Annual Fund 2019
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Walnut Hills High School Annual Fund 2019 A building cannot teach, but it can inspire. 2 | WHHS Annual Fund 2019 Twenty years ago WHHS faculty and alumni began developing a plan for a new arts and science center. They did not begin with architecture. Rather, they focused on creating a space that nurtures an environment of diversity, where the only stratification is based upon achievement. Twenty years later we ask ourselves, “Was it worth it?” WHHS Annual Fund 2019 | 3 Dear Alumni, Foresight is a rare commodity. Luckily for my experience at Walnut Hills High School, the alumni community of One could say Walnut Hills High School is my second home. I have spent the 1990s not only had the commitment to radically alter the physical structure of the school, but through that over 20 years here. Like a homeowner, one doesn’t necessarily focus process they established a driving force behind the school’s on what has been accomplished but rather what improvements can be continued excellence. made. I see what needs to be done on a daily basis, not just the physical I’ve never known a WHHS without the Alumni Arts and but programmatic possibilities that continue to make our house a home Sciences Center. When I first walked into the school on to thousands of students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni. A place of a tour, it was a telling beacon that this school and its learning, exploring, inspiring curiosity, building horizons, and giving a solid community cared about providing education in a space that met the excellence of the instruction. In that regard, while I liberal arts foundation that will allow students to pursue and excel in higher don’t think the wing was the reason students chose Walnut, education. Excellence is not stagnant and must be continually examined for the programs that excelled within its walls and the contrast what is relevant. with the pre-renovation 1931 building might have been. This was the first component of that foresight, because As I walk around, I try to remember what the campus looked like twenty STEM and now design become increasingly demanded of years ago and what has changed. I posed the question to myself, “It has our graduates. Walnut students are keenly equipped for both been twenty years since the WHHS Alumni family built the Alumni Arts & rigorous and critical thinking coupled with a perspective and creativity that embodies a liberal arts education. By Science Center…was the investment worth it?” equipping the school with facilities to grow those programs, the alumni gave Walnut the chance to establish excellence While a historic and noteworthy accomplishment, a building was not the ahead of the curve, drawing families to a superb education objective. The aspiration of this wise collection of visionaries was to have a in a complementary environment. deep and profound impact on a student’s life; literally to build a foundation Where I find the Alumni Arts & Science through which to broaden a student’s experience, opportunity and mind. Center had the greatest impact, was in the The Alumni Arts & Science Center became a means of delivery to support crystallization of the Alumni Foundation as a force at the school. From Junior Achievement to a higher level of teaching. For many, it became a glimpse of what could be judging the science fair, funding textbooks and creating a and the hope of possibilities. writing center, the alumni take a great high school and allow it to be extraordinary and the Alumni Foundation is the core As I look around today, there is not one part of our campus that has gone of that organization and dedication. untouched by your support, not just financially. Our alumni body cheers Do I think it was worth it? Absolutely. It is a statement when we achieve, rallies when we are threatened, rises to help with our by alumni that we think something special happened to challenges, and inspires by their example. Your path leads the way for our us under the dome and a commitment to sharing that for generations to come. current students. There is always much work to be done, thousands more students to educate, but knowing you are there to help and give back as — Garrett Oester, 2014 those before you have done, makes this not just a building but a home to the next generation. Your unwavering commitment, past, present and future makes all thing possible. I have asked various members of our family to add their perspective on this question “It has been 20 years since the Alumni Arts & Science Center opened, was the investment worth it?” I would love to hear your thoughts too. A heartfelt thanks to you for stepping forward with your generosity of time, talent and resources. Your gifts continue to make a difference to our investment in the next generation. Forever grateful, 4 | WHHS Annual Fund 2019 Many of the country’s Engineering colleges and universities integrate the Arts into their buildings and grounds. While they may have the latest laboratories and technological facilities, they line their academic hallways with pieces of Art that inspire creativity in their scientific and engineering students. Research laboratories and industries need people who are creative as well as highly educated in their disciplines. Artists who create large installations for parks, museums, and businesses must use their scientific training and skills to execute their works. Without the interdisciplinary knowledge between the arts and sciences, many of the world’s treasures would not exist. The works of Leonardo da Vinci are prime examples of the execution of engineering principles and the visual arts. The visual senses are stimulated in the WHHS Alumni Arts and Science Center by not only the art work produced by our students but also by their scientific displays. It is not unusual for a Walnut student to be an accomplished artist as well as a top student in the sciences. Was it a good investment? Yes. Did it inspire an appreciation for the Arts? Yes. Did it encourage students to consider a career in the Sciences? Yes. Did past alumni pull together with this precedent setting initiative to invest in the future of Walnut students? Yes. Did Walnut’s successful venture inspire other schools throughout the country to use private money for public education? Yes. — Barb Staley, Former Parent Board President, WHHS Alumni staff and parent of two alumni Every institution’s architecture is a reflection of itself. The main building at Walnut Hills High School was designed by Cincinnati’s Frederick Garber in the Palladian style based on the rotunda building at the University of Virginia and Monticello, both designed by Thomas Jefferson. When the need for a new building for teaching the sciences and the arts was required, it was designed to modern standards but in keeping with the original architectural themes of academics and learning, and blends in without distraction. The Alumni Arts and Science Building, built entirely with funds contributed by Walnut Hills alumni, not only provided needed academic facilities, but became the catalyst for other improvements to the Walnut Hills campus, including a new stadium for football and soccer, a second football and soccer field, a new Olympic size swimming pool, air conditioning of all buildings, modernized classrooms with WiFi connections and replacement of all windows. The Alumni Arts and Science Building was the first step to keeping Walnut Hills as the number one public school in Ohio as it prepares students for the challenges of the 21st Century and stands as a reminder to the Walnut Hills school community that we must continually rise to the highest. — John Fischer lll, ’61, Inaugural WHHS Alumni Foundation Board Member and parent of one alumnus WHHS Annual Fund 2019 | 5 As a student at Walnut Hills High School in the early 1970’s, I think it was generally accepted by the students and faculty that the quality of the science facilities at Walnut Hills High School would never rival the capacity of the students and teachers. It was just accepted at the time that the community would never be able to provide the funding required to meet the needs of the robust science curriculum presented by the faculty, thus limiting the trajectory of our students. It was really beyond the dreams of the school community that such an investment would or could ever be made. When the newly formed Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation identified the science facility as the focal point of their fund raising, it set in motion a shift in the school culture that transcended a facility upgrade. This momentous decision raised the ceiling of academic possibilities for our students and taught our school community that we could imagine lofty dreams and expect to reach them. It undergirded the collective esteem of our students by sending an unmistakable message that they are greatly valued for their ambitions, talents and abilities. In doing so, it changed our school forever. — Jeff Brokamp, ’78, WHHS Principal 2007-2017 and parent of two alumni 6 | WHHS Annual Fund 2019 Twenty years later we see the ripple effects. The WHHS Alumni Foundation has funded plazas and playing fields, textbooks and competitions, speaker series and student travel. Rather than sustain the standards that have made Walnut Hills great, we have chosen to raise them. WHHS Annual Fund 2019 | 7 The Alumni Arts & Science Center was just the beginning. Campus additions such as the Natatorium, which houses an Olympic-size swimming pool, faculty development including AP training, and student needs such as textbooks and tutoring have been, and continue to be, funded with alumni donations.