April 30, 2015] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, nearly $600,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. Anyone can contribute: 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High, joined the ranks of donors in 2014! We salute and thank our 58 contributors from […]

[Posted April 15, 2015] Hard hats and safety vests were distributed to a half-dozen Uni alumni and supporters on April 7, who toured the remarkable new football field now almost completely installed, with the all-weather track to follow. Pictured above: The new, AstroTurf-covered Uni football field (Photo courtesy UHEF) Steven Oh of Ohno Construction, which is managing the installation, described in detail the new, state-of-the-art field, featuring AstroTurf 3D60 Extreme. Although a synthetic carpet, the look and feel of the fibers are very much like grass, but with considerably more […]

[Posted April 1, 2015] Two Uni grads who went on to fame as coaches will be inducted as members of the third class of the Los Angeles City Schools Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, April 26 at the Hilton Doubletree in Culver City. Pictured above: Jim Mora, an all-League end at Uni who became a championship pro football coach. Jim Mora ‘53, who was an all-league end at Uni, went on to become a highly successful coach in college and professional football. He held the head coaching position at […]

[Posted March 6, 2015] Excellent progress is being made on the installation of the new AstroTurf football field and eight-lane, all-weather track at Uni. This L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) project, being built by Ohno Construction, is expected to be completed in late May. Pictured above: An aerial view of the Uni field and track project from December 2014. (Photo courtesy Ohno Construction) When completed, several new elements will be added to the complex. One will be a new scoreboard to be mounted on the Westgate Avenue (west side), which […]

[Posted March 3, 2015] After a sensational 174 donors in the fourth quarter of 2014, it was no surprise that donations were well down in January. However, we’re pleased to post the names (by class year) of the 11 donors who did contribute during the month: Gloria Sullivan Cotchonis 1946 Barbara & Hayden Smith W/1950 Selma Shanks Kahl 1952 Patricia Ganz Sheehan S/1957 Mary Sue Andrews Hart W/1961 Beverly Broger 1969 Carolyn Pohlmeyer 1969 Steven Slaff 1970 David Marcellitti 1979 Ardeshir (Ardy) Haerizadeh 1985 Elizabeth Traubman (no class given) The […]

[Posted February 25, 2015] Thanks to the wide success of the motion picture version of “Into The Woods,” Uni Director of Theatre Arts Ronnie Sperling ‘76 expected good interest for parts in his Spring 2015 version when auditions opened in mid-January. But 70 applicants for only half as many parts? “Huge turnout!!!,” noted Sperling. “Three days of auditions.” The lengthy casting process involved not just reading for parts, but singing and movement trials to fit into the show. The number of auditions is the most in recent memory, signaling high […]

[Posted February 22, 2015] It’s true that classroom technology and the L.A. Unified School District are not always synonymous. But Uni has started to change that, per Principal Eric Davidson: Pictured above: Uni principal Eric Davidson demonstrating new in-classroom technologies (Photo courtesy Richard Satnick/UHEF). “The point is this: for $10,000 we can modernize a classroom to give teachers and students access to innovative practices to increase achievement and truly use technology as a learning tool. “The transformation is amazing and demonstrates how a 20th century building can be brought into […]

[Posted February 15, 2015] A full house of more than 220 alumni, co-coaches and friends came out to salute a very surprised Dick Kampmann (yes, he was surprised!) for his 90th birthday on February 7 at Pepperdine University. Pictured above: Coach K greets 1973 Cross-Country captain Danny McQuoid, who flew from Sao Paolo, Brazil, to join in the birthday salute. (Photo courtesy Lisa Duffy Atkin/UHEF) Uni alumni dating back to Kampmann’s first team in 1960 (!) were on hand to speak, with Western League 880 yards champion Harvey Stein getting […]

[Posted February 1, 2015] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, nearly $600,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. We salute and thank our 171 contributors from the fourth quarter of 2014, including 103-year-old Hal Cunningham, who attended the school when it was known as Warren G. Harding High! Contributors are listed by […]

[Posted January 23, 2015] Uni’s legendary cross-country and track & field coach Dick Kampmann reached 90 years of age on January 13, but alumni from as far away as Brazil are headed back to Southern California for a surprise birthday party. The cake, candles and memories will be on display beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, February 7, 2015 at The Waves Café at Pepperdine University (where Kampmann coached cross country and track after retiring from Uni). Kampmann taught physical education and coached at Uni from 1960-84, leaving a […]

[Posted January 12, 2015] An unknown 17th Century author first penned the words “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” The Uni Class of 1954 – the Capries – are doing something about it. Pictured above: The Class of 1954 60-year reunion (Photo courtesy Michaela Foley) Reunion correspondent Michaela Foley’s comprehensive review of the event is a blueprint for classes who want to get together, but haven’t found the right format or formula. The Capries made a weekend out of it. Highlights: “On October 18, 2014, about 31 classmates and 21 […]

[Posted January 4, 2015] It is with considerable sadness that we report the passing of Maj. Gen. Paul Dettmer, a 1973 Uni grad, on December 29. Pictured above: The late Maj. Gen. Paul Dettmer ‘73 (Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force) Just 59, Dettmer had been battling cancer, as reported on October 7. He died at his home in Centreville, Virginia, with his family. Many more details of his life and career are included in a lengthy obituary here. He is survived by his wife, Cathy and children Ali and Andrew, […]

[Posted January 2, 2015] Best wishes for a healthy and safe 2015 from the Uni Hi Education Foundation, the primary alumni support organization for University High School. Classes will begin again in a few days; the new semester schedule highlights include: > Jan. 12                     Spring Semester begins > Spring                      New football field and all-weather track completed > May 04-May 15     Advanced Placement testing > May 08-May 09   […]

[Posted December 14, 2014] What is now University High School was originally Warren G. Harding High School, which opened in 1924. The name of the school was changed to recognize the opening of the new UCLA campus in nearby Westwood in 1929. Pictured above: The Honorary Diploma given to 103-year-old Hal Cunningham (Photo courtesy UHEF) Harold “Hal” Cunningham was born in 1911 and attended Harding High School in what was then known as the “Sawtelle” section of Los Angeles, beginning in 1926. Unfortunately, he never quite finished. Now 103, Cunningham […]

[Posted December 11, 2014] After all the politicking and promises, the conversion of Uni’s ancient, pitted football field and dirt track is now well underway. Ohno Construction, the contractor responsible for the job sent these now-and-then pictures, from September 10 as the work was just starting (below), and from November 19 (above). In the November photo, the clearance and grading of the field and track areas is nearly complete, ready for the next phase. Also of interest is the graded area behind the existing football-field bleachers, being cleared under a […]

[Posted December 1, 2014] Uni students have many talents. Now we’re going to find out who’s funny! The school’s irrepressible theater-arts impresario Ronnie Sperling ‘76 has lined up his newest attraction, “Comedy Improv at UNI,” a series of eight open-mike programs to give Uni students a chance to impress classmates, peers and friends of Uni by reducing them to tears . . . of laughter. The sessions are scheduled from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. in classroom 384 on: December 3: Wednesday December 4: Thursday December 8: Monday December 10: […]

[Posted November 28, 2014] With the holiday shopping season now in full swing, don’t forget to help Uni every time you buy from Amazon.com! Through a program that helps fund local schools, Amazon donates a portion of its sales which come to it through a qualified click. Uni has participated in the program for more than a year, and has already received more than $1,000. On UniversityWildcats.org – Uni’s official Web site – the Amazon logo is on the home page on the left-hand side . . . just scroll […]

[Posted November 27, 2014] Out of change comes opportunity. When the award-winning Santa Monica Chorus lost its long-time rehearsal home upon the retirement of its director, supporter and Uni Tech Arts Department Chair Danna Coonen-Lee asked Principal Eric Davidson if the group could use some space on campus. The answer was yes, and in return the Chorus is holding its winter concert at Uni’s Stivelman Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. Half of all ticket sales will go to benefit the Uni Student Body Fund, up to $2,000 […]

[Posted November 17, 2014] It takes some theater-goers a lifetime to see all 37 of William Shakespeare’s plays. Uni’s theater arts group ran through all of them – more or less – in less than 90 minutes last weekend in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).” Pictured above: The Uni cast’s version of “To Be Or Knot To Be” . . . Get it? (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) “The show was a complete smash this last weekend,” exulted Uni Theater Arts director Ronnie Sperling ‘76. “The Friday [school] Assembly […]

[Posted November 11, 2014] Did you know that you can help Uni every time you buy from Amazon.com? Through a program that helps fund local schools, Amazon donates a portion of its sales which come to it through a qualified click. Uni has participated in the program for more than a year, and has already received more than $1,000. On UHEF.org, the “activated” Amazon logo is on the “How You Can Help” page. Helping Uni is as easy as clicking on the Amazon logo you see on the screen every […]

[Posted November 6, 2014] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $550,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. We salute and thank our contributors for October 2014: Harry Andrew S ‘51 Bonnie (Geller) Aylesworth ‘76 Joanna (Tanner) Ballard W ‘53 Donna (Hurd) Branin ‘44 Class of 1956 Diane (Falconer) Cunningham ‘47 […]

[Posted November 3, 2014] More than 200 students and parents attended Uni’s annual “College Knowledge Night” on campus on October 29. Pictured above: Students and school reps at Uni’s College Knowledge Night (Photo courtesy Dr. Richard Satnick/UHEF) Seven different workshop sessions were held in two different time periods illuminating important topics including standardized testing, finding the best fit in a college, admissions to the University of California system, the Community College option and transitions to four-year universities, NCAA-compliant recruiting practices for high school athletes, financial aid basics and more. In […]

[Posted October 28, 2014] Excel and you will be noticed. Local television stations KABC-7 and KNBC-4 both found stories they liked at Uni that have aired, or will air, this week. Pictured above: KABC-7 nutrition and fitness reporter Lori Corbin interviewing Uni students on October 9 (Photo courtesy Kerri Eich/Uni) Coming up on Thursday (October 30), an in-depth report is scheduled to air on the second edition of “The Uni Project,” featuring Kerri Eich’s health class and the NutriBullet program of healthy breakfast shakes. KABC’s Lori Corbin, “The Food Coach,” […]

[Posted October 21, 2014] If you never quite got the chance to see all 37 of William Shakespeare’s plays, here’s your chance to do it . . . in about 90 minutes! Under the direction of Ronnie Sperling ‘76, the Uni Theatre Arts troupe will present four performances of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” on-campus on November 14, 15, 21 and 22. Sperling, who can barely contain his enthusiasm under normal conditions, can’t wait to share his latest collaboration with Uni’s 2014 performers: “‘The Complete Works of William […]

[Posted October 15, 2014] Kerri Eich wasn’t sure if a public-private partnership program to help her first-period health class to eat fruits and vegetables would have any impact. Pictured above: “The Uni Project” participants with souvenirs to remember their new, healthier lifestyle. (Photo courtesy Ivan Finkle/UHEF) In front of more than 200 enthusiastic attendees at Uni’s Stivelman Theatre, Eich celebrated the success of “The Uni Project.” In coordination with blender maker and healthy-eating evangelists NutriBullet, the amazing story of Eich’s students was shared during the screening of a 39-minute documentary. […]

[Posted October 12, 2014] Say hello to the Western League-leading University Wildcats! Pictured above: Uni coach Lee Lowe addresses an ecstatic Wildcat squad after its 14-7 win at Venice (Photo courtesy University HS) Uni snapped a 21-game losing streak to perennial league-leader Venice with a surprise 14-7 victory on the road last Friday. The Wildcats also ended Venice’s run of 43 straight wins over Western League opponents. The upset did not go unnoticed, with significant coverage from the Los Angeles Times and from the online Los Angeles Sports Journal. From […]

[Posted October 8, 2014] The 60-year reunion of Uni’s Grecian Class of Summer 1955 has been set for October 17, 2015. The site will be the conveniently-located Olympic Collection Conference Center at the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards in West Los Angeles. For more details, please contact Dr. Robert E. Garfield at (310) 472-2949 or drrobertgarfield@aol.com, or Lois B. Golden at (310) 472-0198.

[Posted October 6, 2014] If you attended Uni in the early-to-mid 1970s, chances were you knew a Dettmer. Pictured above: U.S. Air Force Major General Paul Dettmer ‘73 (Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force) Tommy (Class of ‘72) was an All-City distance runner, earning honors in cross country and track & field. Younger brother Paul (‘73) was a center on Tom Anderson’s varsity basketball team and youngest brother Bob (‘75) was also a standout varsity basketball player. In Paul’s case, his graduation from Uni was the beginning of a long service […]

[Posted October 5, 2014] The mission of the Uni Hi Education Foundation is to raise funds for the continued support of Uni’s academic, athletic and performing arts programs. Created in 1985 to counter the effects on Uni of budget cuts across the L.A. Unified School District, more than $550,000 has been raised to assist faculty and students. We salute and thank our contributors for September 2014: Katrina Kuizenga Bergen ‘71 Zizi Fouquet Judy Kleinberg ‘65 Joseph Green ’55 Ronald McNichols ’56 Paul Merified ‘50 Linda Haithcock Pequegnat ‘49 Don Roth […]

[Posted October 1, 2014] You don’t have to wait for 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years to have a reunion! Just ask the Class of Winter ‘56 . . . Pictured above: Attendees of the Class of Winter ‘56 reunion, smiling from the recently-completed Uni amphitheatre, near the Classroom Building. (Photo courtesy Marsha Franks Cohen) Marsha Franks Cohen shared the details of her class’s unique 58-year reunion: “The weekend of September 12-14, 2014 found 35 Unihi alums (plus their guests) from the class of Winter ’56 gathering for their […]

[Posted October 1, 2014] Uni alumni and friends who have missed the annual all-classes picnic on campus are being asked to be patient a little longer. Pictured above: Construction is underway to install a new football field and all-weather track at Uni, with the work slated for completion in 2015. (Photo courtesy Walter Burgos/UHS) “We’ve had multiple inquiries about when the all-classes picnic and classic car show will be held again,” said Uni Hi Education Foundation co-president Ivan Finkle ‘50. “Although we would like to hold it, it’s just not […]

[Posted September 24, 2014] Smoothies are great, but there is nothing smooth about getting students to consume more fruits and vegetables. Uni teacher (and head volleyball coach) Kerri Eich of the School of Health and Environmental Sciences wanted to change that. Pictured above: The Uni “Blast Bar” smoothie assembly line (Photo courtesy Kerri Eich/Uni and NutriBullet) In 2013, Eich’s first-period health class undertook a 12-week study on the impact of adding more (or simply introducing) fruits and vegetables to student diets. In cooperation with NutriBullet, makers of a specialized blender […]

[Posted September 16, 2014] There’s a long and close relationship between Uni and the entertainment industry that was blossoming when the school opened in 1924. Pictured above: Denny Miller as “Tarzan the Ape Man” in an MGM movie poster for the 1959 film. But only one Uni grad has played the famed role of “Tarzan”: Denny Miller, who passed away on September 9 at age 80. Born in 1934, Miller attended Uni in the early 1950s and went on to UCLA, where he played basketball for legendary coach John Wooden. […]

[Posted September 9, 2014] A lengthy campaign to updated Uni’s ancient athletic facilities will finally reach fruition with the start of construction later this month on a new FieldTurf football field, surrounded by an eight-lane, all-weather track. Pictured above: An archived aerial view of Uni, with Cavanagh Field in the middle, circa 2008 (before the current gymnasium was built). [Google Earth photograph] The Facilities Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District has confirmed the project, with groundbreaking slated for late September. Completion is expected in the spring, perhaps even […]

[Posted September 8, 2014] William Shakespeare wrote 37-plus plays, many of which are considered among the finest ever conceived in the English language. Pictured above: A not-completely-thrilled William Shakespeare will have all 37 of his works featured – in one night – by the Uni Theatre Arts corps in November. If you’d like to see them all (sort of) in a single sitting, check out “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” from the Uni Theatre Arts department, offered in four performances this November. The work is a hilarious send-up […]

[Posted September 1, 2014] What’s happening at Uni? What reunions are coming up? What’s with the new construction inside the fence at Westgate & Ohio? All these questions and more are covered in the new “Warriors & Wildcats Report.” It’s designed as a once- or twice-a-month update from the Uni Hi Education Foundation to keep the Warrior and Wildcat family informed during the school year. It’s free and sent via e-mail. Tell your friends to sign up via the “Subscribe now” button on the home page of the UHEF.org site. […]

[Posted August 25, 2014] A revitalized theatre arts program at Uni will benefit from an unexpected donation from the Class of 1974 reunion held last March. Pictured above: An ecstatic Ronnie Sperling ‘76, director of Uni’s Theatre Arts programs, accepts the Class of ‘74 donation from Rich Perelman and Lisa Duffy Atkin. (Photo courtesy UHEF) The Chenoa Class organizers decided quite late to add a raffle to the reunion, selling tickets on-site to enter a drawing for items offered by class members: shooting lessons, a celebrity-chef-cooked dinner, kitchen makeover and […]

[Posted August 19, 2014] For almost as long as Uni has been around, Emerson Middle School has been one of its core feeder schools. Now, that campus is finally getting a long overdue overhaul. Pictured above: A giant new gymnasium rising on the Emerson Middle School campus. (Photos courtesy UHEF) The Emerson campus, named for 19th Century American literary star Ralph Waldo Emerson, was originally built on 8.7 acres from 1935-40. Since then, a series of bungalows and small additions have been added, but no significant new buildings or added […]

[Posted August 17, 2014]  In the 90-plus years of University High School, there has been one athlete who accomplishments stand above all others: Mel Patton. The two-time track & field gold medalist from the 1948 Olympic Games in London died at age 89 on May 9 in Fallbrook, California, south of San Clemente. Pictured above: Patton winning the 200 meters at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, just ahead of American teammate Barney Ewell. Patton attended Uni, then a three-year high school, in 1941-42-43 before entering the U.S. Navy to […]

[Posted August 11, 2014]  The experts will tell you that 40-year class reunions are often small, with some folks retired, others who have passed and without the pull of the 50-year celebration to come. Pictured above: Classmates Steve Kirsch, Jaye-Jo (Portanova) Cooperman, Danny McQuoid, Tim Riddle and Ellen (Kierstein) Bass at the Class of ‘74 reunion on March 29 (Photo courtesy Danny McQuoid). But the Uni class of 1974 continued its tradition of cohesion with an overflow crowd of 182 classmates, spouses and friends at its 40-year reunion held March […]

Ken Price W’53 is a Big Deal! Nationally and internationally recognized as one of America’s most significant contemporary sculptors, Price has made a powerful mark in the art world. Currently, a Price exhibit is at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and last year LACMA held an important retrospective that drew large crowds. Price graduated from University High School in 1953 where he served as a cartoonist for the school newspaper in 1952-1953. We are fairly sure that Price also designed endpapers for the yearbook.* Price knew from the beginning […]

Note: Former Uni Drama teacher Jack Mitchell who currently serves as the Secondary Arts Consultant, California Department of Education, brought Uni alum together for a production of Rent on July 19 and 20. Modest assistance from UHEF and a dedicated cast supported the production. For a backstage peek at the collaboration, witness the dialogue between Mitchell and drama Alum, Uni graduate Alex Grabarchuk ‘05 below. Mitchell: We all know that theatre has the capacity to entertain, instruct, and enrich the lives of both performers and audience members. Since leaving Uni […]

Washington D.C. Honors Class of 2013 Valedictorian Lillian Peng With a history of producing outstanding graduates, Uni now adds another gold star to its success list: one of the Nation’s highest academic achievement honors has been awarded to class Valedictorian Lillian Peng. She joined a group of 141 graduating seniors, selected from a nation-wide group of about 2600 candidates, at a ceremony in Washington D.C. Not only were the Scholars recognized at a White House Ceremony on June 16 2013, but also during the week they were celebrated at museums, […]

Each year the UHEF happily awards annual scholarships to college-bound seniors. The recipients are selected by the Counseling staff. Other awards were given, but these are the high-lights of Senior Awards night. Two $1000.00 awards, for Outstanding Community Service during their high school career, are given directly by the Foundation and funded by YOUR donations. This year, TYLER JACKSON-ZENO volunteered for 663 hours at the Santa Monica Family YMCA, as a counselor in training. He will be going to Santa Monica College in September. JOSE ERNESTO LOPEZ, devoted 928 hours at […]

On May 21, 2013, LAUSD Board member Steve Zimmer presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of several major construction projects on campus: the Magruder Music Complex, the New Gym, New Tennis Courts and a New Parent Center! The event was held on the beautiful new Westgate Tennis Courts and after speeches Principal Eric Davidson and Board Member Zimmer played a friendly set of tennis. Principal Davidson prevailed! The major construction projects were many years in process. The seismic-mitigation project, initiated in 1995 by LAUSD following the Northridge Earthquake, […]

I spent the brief summer break reflecting on the progress the school has made over the past five years. Our Academic Performance Index has risen 112 points. This past year Uni garnered praise from the visiting WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), the accrediting commission for California schools. The committee recognized our students as being among the nicest young people they have seen, and LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy sent Uni a letter of commendation. This summer, we were notified that Uni received a 6-year accreditation with a 3-year revisit. […]

AMAZON; Donors Choose, Gift Matches and Other Support for Uni! Amazon.com:  University High School is continuing its partnership with Amazon.com to raise money to support our school. By using the link instead of going directly to Amazon.com, Amazon.com will give the schools a percentage of the sales. This past year the Amazon link has brought Uni $1,456.06, a yield of 5.34%. It’s as easy as 1-2-3: Go to the Uni High Website:  www.universitywildcats.org Click on the Amazon.com link Shop, Spend and Support Uni Tell everyone you know to shop Amazon.com via the […]

This past year the UHEF made the following allocations to support the University High School community, totaling $32,007 plus newsletter production and mailing. The College Advisor – $17,100 to cover health insurance. The LAUSD agreed to pay her salary as a professional expert, not a contract employee, and would not cover benefits. We are delighted that we could help so many of Uni’s students. Fortunately, her position became full-time for the new school year so we will not have to cover her benefits in the coming year. Counselor’s Office – […]

The UHEF has sponsored an annual all-alumni picnic and car show at the end of September for many years. For those who came to the events it was fun seeing old friends and meeting some of the wonderful students who are at Uni today. Currently, however, Uni is under construction all over campus. For this reason, Uni cannot safely host the all-alumni event on campus this year. The UHEF has been very happy to have this annual event. With the modernization and upgrades occurring on campus, we hope to plan […]

All of us are aware of the difficulties facing students and teachers in public schools today. The media is filled with data about decreases in funding for education and state and national budget issues. It is abundantly clear that public education needs private philanthropic support if it is to compete successfully with the growing number of private institutions and to cope with the challenges of diminished State support. LAUSD has no way to disburse donated funds to an individual school. In 1985, the Uni High Education Foundation was established to […]