IN OUR CORNER

By Sara Exner Whittaker ‘00

First-class Cub Complex facilities are critical to fostering Cubs’ sense of pride in their school, their classmates and teammates, and themselves. As the

Cub community has thrived, we have outgrown the Cub Complex’s facilities.

We’re grateful for the generosity of Champions Corner donors, who understand the importance of school spirit and camaraderie.

Together, we are proudly creating an outstanding space for fostering toptier experiences that Cub families can enjoy together.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Shannon and Gordon McKernan Family:(left to right) Riley ’13, Meredith ’15, Shannon ’85, Gordon ’84, Charlotte ’18,and John Gordon ‘19

SHANNON FIELD '85 AND GORDON MCKERNAN '84 CHAMPIONS FLAG PLAZA

During the 2018 football season, U-High was on the cusp of earning back-to-back state football championships as proud parents Gordon and Shannon (Field) McKernan (classes of ’84 and ’85, respectively) cheered on their son, QB John Gordon ’19, at the Cub Complex.

“I was walking through that corner, and it needed some attention,” Gordon shared, recalling the spark of an idea to create a true “Champions Corner” courtyard honoring the school’s championship teams. Soon, the wheels were in motion on a project that would ultimately grow – anchored by McKernan’s generosity as lead donor – to include a home-side concessions and restroom facility, an open-air pavilion, and a Champions Flag Plaza, which evolved from the courtyard concept that McKernan had envisioned amidst the backdrop of Friday night lights.

For the McKernans, memories of cheering on the Cubs span the experiences of John Gordon, Charlotte ’18, Meredith ’15, and Riley ’13 – who continued a legacy begun by their parents, Gordon and Shannon McKernan. Investing in the vision for Champions Corner at a leadership level was a natural choice for Gordon, who saw it as “a great way to recognize the sports teams and what they’ve accomplished – girls and boys.” McKernan knows the dedication of student athletes well: he’s not only the father of a former U-High football player and cheerleaders but was also part of back-to-back championship basketball teams at U-High.

With a lifetime of U-High memories to reflect upon, McKernan has great appreciation for the school’s impact on his family. He shared, “The education is just a facet of it. U-High is not just about an education; it’s an experience. It entails the education and the lifelong relationships with friends, faculty, and coaches. Those things combined make attending and graduating different than anywhere else. It’s an unmatched value.”

Strong Community

Brandon Landry with Walk-On's Family

BRANDON LANDRY/WALK-ON'S, CONCESSIONS

At Walk-On’s, our culture is all about bringing people together,” said Brandon Landry, founder, coowner, and CEO of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux. “We are committed to creating a space for hosting experiences that strengthen and celebrate the spirit of hometown athletes while building a stronger sense of community.”

With that commitment at the forefront, Landry saw in Champions Corner the opportunity to align the Walk-On’s brand with helping to facilitate academic, athletic, and personal growth for all students. He explained, “The Cub community has always been one of remarkable strength and reputation. We want to continue to create top-tier experiences for this amazing

school and are very excited about this partnership opportunity.”

Just as fans visiting the Cub Complex connect and share experiences, patrons of Walk-On’s do the same – over great food and sports – and the partnership with U-High expands those connections further into the community where Walk-On’s growing brand started.

“Athletics and community events create foundational moments for students and their families,” Landry said, adding, “These experiences leave lasting memories, and we are so excited to be a part of this at U-High.”

BETTERMENT OF LSU

Claire and Richard Manship Family: (front) Ella ‘26, Hunter II ‘30, Claire;(back) Richard and Hunter

DAVID & RICHARD MANSHIP, GATEWAY ENTRANCE

David Manship Family: (front) Charles ‘31and Carter ‘34;(back) Jake ’01, Meredith,and David

When longtime friend Debbie Heroman reached out to brothers David and Richard Manship to ask them to support Champions Corner, “yes” came easily. With Heroman’s recommendation as a former U-High parent and fellow grandparent, they knew they could trust that this was a project worthy of their investment.

“We look at it as a school priority as much as an athletic one,” David explained. “This is LSU; this is part of LSU. We’re big supporters of LSU, both for academics and for athletics.”

Bridging their extensive support of the university to include U-High is also a meaningful way to honor the experiences of two generations of the Manship family: David’s son, Jake ’01, and grandsons, Charlie ’31 and Carter ’34, and Richard’s grandchildren, Ella ’26 and Hunter II ’30.

David said of the motivation for their gift, “It’s an excellent school, and it’s affiliated with LSU. There’s no doubt in my mind that the quality of education they will get there will help them in the long run. And it’s always helpful to bring people together. This new facility will do just that.”

Richard, too, values the Cub Complex as a hub for uniting families. That spirit of community is, for him, a hallmark quality of U-High that is interwoven in and out of the classroom. He’s seen firsthand that the community is strengthened by the breadth of experiences that Cub families bring to the school.

As their grandchildren’s U-High journeys continue, David and Richard are proud to be part of investing in their school. David said, “U-High has an excellent athletics program. I don’t know if our grandkids will play sports, but it will give them a sense of pride to know that their school does well.”

Richard added, “For us, it’s about overall involvement for the betterment of LSU.”

BUILDING CHARACTER

Dawn and David Phillips Family:(front) Dawn, David ’82, Paul ’19, Webb ’14, Bobby ’57, Beth; (back) Robert ’11, Patrick Collins ’21, and Kevin Collins.

DAVID PHILLIPS '82, PAVILION

The soundtrack of David Phillips’ ’82 favorite U-High memories is “my dad screaming and the boosters chanting” outside of the football huddle. Phillips ’82 and his father, the late Bobby Phillips ’57, shared a love for U-High athletics that shaped their lives. When the Cub Complex project came about, they wanted to be part of it, inspired by a sense of pride and gratitude: Phillips’ sons Robert ’11, Webb ’14, and Paul ’19 and stepson Patrick Collins ’21 are all fellow alumni.

School pride carries far beyond athletics, Phillips said, including when forging business relationships. “You find out they went to University High and you automatically have a sense of trust, admiration, and bond. University High is in their character; it’s just built in.”

Motivated to invest in the athletics anchor of these experiences, Phillips appreciated the importance of enhancing the Cub Complex and creating a place to recognize former athletes. He explained, “The ability to every year look forward to the

competition and embrace it and know that – because of the character we put into athletics – we’re going to prepare harder. We’re going to lay it all on the field every week. That’s who we are. That’s the character that our coaches and teachers have built into us as students, and we carry that with us throughout our whole lives. You are absolutely part of it as a student, a teacher, or a principal.”

Parents are a crucial part of the team, too, David noted. “This is a better deal on an education than you can get anywhere else. You were chosen to get that deal, and the onus is on us to give more than just tuition. You have to be a well-rounded school to really make a mark on a person’s life for the rest of their life. To be able to continue to compete and give a Blue Ribbon education to your children,U-High has to have outside contribtions.”