Unsung heroes at Woodside High Unsung heroes at Woodside High (June 23, 2004)

By Jennifer Nuckols
Special to the Almanac

Valedictorians and football stars often have the most applauded names in a high school. But on the evening of June 3, a total of 35 members of the Woodside High School community were recognized as "unsung heroes" for their positive, but less recognized, contributions to the high school community.

Award recipients included a student who had returned a lost wallet, a basketball coach who helped with the academic and off-the-court success of his players, a night custodian who was a source of moral support, and the receptionist who greets students and guests as they enter the administration building.

These award-winners -- Marc Chlubna, Coach Darrell Barbour, Dana Collins, and Lupe Flores-Robles -- were joined by other honorees, including student Lyndsay Douglass, who raised funds to honor a classmate who tragically died in a car accident in December, and teacher Allison Hyde, who works as a mentor and an advocate for English language learner students.

Each honoree received a matted certificate, flowers, and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. More than 100 people -- a cross section of students, parents, and staff -- attended the ceremony, said parent Bill Newell, chair of the Unsung Hero Award Committee.

"It was a fairly emotional event. Tears were shed at times, but there was also laughter," said Mr. Newell.

Carol Dorshkind, a former president of the Parent Teacher Student Association, began the unsung heroes program in 2000. A similar program at Menlo-Atherton High School, where her daughter attended, was the inspiration behind her idea.

The committee selected award recipients from a pool of more than 50 nominees. They sought to honor those who are not usually in the spotlight, and those who had never previously received the award. Students, staff, parents and community members all made and received nominations.

"I liked that we were recognizing a variety of people from different backgrounds, different social classes and different ethnicities. It was very diverse," said Mr. Newell. "I see this as a springboard for people getting more recognition down the line for things that they may have never been known for before."

Other honorees were Gina Bueno, Maureen Campbell, Bernadette Clapp, Sue Cowitz, Thelma Guevara, Denise Hines, Delmy Menendez, Judy Phillips, Aaron Vanian, Margaret Williams, Todd Blumbergs, Rick Lacy, Joshua McGurk, Michele Takei, Lynda Anderson, Ellen Crawford, Dennis McBride, Mary Petkevich, Diane Talbert, Garrett Anderson, Joe Cardenas, Ryan Cooper, Rachel Hogue, Maria Lui, Christian Ramos, Joseph Thomas, Rosa Torres, Brenda Valencia, Aaron Woolway.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.