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Our Alma Mater

Sons of Wilson

Sons of Wilson still undaunted,Banners to the skies are flaunted,

Daring hearts and hands are wanted,Onward to the fight!

Sons of Wilson never yieldingSwords of truth and courage wielding,

Name of honor ever shielding, Battle for the right!

Tear the false asunder,Trample foemen under,

Let valor fly in all the sky,And virtue speak in thunder.

Sons of Wilson, school of glory,Make her name live on in story,

Let the echoes ring back bravely, Dear old Wilson High!

 

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Welcome

What a Celebration!

Welcome to the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Woodrow Wilson High School!

Since its inception in 1935, Wilson has been a vibrant institution, drawing on the energy, talents and commitment of its students, teachers, administrators, parents and community members.

To commemorate Wilson’s 75 years and the move into a modernized building, the Wilson Parent Teacher and Student Association (PTSA) is carrying out a $75,000 Capital Campaign to bring 21st Century technology and media to the new facility and its students, and is hosting a weekend of celebration.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this wonderful school and commemorating 75 years of educational excellence.

Contents

Memories of Wilson

75th Anniversary Celebration

Wilson Map

Gala Schedule

Music & Arts Schedule

Arts & Crafts and Community Booths

About Our Performers

Thank You to Our Supporters

Business Sponsors

Individual Sponsors

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75th Anniversary Committee

Committee Chairs Page Kennedy & Venecia White

ALUMNI COORDINATION Maryanne Kendall

ARTS FESTIVAL Karen Foster Lena Frumin Matt Frumin

DESIGN Kuniko Ohashi Davidson

FESTIVAL FOOD Susan Carter Verna Clayborne Jeremiah Cohen

GALA Malin Kerwin Anita Seline

LOGISTICS Dana Cooper Ruth Ernst Molly Reilly Dianne Torreson

MUSIC FESTIVAL Ada Babino Joanna Lewton

PAVER SALE Beth VanHanswyk

PHOTOGRAPHY Judy Licht

PROGRAM BOOKLET Mary Giffin Pamela Garlick Maryanne Kendall Kuniko Ohashi Davidson Hermine Dreyfuss PUBLICITY Joy Kassett Margaret Trinity

SPONSORSHIPS Lisa Oakley Cindy Sherman Eleanor Taylor

WEBSITE Pamela Garlick

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Wilson Memories

Wilson Senior High School has served as a special place for many thousands of students. Since Wilson’s early years, DC’s unique status as the center of national policymaking and its diverse in-ternational community have influenced the school’s educational experience. As its boundaries expanded to encompass a broader portion of the city in the 1970s, Wilson benefited by becom-ing one of the most diverse schools in the District. Parent contributions to the school began very early with the formation of an active Home and School Association. Wilson’s administrators and teachers made use of local and national institutions to enhance opportunities for students. Each decade saw additions and innovations to the curriculum. And from the very beginning, Wilson emphasized the value of participating in extracurricular activities, sports, and community service.

“Wilson Memories” is not intended to be comprehensive in any way. It is meant to provide a glimpse of Wilson through the decades and to suggest the richness of the student experience. For each decade it provides a small sample of facts and observations of alumni; there are many impor-tant events, subjects, and issues that are not covered.

The 30’s /The Beginning Woodrow Wilson’s main building was constructed at a cost of $1,250,000 in the middle of the Great Depression. Many of the parents whose children attended Wilson had come to the District to take government jobs at a time when the U.S. unemployment rate was in the double digits.

On September 23, 1935, Wilson welcomed 750 sophomores and juniors, most of them coming from the overcrowded Western High School (now Ellington School for the Arts) which had been operating in double shifts to accommodate the crowding. The new Wilson students called them-selves “mud puppies” because of the un-landscaped grounds. Students actually hunted in the fields near the school where there were plenty of rabbits.

The school newspaper, The Beacon, began publication in November 1935. While each student was required to pay $1 to cover costs of the school paper, their lockers, the handbook, and sports atten-dance, this fee could be paid in installments because family finances were often tight during the Depression. At school boys wore dress pants, shirts, ties, and jackets, and girls wore dresses, skirts, and sweaters or blouses. Everyone wore dress shoes: athletic footwear was for the gymnasium or sports field only.

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This was the era of the Big Bands, and dances were very popular at Wilson. The first senior prom was held at the Shoreham Hotel in 1937 and this continued to be the venue for proms for many years. Fraternities and sororities were formed in 1936 and were official organizations authorized by the Board of Education.

In February 1937, 34 students became Wilson’s first graduates, and the following June another 281 graduated. Of that group, approximately 50 were still living as of 2011. Among the more famous people in that first class were children’s author Jean Craighead George, hardware chain owner John Hechinger, and artificial diamond entrepreneur Helen Van Stondeg Ver Standig (Aka Madame Wellington).

The 40’s / The War and Post-War YearsBy the 1940s, Wilson was gaining a reputation as one of the best public high schools in the coun-try. The student population grew from 1,000 in 1940 to 1,800 by mid-decade. During these years, many aspects of student life were influenced by World War II. In February 1941 The Beacon con-ducted a poll of students and compared the results to a Gallup Poll. The paper reported that “for

the first time students of Wilson radically disagree with the general public in a defense question…When asked, “Which of these things do you think it is more important for the U.S. to do…keep out of the war ourselves, or to help England win, even at the risk of getting into the war?”, 72% of stu-dents voted to “help England” while 27% felt that the U.S. should “keep out.”

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In German language class Frau Hedges had her students listen to Hitler’s speeches on the radio and they remember her being visibly upset. On Sunday, December 7t, 1941 several Wilson stu-dents were at a Redskins game at Griffith Stadium when the public address system announced that all military personnel were to report to their offices. On December 8, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the entire school listened to the broadcast of FDR’s “Day of Infamy” speech. Many male students and teachers enlisted. Some seniors put off graduating and received their diplomas after the war. Many of those who were too young joined the Cadet Corps, which provided military training and physical education credits. Girls went into the Cadets for the first time, although as an extracurricular activity, and not a credit course. The Beacon reported that, “The idea of girl cadets, which has not been opposed by the faculty, has been the topic of much discussion at recent Forum meetings…girl cadet organizations have worked out successfully at Anacostia and in the states of Virginia, Pennsylvania and Texas.”

Dances and other activities were curtailed due to blackout rules. Because of gas rationing students rode the bus to their senior prom. Throughout the war, news was broadcast over the PA system and interest in geography grew as students followed the movement of armies and navies around the world. A one-semester course in Morse code was offered. Wilson “adopted” several war or-phans under the auspices of the Foster Parents Plan for War Children and started holding an an-nual Country Fair to raise money for them. Students participated in drives to sell War Bonds, raised money for the Red Cross, held food and clothing drives, and assisted in draft registration.

At the same time, the school continued to advance its program offerings for students. For ex-ample, in 1941 three new courses were added to the schedule: Consumer Education, Stage Design, and English Composition “for seniors preparing for college.” The school helped students explore career options by inviting speakers in such fields as architecture, biology, business administration, naval service, and photography to speak at the school.

Contributions of the parents’ Home and School Association included the purchase of a “moving picture camera” for visual education activities. The Association also provided financial support for the Student Council’s creation of a student recreation room in the armory as a War Memorial hon-oring the 63 Wilson students killed in combat. By 1945 about 1,000 Wilson students had served in the military.

Alumni of this period who went on to make names for themselves include founder of Arena Stage Zelda Diamond Fichandler, five-term U.S. Congressman from Maryland Gilbert Gude, TV and Film actor George Grizzard, Journalist Roger Mudd, U.S. Senator from Virginia John Warner, Attorney General Ramsey Clark (under President Johnson), and billionaire investor Warren Buffet

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The 50’s / “The Good Times”Wilson students competed successfully in many academic and extracurricular competitions dur-ing the 1950s. In the 1956 District Science Fair held at American University, Wilson students cap-tured 14 awards, more honors than any other high school in the area. The Beacon regularly won awards, including the George H. Gallup Award and the All-American Honor rating by the National Scholastic Press Association. The Tigers football team won the city football championship in 1952, defeating St. Johns 41to16.

Extracurricular and course opportunities expanded. In instrumental music, students could join the school orchestra, the concert band, the hillbilly band, or the pep band. Field hockey was added as a girls’ sport in 1951, and school sports letters became available for female athletes. Driver’s educa-tion was added to the curriculum and soon became one of the most sought-after elective courses.

The student population included representation from across the country and abroad. In the 1950s, Wilson parents included U.S. congressmen and senators from Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Minne-sota, Mississippi, Nebraska and West Virginia, as well as the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States. The world at large continued to have an impact on life at school with the advent of the Korean War. Ft. Reno was again used as a military camp with soldiers and tents scattered across the hill. Fourteen Wilson alumni were killed in the Korean War. The annual Country Fair continued to raise money for war orphans.

The 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. the Board of Education decision regarding school segregation had little immediate impact on Wilson because there were few African Americans living within the school’s boundaries. However, by the late 1950s there were two African American teachers on the faculty – Edna Jackson and Archie Lucas – along with a few African American students. On the other hand, the school community clearly felt the impact of Congressional control over the District’s budget. A Beacon reporter noted in 1956 that “Hope is revived that the proposed slash of 50 teachers [District-wide] will not pass the U.S. Senate” and Wilson’s student council president appeared before the Senate Appropriation Committee to plead for academic resources.

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Student dress styles became more casual, with boys preferring khaki or other light trousers and open collar shirts. Crew cuts, perhaps influenced by military styles, became more common. Girls wore skirts below the knees – often full ones with crinolines – and blouses or wool skirts and sweaters. Both girls and boys wore loafers.

Major sports events like the World Series were played during the day rather than at night in the 1950s. On October 8, 1956, many Wilson students gathered around the flag pole behind the school to listen on portable radios as Don Larsen pitched the only perfect game in World Series history.

Notable alumni from those years included professional football player for the Redskins Mike Som-mer, writer Judith Perlman Martin (“Miss Manners”), Majority Leader of the Virginia State Senate, Richard Saslaw, and Jefferson Airplane founding member and guitarist, Jorma Kaukonen.

The 60’s / “Rockin” in the “Rollin” YearsThe 23rd Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1961, permitted D.C. residents to vote for president, but they still had no significant control over local government or services. Congressio-nal committees controlled Budgets, and Wilson alumni from the period remember overcrowded classes and limited funding for school activities in such as drama, music and athletic programs. The faculty and administration rebuffed an attempt by Beacon editor Frank Rich to write about this in the school paper because of fears that it would have a negative impact on the school’s budget. In 1965 the Student Council used $2,000 from its own fundraising events to improve the lighting system in 21 rooms at the school, although most of the school still “suffered with lights that were modeled in 1929.”

Despite these challenges, Wilson students continued to excel and the curriculum continued to ex-pand and diversify. The school offered five foreign languages and excelled in city-wide language contests. The Beacon reported that “of the 462 Wilsonites who graduated in June, 88 percent are

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continuing their education, with 198 pursuing a liberal arts curriculum at four-year colleges, 42 pursing engineering or science, 30 studying education, and 20 in pre-med, pre-dental, or pre-legal fields.” The National Academy of Sciences conducted a national survey of 29,845 public, private, and parochial high schools and reported in 1963 that Wilson was tied at 47th place with 3 other schools in the number of doctorates earned by graduates. Among the courses added to the curric-ulum during the decade were Atomic and nuclear physics, World Literature, Economics, a Seminar in Fine Arts, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Spanish 5, Chemistry, and Modern and Euro-pean History. The Science department began experimenting with double-period honors classes.

The television program “It’s Academic,” created by a Wilson parent, began in 1961 and featured teams from area public and private schools. A new literary magazine, Lines, was introduced fea-turing student poetry, fiction, and other writing. A new student drama organization, The Players Club, was formed. Students continued to be very active in community service, conducting blood drives for the Red Cross, field trips for under-privileged children, fundraising for the Junior Village, and the annual Country Fair benefit for war orphans.

The school continued to have an international composition. Thirty countries were represented among the 440 members of the class of 1963, and 11 percent of that class was foreign-born. The school took advantage of this resource in various ways, including “roundtable” discussions in the cafeteria featuring students from different parts of the world.

Students participated in critical discussions about events occurring on the national level and were witnesses to key events and players on the national scene. Guest speakers at Wilson included na-tional figures such as Edward Kennedy and Dean Rusk. The Beacon regularly reported on current issues including the Vietnam war and the Civil Rights movement. As opposition to the war grew throughout the country, many Wilson students became involved in protests and marches. Eight Wilson alumni would lose their lives before the war ended in the 1970s. With regard to Civil Rights, in 1965, The Beacon reported a Wilson student’s account of his participation in the Selma Alabama Freedom March: “We met some trouble on the trip down…In one incident in a small restaurant some local rednecks beat up one Negro lady and several whites, including ministers. When some-one sent for the law, the police only talked to the troublemakers...Many people from Washington,

myself included did not fully realize the depth of the problem.” In 1967 The Beacon also reported on “several recent studies, conducted by…independent education groups [that] come to the con-clusion that many textbooks currently used to teach U.S. history…do not reflect a true picture of the part that minority groups have played in American History.” Some famous alumni from this period include Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jack Casady, writer Ann Beattie, Ringling Brothers Circus owner Ken Feld and author and journalist, Frank Rich.

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The 70’s / The Challenges of ChangeThe 1970s brought significant changes to the school’s population, its facilities, and its resources. In 1969 Wilson’s boundaries were enlarged to include neighborhoods in different areas of D.C., resulting in a significant change in the racial composition of the school the following year. During the 1970s Wilson gained a new field house, a new aquatic facility, and a refurbished library. At the same time, the school experienced significant overcrowding, large class sizes, and budget cuts.

Although the school was designed for as many as 1,700 students, 1,935 were enrolled by the mid-1970s, and the average class size in some core subjects was as high as 40. There were several teacher strikes and walk-outs during the decade, beginning in 1972 when teachers struck because of “the dropping of teacher positions, crowded classrooms, lack of supplies and a recent pay hike for police and firemen.” METRO opened in 1976, and the first line to be completed ran from down-town to northwest Washington.

Within the context of these changes, academic offerings continued to evolve. Examples of new courses that appeared during this time were Social Psychology, Values Clarification, and Street Law, a class taught by Georgetown University Law students which held mock trials at the Univer-sity. A bilingual program for Latin American Students was initiated. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, Wilson began to provide math and science students with a “Computer As-sisted Learning Program” and The Beacon reported that “The use of computers has become a new-found joy to students.” The art curricula changed so that instead of taking Art II and Art III, students could study a specific area of art such as ceramics, graphic design, or sculpture and painting. The school piloted a “campus style program” that allowed seniors to choose their teachers and design their own schedule for the academic year. In 1979, Wilson added a 9th grade to accommodate the transition of some area schools from junior high to middle schools.

Sports activities and after-school activities grew and diversified. Wilson now featured an Ultimate Frisbee Team which captured the East Coast High School Championship in 1978. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 resulted in the growth of sports for girls. Wilson female students took advantage of cross-country, track, basketball, volleyball, softball, archery, gymnastics and a drill team called “Strutters Extraordinaire.” In 1972 Girls were officially admitted to the Cadets for the first time. Wilson gained a Gospel Choir and a String Quartet. A Junior Achievement program was started, giving participants insight into organizing and running a business.

Student activism prospered both within and outside the school. Students were aware of the rela-tive lack of resources at Wilson compared to nearby suburban schools: The Beacon reported that Wilson counselors had a load of 500 students while those at Walt Whitman High School at only 250. A student governance grievance committee formed and met with administrators to inves-tigate problems in the school such as inaccessibility of counselors and long lines in the cafeteria.

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Students worked with the school to initiate a system of student evaluations of teachers. While this activism created much discussion and controversy, The Beacon reported that in the end, teachers said “they were pleased with the results.”

Students formed a chapter of the Women’s Liberation movement. In the early 1970’s many stu-dents marched in anti-war protests, often walking all the way downtown since the METRO was not yet finished. Jesse Jackson spoke at the school about progress through hard work and self-respect. Student groups carried out a wide range of community service activities, such as fundraising for Honduras which had been ravaged by Hurricane Fifi, a walk-a-thon for the March of Dimes and Epilepsy Foundation, special activities for the elderly and physically disabled sponsored by the Key Club, the Girls Service Club and the Keyettes, and tutoring of elementary school students.

As reflected in columns in The Beacon, the racial diversity of the school created challenges but at the same time offered new opportunities. From time to time, students would lament in the news-paper that students of different racial/ethnic groups did not often socially integrate and that there was a lack of cohesive school spirit. On the other hand, at least one student pointed out that, “a Wilson education is not only limited to the knowledge of algebra and physics; A Wilson education is also developing the ability to understand and work with individuals who may talk, look and be-have differently from one another.”

Well known graduates from this period include television journalist Derek McGinty, DC Council members Harry Thomas and Yvette Alexander, associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Honorable Zinora Mitchell-Rankin, composer Paul D. Miller (aka DJSpooky) and How-ard University Radio host and creator of the “Quiet Storm” jazz radio show Melvin Lindsey.

The 80’s / Continuing to StriveIn the next decade, Wilson continued to face resource constraints. In 1980, D.C. Public Schools budget cuts resulted in the loss of 700 teachers city-wide. Wilson’s Home and School Association sought new ways to raise money to support the school. One fundraiser included a basketball game between Wilson faculty and a team of Washington Redskins and WMAL Radio personali-ties. Parent involvement was targeted at improving not only Wilson but schools city-wide. Wanda Washburn, a president of Wilson’s Home and School Association, developed a handbook to help parents learn about how the school worked so they could support their students. She also helped to sponsor Parents United, a city-wide organization formed by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to increase public funding for schools and to facilitate collective action and com-

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munication among families throughout the city. Ms. Washburn was later elected Ward 3 School Board Representative.

Wilson established its first school-within-a-school, or academy, in 1983. The Wilson International Studies Program (WISP) was designed for students interested in pursuing advanced studies to-ward careers in international affairs, including students from out of boundary who could apply through a competitive process to attend Wilson. Students were required to take international courses and foreign languages and to complete a senior thesis. This highly successful program influenced the addition of other academies at Wilson in later decades. Wilson also began partici-pating in international exchange programs, such as the Youth for Understanding Program, which in its first year brought students to Wilson from Argentina, Chile, Denmark and Spain. The school continued to feature multiple foreign languages including French, German, Spanish, and Russian as well as Latin.

Students expanded extracurricular opportunities. A fashion club, “Satiny” which was started in 1979, held annual shows featuring clothing designed, made, and modeled by students. The club also studied marketing and merchandising, going beyond the “home economics” of earlier years. In 1987 the Wilson Choir participated in an International Music Festival in Vienna and placed fourth even though it was the only amateur group in the competition. A crew program was started in 1985. Wilson’s soccer team won the city title in 1982, the football team had a winning season in 1983, and the debate team went to the Nationals in 1986.

While the school’s boundaries covered nearly half of the physical area of the District, it drew many students from other parts of the city as well. In 1982, The Beacon featured “Wilson - A Colorful Experience,” which reported on a discussion among students and faculty about racial and ethnic issues at the school, including an interview with one of Wilson’s first African American teachers, Edna Jackson. Other current issues were regularly reported on in The Beacon, such as evolution vs. creationism and capital punishment.

Some famous alumni of the 1980s included, Fugazi singer and guitarist Ian MacKaye, Radio One CEO Alfred Liggins, musician Clarence Greenwood (Citizen Cope), The Source music magazine founder David Mays, and D.C. Council member (now chairman) Kwame Brown. In January 1981, Wilson alumnus John Limbert (WHS ’60) was among the American hostages released from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

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The 90’s / Tigers Roar!The age of technology was well-established by 1990. The school now had a website and the li-brary became a media center. Typing became “keyboarding,” and many non-academic classes (e.g. shop and home economics) disappeared. Block scheduling was introduced: classes for each subject were held for two hours every other day, with one hour for each class on Friday. A variety of additional subjects were introduced during the decade. In 1990 Wilson added courses in Man-darin Chinese, African-American History, Biology II, Chemistry II, Photographic Techniques, and AP courses in American Government and in Comparative Government.

Wilson’s second academy - the Business and Finance Academy - was established and received a pledge of support from Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. The Science, Math and Technology (Sci-MaTech) Academy was also created with career parthways in engineering, environmental science and technology. Through the Partners-In-Journalism Program, Wilson’s Beacon was “adopted” and supported by leading journalists at U.S. News and World Report. Wilson students’ creative work was displayed at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center as part of their participation in a Discover Graphics Workshop. Students continued to have success in annual science, history, and foreign language competitions.

Social issues were the focus of many student activities and extracurricular groups. An Amnesty International chapter dealt with political prisoners, and an ACLU chapter met to discuss constitu-tional issues. Groups were formed to address matters of interest to Islamic, Hispanic, and African American students. Wilson also had its own Students Against Drunk Driving (SAAD) chapter.

Interest in the environment led to partnership with the Department of Energy and the formation of an environmental science club. Some students joined in efforts to clean up the Anacostia River.

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A “Prejudice Reduction Workshop” was introduced at Wilson in 1990. In 1996 the DC Society of Professional in Dispute Resolutions publicly recognized the achievement of Wilson’s mediation and diversity programs, and this was followed by a visit from U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to the school to “obtain ideas from students how to effectively use mediation.”

In 1991 The Beacon reported that there were 80 different nationalities represented in the student body. In 1990 students with the ESL (English as a Second Language) program hosted an Interna-tional Gala, supported by the Parent Teacher Student Association (formerly the Home and School Association). The Gala featured dances and other performances from Germany, Latin America, Ethiopia, France, Vietnam and Mexico. The school continued international exchange programs such as the American Field Service exchange and exchange teachers came to Wilson from such countries as China and Hungary. In 1993 Wilson hosted the 10th Annual Foreign Language Tourna-ment. An African Horizons club was formed to explore African culture.

Homecoming and Spirit Week continued to be well-celebrated. Spirit Week allowed for free ex-pression by students and staff in the form of Hat Day, Twin Day, Pajama Day, Blast-from-the-Past Day, and Green and White Day. The Wilson marching band was re-established and played at many events. Wilson won numerous city titles during the decade in tennis, cross country, swimming, vol-leyball, soccer, softball, and baseball. In 1993, the Tigers baseball team won the first in a string of 19 DCIAA titles, most of them under Coach Eddie Saah [‘65]. Although the school no longer had an orchestra, a jazz combo and smaller bands were formed. Wilson’s Madrigal singers were invited to sing at the White House at Christmas in 1990.

The serious issues faced by Wilson and the school system in general were brought to the pub-lic’s attention early in 1997 when the DC Control Board fired the superintendent, eliminated most of the powers of the elected school board, and implemented its own DC Emergency Transitional Education Board of Trustees. The take-over was prompted a week after the Control Board issued a report on the conditions of the school facilities, lack of security and safety, fire code violations, and the loss of grant money for science and math programs because of poor usage. In the Fall of 1997, Wilson opened three weeks late due to court mandated repairs to its roof.

In 1996, Petra Lovetskinska became one of the first four female students to enter the Citadel Mili-tary Academy in South Carolina, and she was one of the first two female graduates. Famous alumni of the 1990s included key sports figures: Melvin Tuten became a professional football player and Aquil Abdullah, who rowed with the Wilson Crew team, was in the men’s double sculls in the 2004 Olympics.

The 21st Century BeginsAt its 75th year, Wilson continues to be an extraordinary high school. It draws students from all of the District’s 22 zip codes and has the most diverse student body in the city with 85 countries rep-resented. More than 90 percent of Wilson graduates go on to college. Twenty-four AP courses are offered and about 500 students take them each year. There are 26 interscholastic sports for men and women, and more than 50 clubs and activities. In 2010, Wilson was designated as one of the 100 best and most rigorous high schools in America by Newsweek Magazine. Wilson continues to do an excellent job of preparing young people to succeed and to contribute to a better world.

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During the first decade of the new century, Wilson increased its Academy offerings and expanded its freshman class. In 2002, the Humanities, Arts, and Media Academy (HAM) was established for students who wished to pursue careers in the humanities, communications, performing arts, or visual arts fields. AP courses and a senior project were required. The Academic Athletic Achieve-ment Academy ( AAA) was started in 2006, with a focus on students interested in careers in sports medicine, sports management, and health and fitness.

Although there had been a small freshman class at Wilson for a number of years, the class was expanded in 2008-09 as D.C. junior highs were changed to middle schools with grades 6, 7 and 8. During this decade, Wilson and many other schools in the District and around the country faced the challenges of meeting the performance targets established by the Federal No Child Left Be-hind law. In contrast to these challenges, the District finally provided funding for a long-awaited modernization of the school’s aging facility, which eventually opened for students in Fall of 2011.

The new century started on a painful note, when two Wilson seniors were shot to death near their home by a former student. The Peaceable School Initiative responded by sending student delega-tions to government officials to advocate better gun control, and many students, faculty, parents, and alumni joined a group of 750,000 on the Mall in the Million Mom March in May, to promote sensible gun laws.

The Alumni Association announced in 2001 that it had established a scholarship fund, and the fol-lowing year the first two seniors received $500 each to help with their education. The amount has now been raised to $2,000, and 21 students have so far received awards.

The San Francisco Giants drafted Emmanuel Burris in 2006. He had played shortstop at Wilson, and went on to play baseball at Kent State. “Manny” is one of only a few Wilson alumni from this recent decade to become “famous” so far, but give them a few more decades! Not quite so well known, but worth noting is that KCE Structural Engineering, headed by Wilson’s Allyn Kilsheimer [‘58], was the lead firm in the Pentagon rebuilding after 9/11. Allyn worked day and night for the next year, and the restored building was rededicated in September 2002.

Endnote Memories was compiled by Mary Giffin (WHS ’73) and Maryanne Kendall (WHS ’56). Many resources are available to learn more about Wilson’s history, including a video about Wilson through the 1990s and old issues of The Beacon, yearbooks, and other material at the school library. The Wilson Alumni Association publishes a quarterly newsletter with information on past and current school topics as well as alumni news. For more information write to the Woodrow Wilson Alumni Association, P.O. Box 151511, Chevy Chase, MD 20825 or email wilsonalumni@aol.com. A link to the Association is also available on the school website at wilsonhs.org.

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75th Anniversary Celebration

Evening Gala

The festivities open on Friday night (October 14) with a Gala in the spectacular four-story atrium of the new Wilson, with:

• Fabulous food from Occasions Catering, music from Wilson’s own student Jazz Ambassador Combo and Concert Choir Ensemble, and dancing to Jake Flack (WHS ‘86) and King Soul;

• Alumni from as far back as 1939, as well as past and present principals, teachers and parents attending in celebration of Wilson’s 75th year;

• A Raffle drawing to pick the winners of raffle prizes of $5,000, $1,000 and $500. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale until they are sold out or the drawing is conducted.

Music and Arts Festival

Festivities continue into the next day (October 15) when Wilson opens its doors to the community for a FREE Music and Arts Festival and Open House from 10:00 to 5:00. Students, teachers, alumni, parents, neighbors, and friends all are invited to join us for:

• Performances on the stadium and auditorium stages with music ranging from rock n’ roll to go-go, and from jazz to bluegrass;

• An arts and crafts fair and art exhibition and sale in the Atrium, featuring the talents of artists and craftspeople from all over the region, displaying and selling their work;

• Food provided by famous DC food trucks Red Hook Lobster, DC Empanadas, Fojol Bros, Takorean, Curbside Cupcakes, DC Slices, as well as Broad Branch Market, Armands, and Tender Rib;

• Tours of the new Wilson.

Come see the new Wilson, enjoy the music, meet the artists, become inspired, and get a jump start on your holiday shopping!

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Gala Schedule

Friday, October 14, 7:00–11:00 pm

Welcome to Woodrow Wilson High School’s 75th Anniversary Gala. Tonight, we hope you will reconnect with old friends and relive some of the beautiful moments of Wilson High School’s past. Enjoy the soaring new atrium of the renovated Wilson, which has also retained much of its past charm and beauty. Share with us in an evening of dinner, dancing, and mingling. Happy 75th Anniversary Wilson High School!

Order of Events in the Atrium

7:00 – 8:45 pm Wilson Jazz Ambassador Combo, led by Paul Phifer

7:15 pm Welcoming Remarks from Pete Cahall, Principal

7:30 pm Dinner by Occasions Catering

8:45 pm Remarks, Master of Ceremonies, Shelly Bowers, WHS ‘81 Performance by the Wilson Concert Choir Ensemble The Wilson Alma Mater, “Sons of Wilson.” Join us! (see lyrics on pg. 2)

9:00 pm Raffle Drawing to benefit Wilson High School’s 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign. Cash prizes of $5,000, $1,000 and $500.**

9:30 pm Dance to the music of Jake Flack (Wilson ’86) and King Soul

9:30 pm Desserts and Coffee

** Raffle Tickets are $25 each and proceeds benefit the 75th anniversary capital campaign. Winners do not need to be present to win. Tickets will be sold at the Gala up until the winners are announced.

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Music & Arts Schedule

Saturday, October 15, 10:00 am–5:00 pm

—In the Atrium —10:00 am–5:00 pm Arts and Crafts, Art Exhibition and Sale, and Tours (hourly)

— In the Auditorium/Theater —

11:30 am–12 pm J. Sylvester, Jazz12 pm–1:00 pm Wilson Fall Musical Open Rehearsal: Oliver!1:30–1:50 pm Jennifer Li, Classical Piano2:00–2:20 pm Southwest, Experimental Rock2:30–2:50 pm Amanda Bean with Ginny Curtain on piano, Opera and Broadway, 3:00–3:20 pm Vincent Femia, Alternative rock 3:30–3:50 pm To Be Announced4:00–4:30 pm Wilson Concert Choir under the direction of Lori Williams4:40–5:00 pm Metro Jazz Combo

— On the Field Stage —

Master of Ceremonies John McCarthy, WHS ‘87 11:00 11:40 am The Morrison Brothers Band, Country Rock12:00–12:40 pm Deathfix, Punk Rock1:00–1:40 pm Peculiar People, Gospel Go-Go2:00–2:40 pm Ras Lidj Band, Reggae Go-Go3:05–3:20 pm Wilson Green Machine Marching Band 3:30–4:15 pm Trouble Funk, R&B, Go-Go

— At the Front Entrance —

11:00 am–3:00 pm Food! Red Hook Lobster Food Truck, DC Empanadas Food Truck, Fojol Bros. Food Truck, Curbside Cupcakes Food Truck, Takorean Food Truck, DC Slices Food Truck, Broad Branch Market Burgers and Brats, Armand’s Pizza, Tender Rib Barbeque

— In the Choir Room —12:00–12:30, 12:45–1:15, 1:30–2:00 pm Juggling Class with Dave Finnigan, WHS ‘59

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Music & Arts Festival

Arts, Crafts, and Community BoothsPatrica Aguirre – JewelryMichael Auger – Paintings, printsDenise Bentley – Items from fabricLinda Blackburn – JewelryJacqueline Campbell – Fiber artMeta Carr – Paintings and craftsArty Friends – Multi-mediaMiriam Cutelis – Mixed media, jewelryElizabeth Eby – Fused glass bowls, etc.Maluchi Enyi –Multi-media, hatsMargaret Flynn – Beaded jewelry, silverwareNancy Franklin – JewelryDiane Freeman – Fiberart Lena Frumin –Scarves, paintingLauri Gonyea – Knitting kitsMarcia Green – Artwork Carl Hall – Drawing, paintingLinda Hannick – Fused glassCara Jablon – JewelryDiane G. Johns – Silk scarves, assessories Anita Marina – Fused glass jewelry, sculpturesElba Molina – PaintingsMichelle Mosley - jewelry Carol Newmyer – Bronze, wearable art, jewelryDebra Nicholas – PaintingsElaine Ozol – PotteryLabarron Person – Paintings, prints, drawingsDave Peterson – T-shirts and cardsWendy Plotkin-Mates – PaintingsQuinea Postell – Children’s bookVastie Presley – Hats, jewelryEdward Purcell III & Anne Purcell Clark – Jewelry, clayAmy Reingold – Handmade bags, coatsElizabeth Richter – Photo-impressionism canvas wrapsBrenda Singleton –Multi-media, hats Lyn Soudien – Handcrafted jewelry Sarah Swift – Photo prints, mixed media collageIrene T. Whalen – African ornaments, ceramicsLaLonnie N. Travenia – Crocheted itemsLorenzo Wilkins – Handpainted chairs, cards, etc.Phil Yabut – Photo prints, collage

Arts Exhibition and SaleGinny CallanenShelby ConleyPatricia DubroofEdward E. Purcell & Anne Purcell ClarkMaluchi Enyi & Brenda SingletonJoel FeldmanMargaret FlynnNancy FrankelNancy FranklinCarl HallLinda HannickCharlotte HodgsonCara JablonKeshini LadduwahettyLeah RobertsGary Rosenthal Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home Randy MellickElba A. MolinaMelisa MurphyDebra NicholasElaine OzolLabarron PersonWendy Plotkin-MatesVastie PresleyGail S. RebhanAmy ReingoldEliabeth RichterLyn Soudien

Also, booths or tables representing: Iona Senior Services, Janney Cookbook, Louise Dickson Home, Washington Project for the Arts, and the Wilson High School Alumni Association

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Music & Arts Festival

About Our PerformersAMANDA STARR BEAN WITH GINNY CURTAIN ON PIANOAmanda (WHS ‘98) is a professional Soprano and will perform O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi and Girl In 14G. Ginny Curtain is a former Wilson parent.

DEATHFIXArising out of a tradition of underground music from the early 1990s, musicians Rich Morel and Brendan Canty (WHS ’81- ’83), formerly of Fugazi, formed this local band in 2011 to continue building their fan base with hardcore punk rockin’ beats.

VINCENT FEMIAWilson Junior Vincent Femia has played and sung his solo alternative rock music at manyarea coffee houses, including WIlson’s own “Lyric Cafe.”

JAKE FLACK AND KING SOULWith lead singer Jake Flack (WHS ’86) King Soul brings the excitement of real Southern Soul to a new audience. Featuring original songs, Gritty vocals, a slamming horn section and driving rhythms, King Soul has become a top draw at DC clubs and events.

JENNIFER LIAward-winning classical pianist Jennifer is in grade 9 at Wilson and has been playing piano since she was 5 years old. Jennifer played the keyboard and flute in Hardy Middle School’s Honors Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and Concert Band and was a member of the Capital Jazz Project.

RAS LIDJ BANDWith Reggae-Roots music that falls on the socially conscious side of the scales, musician, songwriter and performer Ras Lidj has contributed to the creation of a unique genre of music.

METRO JAZZ COMBOWilson students Jamie Finucane (WHS ‘13) Vincent Femia (WHS ‘13), Eli Ferster (WHS “13) and Colin Rosen ( WHS ’12), play for a variety of communit0y, charity, and private events.

THE MORRISON BROTHERS BANDA native DC band with an original fusion of Pop, Rock, and Country music, brothers Truman and Willie’s debut album “Midnight in Virginia (2009) became a cult classic on itunes and they were awarded the 2010 Gigatone Entertainment Songwriter and Performer Talent Search Award.

OLIVER! THE MUSICALOpen rehearsal of Wilson Theater under the leadership of Harriet Bronstein.

PECULIAR PEOPLEPeculiar People is made up of some of the hottest young talent in the DC Metropolitan area. Their music reflects their experience with a blend of gospel and go-go.

SOUTHWESTThis recently established experimental rock band is formed from the remnants of several previous bands with Jamie Finucane (WHS ‘13), Aidan Eubanks, and Danny Howard .

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J. SYLVESTERProfessional jazz musician J. Sylvester has lived and played in Memphis, Nashville, and Houston with many jazz musicians at a variety of venues. His debut CD, Inside Out, was released in 2009.

TROUBLE FUNKTrouble Funk hit the scene in 1978 with an original sound that energized their D.C. hometown with the sound of go-go music, an uproarious blend of swinging up-tempo ‘70s funk and a ‘60s style horn section wrapped around spirited vocal tags and call out hooks. Their first national go-go release was their 1982 hit “Drop The Bomb.” Over the past twenty-five years they have garnered a large and loyal fan base.

WILSON CONCERT CHOIR AND ENSEMBLEThe Concert Choir is under the direction of Ms. Lori Williams (2007 Superintendent’s Arts Teacher of the Year) and has performed for many school-related cultural enrichment activities, and community service events held at the Justice Department, the Department of Labor, National Airport, The Washington Post, DAR Constitution Hall, The Kennedy Center, National Cathedral, 9/11 Memorial Ceremonies, Washington Convention Center, and other venues.

Guest Director on Saturday is Vanessa Williams, professional gospel recording artist, and. Jonathan Davis is accompanist. Choral members include: WHS ’12: Genevieve Josette Bent, Jonathan Boruch, Skyler Hughes, Lieu Huynh, Daniel Maliken, Christopher McFadden-Gooding, Jordyn Quaco, Maggie Roos, Anh Vu, and Imani Williams-Logan; WHS ’13: Makeda Burton, Tony Contreras, Elizabeth Fosburgh, Asha Gardner, Alante Maybin; WHS ‘14: Tymara Burton, Rosemary (Rosie) Cohen, Layla Japa, D’Mani Harrison-Porter, Marques Ross, Adia Xaba; WHS ’15: Carlos Hood, Virginia Reed; and Isaac Seller.

WILSON GREEN MACHINE MARCHING BANDRevitalizing a proud Wilson tradition, the Marching Band seeks to inspire school spirit and represent Wilson at appearances throughout the community. Under the direction of Paul A Phifer, the Band includes wind and percussion instrumentalists, dancers, flag twirlers, majorettes, and a drum line. The band performs at school athletic events, has performed at American University and UDC, and will perform at the Howard University Homecoming Parade 2011.

Band members have earned 2nd and 3rd place awards in the Mid-Atlantic Competition, the Northwood Invitational Drumline Competition and the Heritage Festival in New York, NY. Members include: Savannah Babino, Isatu Bangura, Imhotep Bradley, Keana Brown, Monicia Christian, Shanti Colbert, Asha Gardner, Elena Jacobs, Khyla Link, Deneshia McKinney, Damion McDuffie, Ashley Murray, Imonee Poindexter, Lenae Powell, Richard Randolph, Corey Simon, Robert Stone, Jacqueline Strange, Christyl Tate, Ifeanyi Uloma II, Ricki Webb-Thornton, Laquita Williams, Taanya Wilson, Joshua Britt, Bryan Washington, Keith Speight, Joseph Green, William Opare-Woods, Avery James, Kyara Salmon, Timothy Green, Nijewel Avery, Chaz Green, Edgar Sanchez, Caleb Gaither, Deloniel McCombs, Jock Pollock, Joseph Hall Jr., and Rakia, Leah, Noriah, Mia, Shay, Drux, Malaysia, and Alyssia.

WILSON JAZZ AMBASSADORS COMBOHailing from the proud tradition of jazz in the District of Columbia, the Jazz Ambassador Combo reaches out to communities near and far, using its talent and diversity to instill in all people an awareness of the role of music in the enrichment of the human spirit. The students have performed for President Barack Obama, Mayor Vincent Gray, and Kareem Abdul Jabar. They also have appeared at National Airport, Bohemian Caverns, the Blues Alley Big Band Jam, and the Williamsburg Heritage Festival. Members are Jamie Finucane (WHS ‘13), Eli Ferster (WHS ‘13), Colin Rosen (WHS ‘12), Imhotep Bradley (WHS ’13), Francisco Abate (WHS ’12) and Gabriel Cano (WHS ‘14).

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Thank You to Our Supporters

Our supporters include the businesses that contributed funds and in-kind donations, individuals who made generous financial contributions, the artists and craftspeople who rented booths and donated art, the food trucks and vendors that generously donated 20 percent of their proceeds to the campaign, and of course the dozens of parents and alumni who helped organize this special event.

Our Business Sponsors

BENEFACTORS ($2500)Pete’s New Haven Style APizza (Field Stage Sponsor, $2500)Circle Management Company (Field Stage Sponsor $2500):

Representing: Whole Foods Market, Tenleytown, Sears Home Appliance Show- room, Panera Bread, Payless Shoe Source, Starbuck’s Coffe, Guapo’s Restaurant, American Valet, Robeks Smoothies, Tenley Wine & Liquor, Angelico Pizzeria, Radio Shack, Crisp and Juicy, Mattress Discounters, Dominoe’s Pizza, Supercuts

Safeway (Auditorium Stage Sponsor, $1500)

PATRONS ($1000) Taylor Agostino Group Capital One Bank Cheryle Baptiste, DDS, PLLC Cox Graae & Spack Architects Northwest Current PNC National Bank Route 11 Potato Chips T/R Financial Management Tabard Inn

SUPPORTERS ($500)American University Circle Yoga Douglas Management Public Tenley Tenleytown Trash

FRIENDS ($250)Barstons Child’s Play Blue 44 Restaurant The College Lady The Kingsbury Center Rocklands Barbeque Tenleytown Historical Society Tenleytown Painting

FOOD & BEVERAGE PARTNERSSpecial thanks for donating 20 percent of all proceeds from sales on October 15th to Wilson! Red Hook Lobster Fojol Bros. DC Empanadas Curbside Cupcakes DC Slices Takorean Tender Rib Barbeque Armand’s PizzaSpecial thanks for donating services, beer and wine, and food to fuel the celebration! Ben’s Chili Bowl Broad Branch Market Tabard Inn Geoff Dawson Ace Beverage Andrea Ferster Occasions Catering

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Our Individual Sponsors

TIGERS ($500+)Bill and Laurie Bennett Donald A. Brown Warren Buffet Peter Copeland and Maru Montero Mark Dayton and Catherine Cooney Paolo and Ann DiRosa Edlow Family Fund Marcia Hackett Jim, Kerry, Madeleine, and Lily Joseph Kathryn Kincaid Caroline Lanford Chris Moore Steve Morgan Mark Rochon and Page Kennedy Cindy and Sean Sherman Jean Simons Albert H. Small Dianne and Rob Torresen Ray Williams and Audrey Hipkins-Williams Dr. Robert Williams and Mary Ann Williams

BEACONS ($250+)Wayne and Joy Alexander Kyle and Kim Bayliss Carlos Cano and Pamela Garlick Michael and Kristy Carroll Councilmember Mary Cheh Kenneth Edlow Jay W. Freedman Matthew and Lena Frumin Massimo and Susan Gigli Russ Guill and Deborah Crouch Michael Hughes and Linda Wiessler-Hughes Richard and MaryBeth Maeder Philip Marion and Tanya Lumpkins, MD Diane Vigeant Matthews Jill Bielski McDonald James B. Nagle III and Nancy Rutledge Joseph and Judith Bunnell Olchefske Rosalind M. Parker, Esq. Evan Pehrson and Lee Glazer Amy Quinn Mark Stein and Arlene Balkansky The Tempchin Family William and Serena Wiltshire

PLAYERS ($75+)Douglass Bell and Joan OchiNancy BroseStuart and Jamie ButlerRobert Lee BurnsG.H. Patrick BursleyJoan Goodman ChurchillJoanna Clark for Emily Malinowski FamilyJoan Goldstein CooperH. Allen CurranCharles DaneJohn Derrick and Linda Denhofer DerrickKenneth DreyfussNick and Karen FemiaDavid Fischer and Joy KassettSusan Koenig FreedW. Frederick and Jean GoreKathryn GibsonDebbie, Joanna and David GrobergAlan N. HallDan and Connie HarnEleanor Elson HeginbothamHenrietta JerniganJim JordanLori Kaplan in honor of Alex WilsonLaurie Fischer Keller ‘David and Carol KleinJoanne and William Karppi for Paul WaringDarren and Lesa LindsayMary LordMargery Flocks MasinterLaura “Dede” McClureRobert Morin and Martha TomichCelia MorlockGary NewmanClaudia NierenbergPhil PerkinsDan and Flo RosenblumDiane RossPeter RossEstelle Luber SchwalbThe Seline and Remez FamilyAlbert Shuldiner and Emily Meyers(continued on next page)

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Our Individual Sponsors

PLAYERS continued ($75+)

Sam Smith and Celest ReganJulian “Buddy” SteinSandra Perper SugarChristy SwansonPeter Timmons and Tracey OrloffSteve Walsh and Marianne RobbArthur S. WarnerWoodrow Wilson High School Alumni AssociationRick Young and Linda FinkJerry Yurow

HONOR ROLL (up to $75)James Dodson BishopAlan ClugstonJohn and Ginger DewhirstCapt. Mary A. GoreCarolyn Bauserman KneislyJerry and Adina LeachMarjorie LidoffAlison LuchsDave and Carol McKinleyEric MendelsohnBeverly Rozansky RosenLois SchifferTeens Run DCAdam TopeWalter Wood

SPONSOR A TEACHER ($75)Donations for teacher attendance at the Gala:Joy and Wayne AlexanderMarguerite BallardDr. Cheryle BaptisteJohn and Judy BarrowsWillem BrakelDonald A. BrownYhasmine BryanMassimo and Susan GigliMartin Hamburger and Molly ReillyDavid and Julie HamlinChristopher Kojm and Ann MisbackMary LordJames B. Nagle and Nancy RutledgePhil PerkinsMark Rochon and Page KennedyEstelle Luber SchwalbSean and Cindy ShermanMatthew Tobriner and Joanne Gottlieb TobrinerWilliam and Serena Wiltshire

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Woodrow Wilson High School Principals, 1936 - 2011

Norman Nelson, 1936-46 Thomas Holmes, 1946-50 Dr. John Brougher, 1950-57 Dr. James Suber, 1958-64

Murray Schere, 1964-69 Vincent Reed, 1969-70 Sherman Rees, 1970-71 Maurice Jackson, 1971-80

Dorothy Brown, 1980-82 Michael Durso, 1982-88 Dr. Wilma Bonner 1988-96 Stephen Tarason, 1996-07

Jacqueline Williams, 2007-08 Pete Cahall, 2009 - present

Woodrow Wilson High School Principals

1936-2011

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