A publication of the
WESTSIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WINTER 2017
alumni.wcsfoundation66.org
2016 Hall of Fame & Lighthouse Leaders
Left to Right: Westside Alumni Association President Jason Hellman, Suzanne (Hutchinson) Verma, Mark Hasebroock, William Trowbridge, Mike Saklar, Dana Bradford, Pete Ricketts, and Westside Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Blane McCann
The Westside Hall of Fame and Lighthouse Leader Dinner on November 3, 2016, was truly a night to celebrate. Six prominent alumni were inducted into the Westside Hall of Fame and two couples were recognized as Westside Lighthouse Leaders; the most ever honored at this event. Westside’s Director of Communications Brandi Petersen was the emcee for the evening. She had the pleasure of introducing Dana Bradford, Mark Hasebroock, Suzanne (Hutchinson) Verma, Governor Pete Ricketts, Mike Saklar and William Trowbridge as the 2016 inductees into the Westside Hall of Fame. Chrisi and John Hughes and Jackie and Terry Kroeger were then announced as the well-deserving Lighthouse Leaders. Each honoree shared impassioned words about the honor and their connection to Westside.
Among all of the incredible achievements of the 2016 Westside Hall of Fame inductees, their highlights include: Dana Bradford (‘83) serves as Chairman and CEO of Waitt Brands, and he is a Governor of the Knights of Aksarben. Dana is a board member of Innovation Campus, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Community Foundation, and 75 North. Mark Hasebroock (‘78) is a visionary businessman who founded Omaha-based Hayneedle.com, one of the nation’s largest online retailers of home furnishings. Suzanne ‘Suzi’ (Hutchinson) Verma, MAMS, CCA (‘95) is a Certified Clinical Anaplastologist with the Center for Maxillofacial Prosthodontics in Dallas, who provides facial prosthetic reconstruction to patients with disfigurements due to cancer, trauma and birth defects.
Pete Ricketts (‘82) has risen to the top in both business and politics. He founded Drakon, LLC, served as President and Chief Operating Officer in his family’s business Ameritrade, served as a Director for the Chicago Cubs, and was elected as Nebraska’s 40th Governor. Stan ‘Mike’ Saklar (‘64) has become a respected ambassador for tens of thousands of homeless men, women and children in our city through four decades of service with the City of Omaha Planning Department and as the Executive Director of the Siena/Francis House. William Trowbridge (‘59) is a Poet Laureate whose 435 poems have been featured in more than 30 anthologies, textbooks and periodicals. His work has netted awards including an Academy of Poets Prize, a Pushcart Prize and fellowships from multiple institutions. Continue on page 2