UHEF & Uni News

12

Apr, 2017

Thanks to our January, February and March contributors!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Donors, D | Comments: 0

[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! […]

10

Apr, 2017

Remembering another great Uni coach: Jim Pursell

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Mel Patton, Jim Pursell, Larry Booth | Comments: 0

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 […]

5

Apr, 2017

Can you help five Uni students compete in a State championship?

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Danna Coonen-Lee, Skills USA | Comments: 0

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 […]

4

Apr, 2017

Uni Health & Fitness Fair coming April 27: You are invited!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Kerri Eich, Uni Health & Fitness Fair | Comments: 0

[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 […]

1

Apr, 2017

Uni earns mixed marks in first “Equity Report”

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: California Dashboard | Comments: 0

[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 […]

22

Mar, 2017

Nwaba signs two-year deal with Lakers

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: David Nwaba | Comments: 0

[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 […]

15

Mar, 2017

Sing along with “Grease” at the Uni Film Festival on April 29

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Grease | Comments: 0

[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, […]

11

Mar, 2017

David Nwaba becomes first Uni’s first NBA player!

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: David Nwaba | Comments: 0

[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 […]

17

Feb, 2017

Collins & Katz Family YMCA nearing completion at Uni

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Collins & Katz Family YMCA | Comments: 0

[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 […]

9

Feb, 2017

Uni establishes Violetta Ponce Scholarship Fund

By: Rich-Perelman | Tags: Violett Ponce Pacheco | Comments: 0

[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 […]