SPRING 2020
A publication of the
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION alumni.wcsfoundation66.org
Westside Students Show Positivity During Pandemic By Claire Benson
As a Westside High School senior and Co-Editor in Chief of Westside Wired, I felt it was absolutely necessary for my staff to continue to write and report on events occurring within the community throughout our current situation. I believe that journalism is one of the many great forces that holds a community together during difficult times. There are many unknowns and inconsistencies in all of our lives, however, with Westside Wired continuing to write and publish stories; although small, it is one thing that remains stable and consistent despite the chaos occurring in the world around it. Not only is it beneficial for the community but it also allows us to feature the recent experiences of our fellow Westside students, staff and families as well as their unique perspectives. Westside High School sophomore Luke Steiner has been doing more than just his online learning assignments during this time; Steiner created “The Distance Project” which features buttons that encourage community members to social distance in public settings. “I’ve been selling buttons through a website I created; I call my project ‘The Distance Project’,” Steiner said. “So far I’ve made four buttons, one for Nebraska, one for Cape Cod, and two that are like the U.S. flags, and I’ve just been selling them and trying to promote them to promote social distancing and community unity.” Steiner was interviewed about his project by three local Omaha media groups, those being KMTV, WOWT and
KETV. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts also acknowledged Steiner’s project during one of his press conferences. Steiner said that his project has gained popularity, selling upwards of 1,000 buttons and that there are participants in many different states. “We’re in 14 states now,” Steiner said. “We even had a hospital in New Jersey that bought 45 of them, and their medical staff are wearing the buttons and they even sent us a photo of all of them wearing the buttons which was really cool.” Steiner said he is selling his buttons for $2.00 at thedistanceproject.net and all profit will go towards the First Responders Foundation. Westside is known to be a diverse school district in many areas; one of these areas arguably being the various athletic opportunities students have. The 2020 spring sports season was canceled due to public health and safety concerns from COVID-19, forcing seniors to miss out on their last high school sports season. Westside High School senior and varsity baseball player Harrison Kreiling is one of many seniors in that situation. Kreiling did not get to experience his last high school baseball season and said that with the large number of seniors on the team, they were looking forward to their last season and hopefully a state championship. “I think the bigger deal was that we had 12 seniors on the team, so we were ready for a state championship, and it just kind of got taken away from us,” Kreiling said.
Westside senior Harrison Kreiling acts as the catcher during a Westside varsity baseball game.
Kreiling said that although he was disappointed to be missing out on the season, he is making an effort to use this time to practice for next spring, when he will be playing collegiate baseball for University of Nebraska-Omaha. “I think for about the first week, I didn’t really know what had happened, it didn’t really feel real if that makes sense but then it kind of sunk in after a week and I was like, ‘I can either mope about it and feel bad about it or just go do what I can to get ready for [collegiate baseball] next year,’” Kreiling said. As previously mentioned, Westside Community Schools has always been a diverse school district that prides itself on supporting its community. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, Westside has emphasized this by providing meals, WiFi, clothing, and other goods and services to families throughout the district. Although many daily tasks such as going to school and work have been paused, Westside’s support for its community has not. The Westside community has proven to be stronger together, whether physically together or not.
SPRING 2020 |
alumni.wcsfoundation66.org
President’s Corner Dear Fellow Alumni, We’d like to welcome our newest members to the Warrior alumni network! Thank you to Claire Benson Co-Editor-in -Chief Westside Wired, the student run news site of Westside High School for our cover story honoring the class of 2020. The class of 2020 has had an historic year and met unprecedented challenges with true Warrior spirit. We wish the recent graduates the best as they move on to their next adventure. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, or by email!
2020 Alumni Association Scholarship Recipients Spirit of Service Scholarships $1,000
Tom Hall Scholarship $1,000
These scholarships are awarded to seniors who have accumulated over 300 volunteer service hours while attending Westside High School.
This scholarship is awarded to a senior boy for demonstrating the academic and athletic work ethic of former Boys Varsity Basketball Coach and teacher, Tom Hall.
Cindy France – Duke University
Jadin Booth – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Dylan Folda – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Congratulations to this year's talented Alumni Association scholarship winners! Cindy France, Dylan Folda, and Reese Pike for the Unlocking Answers and Spirit of Service Awards. Jadin Booth from the boys basketball team for the Tom Hall Scholarship. Ella Wedergren and Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor from the girls basketball team who shared the Vic Porter Scholarship. In January of 2020, we were able to make our annual “wish list” contribution to the educational objectives of Westside High School. Our budget was $4,000 this year and here are some of the items we purchased: Zildjian cymbals for jazz bands Strength and conditioning equipment for physical education Ergonomic desks for the English and World Language IMC Canon Rebel digital camera for art student portfolios Digital cameras for journalism students In these uncertain times, we made the tough decision to postpone The 2020 Westside Open Presented by the Hawkins Sisters. We always appreciate your support and hope to see you next year on June 28, 2021 at The Players Club at Deer Creek!
Cindy France
Dylan Folda
Jadin Booth
Unlocking Answers Scholarships $1,000
Vic Porter Scholarship $1000
These scholarships are awarded to seniors who plan to pursue a career emphasizing mathematics and sciences.
This scholarship is awarded to a senior girl who exemplified former coach Vic Porter’s approach to athletics and academics.
Cindy France – Duke University Reese Pike – Lawrence University
Ella Wedergren – Rockhurst University Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor Illinois State University
We will post updates for all upcoming Alumni events to our Facebook and Twitter (@WestsideAlumni). Go Warriors!
ren
Ella Wederg
Reese Pike Ricky Anderson (’05)
Cindy France
Jasmine McGinnis-Taylor
Upcoming Class Reunions 1960: 60th Reunion | October 2-3, 2020 October 2: Regency Marriott 10220 Regency Circle October 3: Shadow Ridge Country Club 1501 S. 188th Plaza Anyone from Westside’s classes of 1953 through 1960 who wishes to attend is welcome. Please email Babs (Russell) Tracy at babstracy@gmail.com for more information. 1965: 55th Reunion | **RESCHEDULED** July 30-31, 2021 Out of an abundance of caution and concern for everyone’s health and safety, the reunion committee has rescheduled our reunion for 2021. Same venues but one year later! July 30: No-Host Gathering Spirit World 6680 Center Street (Aksarben Village) July 31:
Dinner and Party Hilton Garden Inn 6737 Frances Street (Aksarben Village) Stay tuned for our regularly scheduled email updates. Contact: Anne (Leigh) Hellbusch, aeh1532@icloud.com 1970: 50th Reunion | August 28-29, 2020 Regency Marriott 10220 Regency Circle Ticket prices vary. Contact Randy Lieber at 801-440-3001 or slclieber@gmail.com for more information. 1980: 40th Reunion I **RESCHEDULED** 2021 Summer 2021 “Class of 1980 Westside 40-Year Reunion” as they become available. If you have questions or if you want to volunteer to help with the reunion please contact the Reunion Committee at WHSReunion1980@gmail.com. 1981: 40th Class Reunion |June 12, 2021 Omaha Palazzo 5110 N 132nd Street Omaha, NE Go to "whs1981reunion40" Facebook for updates as they become available. If you would like to volunteer or have questions, please email: whs1981reunion40@gmail.com. 1990: 30th Reunion | July 25, 2020 DJ’s Dugout 777 North 114th Street 7 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Contact Asher Stoller at flasheresq@aol.com for more information. 2005: 15th Reunion | **RESCHEDULED** Summer 2021 Details will be posted to the Facebook Group “Omaha WHS Class of 2005”. You can also contact Ricky Anderson at rickyanderson5@gmail.com. 2010: 10th Reunion | TBD Contact reunion committee members: Scott Goldberg at scott.goldberg@huc.edu Molly Goldberg at mollyjogoldberg@gmail.com Kate Hamel at kathrynmhamel@gmail.com Alex Zhu at alexzhu1@gmail.com *Dates Subject to Change due to the Pandemic
Principal’s Corner To all Westside Alumni, As you read this, I ask you to stop for a moment and reflect on your senior year at Westside High School. Your senior prom, your final weeks with classmates knowing you were separating soon, and your much-earned walk across a stage to accept your high school diploma. The Class of 2020 was robbed of all of these things by a hidden thief history will remember as the Coronavirus Pandemic. As a principal, as an educator, as a parent, I am heartbroken for our more than 480 seniors. I am also determined to ensure each and every Warrior leaving us knows how proud we are of them. Since school closures began, our entire district has worked together to try and provide some sense of celebration for our seniors. Banners hang proudly on the exterior of Westside High School. Yard signs have been shared at no cost to every senior in the district. Billboards are up on our city streets, congratulating their hard work. We have individually highlighted nearly 200 students across Westside social media. We do all of this because of our immense pride in the Class of 2020, and to be truthful, in all Westside graduates. This class includes future doctors, welders, teachers, business leaders, and more. They have demonstrated kindness, ingenuity, talent and certainly of late: perseverance. This is not the way we wanted their time with Westside to end, but these students continue to exhibit positivity and determination despite these unprecedented circumstances. Perhaps that gives us reason to be extra proud of Westside. They say life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how we react. I am certain the Class of 2020 will use this challenge to grow as adults and human beings. They are Warriors through and through, and will continue to make us proud.
Jay Opperman, Principal
In Memoriam Lou Miloni 1940-2020
It is safe to say that a great teacher and coach impacts thousands of students and athletes throughout his/her career. Wrestling Coach Lou Miloni is one of those great educators. He coached, taught and guided thousands of Westside students during his many years at Westside High School.
Coach Lou Miloni
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 909 South 76th Street Omaha, NE 68114-4599
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 861 OMAHA, NE 68124
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the westside open
THE “W” NEWSLETTER
presented by the hawkins sisters
MON DAY, JU N E 28, 2021 4-Person Texas Scramble SHO T GUN S TA R T: 7:30AM OR 1:00PM Awards Banquet begins at 5:30pm
The Westside Alumni Association would like to thank Phyllis (Donaldson) Choat ('65) Steven M. Williams, M.D ('71) for their generous donations.
Mark Your Calendar The Players Club
12101 D E E R C R E E K D R I V E OMAHA, NEBRASKA sponsorship and registration available online Spring 2021
WWW.W ES T SI DEGOLF.COM
Subject to change due to pandemic October 2, 2020 Homecoming Tailgate Westside vs. Millard North, John L Hoich Alumni House
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 909 South 76th Street Omaha, NE 68114-4599 402.390.2183 (Voicemail) | 402.390.2177 (Fax) alumni@westside66.net
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President : Ricky Anderson (’05) Vice-President: Jason Hellman (’90) Treasurer: Marc Lowe (’76) Secretary: Phyllis (Donaldson) Choat (’65) Directors: Steve Achelpohl (’68) Laura (Ernst) Beerman (’77) Rick Berkshire (’72) Mark Dudley (’73) Mike Guinane (’74) John Hoich (’76) Curt Huston (’81) Stan Jensen (’06) Richard Larson (’10) Rob Laughlin (’75) Beth (Williams) Leach (’98) Vinnie Morrissey (’05) Rob Owen (’87) Tom Thompson (’83) Meagan (Davis) Van Gelder (’88)