Alumni Newsletter
April, 2009 Welcome Letter from the President Welcome to the first issue of the Camelback Alumni Newsletter! The place where you will find the latest news about our high school and in-depth stories about the people who make things happen. We hope you will not only reminisce about our bygone days but also be excited about the great things that are happening at Camelback today. The Camelback Alumni Association is now 6 years old and in that time we‟ve become more organized, more involved, and hopefully more responsive to the school‟s and the alums‟ needs. Our two primary missions are to provide scholarships to outstanding Camelback students and to involve our members in the current life of the school. Your membership dues and gifts provide the funding for the scholarships. With this newsletter you will become informed about ways that you can meet and participate with students in Camelback events. Thank you for all you do! Martha (Manning) Morgan „62
Volume 1, Issue 1
Scholarship Recipients
The Board of Directors will be awarding three $2000 scholarships at the Awards Ceremony on May 11th. The criteria for the scholarships is somewhat fluid depending on the applicants but we do require that the student have a 3.0 or better GPA, show financial need, and be admitted to an Arizona college. We look for those great Camelback students who might not otherwise be able to continue their education. This year we are giving three $2000 scholarships. This year‟s recipients are: Kellie Baer: Kellie will be attending N.A.U in the fall. She has a GPA of 4.6. National Honor Society, Masque and Gavel President, and Drum Major for the band are just a few of her accomplishments at Camelback Eric Coonrad: Eric will be attending Scottsdale Community College for two years and then transferring to N.A.U. to study Forestry. He has a 3.1 GPA. This year he was co-captain of the varsity football team and was in ROTC all four years. Erik Tamayo: Erik will be attending the U. of A. as a student in the school‟s honors program. He has a GPA of 4.5. He is in the National Honor Society and DECA.
Alumni Newsletter
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Letter from the Principal
What a great privilege it is to have this opportunity to share with the Camelback Alumni all the great things that are going on at Camelback High School, the Home of the Mighty Spartans. Our new award winning buildings are an architectural and engineering wonder that all of you are invited to come and see. The Buildings were featured in the American School and University Shaping Facilities and Business Decisions magazine‟s November 2008 issue. While through the years, the face of Camelback High School may have changed, many things remain the same. Camelback‟s academic achievements continue to be one of the highlights of the Phoenix Union District. As we near the end of the 2008-2009 school year we look forward to our students earning many scholarships and recognitions. This year we are on track to equaling or passing last year‟s awards of 1.5 million dollars in scholarships. For the past two years Camelback students have earned the prestigious Gates Millennium scholarship and we have two candidates that are in the running this year. The Gates Millennium Scholarship is a full ride scholarship to any major university in the world for up to seven years. Last year‟s recipient has a GPA of 3.9 at Purdue University. Wow, how awesome is that? Some of the other scholarships earned by the class of „08 include: 3 Doran Scholarships, 2 Robert C. Byrd Scholarships, 9 ASU President‟s Scholarships, 5 ASU Provost Scholarships, 3 ASU University Scholarships, 1 NAU Merit Scholarship, 3 U of A Wildcat Excellence Scholarships, and the list goes on. Academically speaking Camelback is obviously on the move. In just four short years, our Advanced Placement offerings have increased to 11 classes. Our new Robotics program is gaining momentum and has placed in competitions. Our fantastic Marketing program is still winning awards and is as strong as ever. Athletically, this year we have two state champs; one in Cross Country and one in the Women‟s Basketball State Three Point shooting competition. Our boys varsity basketball and soccer teams have made it to the state playoffs two years in a tow. Our girls basketball team was also in the play offs at the America West Arena. We did not win the state championship, but one of our young ladies took away the state three point crown. The school year is coming to an end so soon, but we still have a few events on the calendar. One of our premier end-of-the-year events is our Open House and Pride Night on April 30th from 6 to 8 PM. Our Pride Night is an exciting evening designed to allow our students to show their work. There will be displays of students work in all the commons areas of our new buildings and classrooms all over campus. Come and see what‟s happening at Camelback! ”Whatever It Takes!” Pete Garcia, Principal
School/Association Events Reunions—Check the website, www.camelbackalumni.com, for information on upcoming reunions. Alumni Breakfast—May 9 at 9:00am. Hometown Buffet, W. Bethany Home Road & 15th Avenue. Scholarship Award Ceremony—May 11 at 7:00pm. Camelback High School Graduation Ceremony—May 21 at 2:00pm. ASU Wells Fargo Arena
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Alumni Profile-Dave Roberts Dave Roberts has been a Camelback booster for over 50 years. In this first issue of our newsletter we want to honor his service to our organization, to Camelback High School, and to all alums who have ever searched for a long lost friend. Dave was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1939, and moved to Phoenix with his family in 1950. After graduating from Camelback in 1957 as valedictorian of his class, he attended MIT on a scholarship, and received his bachelor‟s degree in physics in 1961. He then moved to Cleveland, Ohio to pursue a master‟s degree in physics at Case Institute of Technology. Dave was a proficient oboist, having played 1st oboe with the Phoenix Youth Symphony while in high school. He continued playing at MIT. Upon arriving in Cleveland, he joined a chamber orchestra, where he met his wife, Edith, a violinist. They have one son, Daniel, born in 1975. Dave co-founded Cleveland Crystals, Inc., where he was a product design and manufacturing engineer, and VP until his retirement in 1995. He took up the piano as a hobby. Not content to merely play the piano, in his spare time he tuned, repaired and rebuilt pianos for several years. He became a craftsman member of the Piano Technicians Guild and wrote a series of articles for the Piano Technicians Journal, later compiled and published as a book. Within a year of Dave‟s retirement, he and Edith moved to Fountain Hills, Az., where Dave became active in his Homeowners Association and the Fountain Hills Historical Society. Dave was appointed class ”sleuth” for the Camelback High School classes of „56 and „57.He was the chairman of the 2004 joint reunion of the „56/‟57 classes. He‟s active in supporting the monthly Alumni breakfasts and a Camelback online YAHOO Forum founded by „57 classmate Carl Bowers. He is a Charter Member and Director on the Alumni Association Board. He continues his “sleuthing” and roster development for other (mostly early) Camelback classes in addition to ongoing upgrading of the Alumni web site. Dave‟s commitment to Camelback, our association, and reunion committees is invaluable. Thank you, Dave!
Dave Roberts Today Dave Roberts Senior Picture
Camelback Sports From Camelback‟s first team in 1953, when the school was based at North High School, to the most recent 2008 team, football has been a significant part of the Camelback culture. This tradition deserves to be told. There are many stories. Some are buried deep in the archives of the Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette, Shield, and Spartan Blade. Other memories are in the collective minds of generations of Camelback Spartans. Before 1959, “home” games were at North High School, except for a 1954 on-campus game against Brophy. Since then, home games have been played at Camelback Stadium. Camelback and South Mountain once played for the Spar-Reb Trophy, as symbol of what is still the most played rivalry in Camelback history. From playoff games at Phoenix College, three state championship games at Sun Devil Stadium in 1964, 1973, and 1974, and the 1974 state championship, Camelback has reached the highest plateau of achievement. Do you remember the packed crowds which filled the stadium while being entertained by the band, the cheer, flag, and pom lines? Football is the most documented activity in Camelback history. Despite this, the overall amount of material is lacking. The process of collecting historical information can begin with you. By sending in your stories, memorabilia, or photos, a historical database could be built not only for football, but for other aspects of the Camelback experience. Tell the Camelback story, about the gridiron and in the classroom, to everyone you know. —-Submitted by Randy Dinin „82 Relay for Life Camelback will be hosting the citywide Relay for Life on May 9th from 6:00 pm to 6:00am. Teams of high school students will be camping out on the stadium grounds and taking turns walking or running around the track. This event is sponsored by the American Cancer Society and it is a huge honor that Camelback was selected as this year‟s host. To volunteer, email Jessica Peifer at peifer@phxhs.k12.az.us
Camelback Relay for Life Team