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FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE June,1999 Dear Alumni, We are happy to announce a joint project with the Hawthorne High School Theater Co. to refurbish seats in Nyman Hall. After nearly fifty years of use, some are wearing thin or are damaged in some way. Nyman Hall Audiitorium is used continuously by our talented, young people on campus who put on drama productions, dance performances, award presentations, etc. We want to be proud of our surroundings especially when the public is invited to patronize these activities. We are currently asking all interested businesses and individuals to support this project by purchasing seats at $100 each. In appreciation, a 1" x 4" plaque will be permanently attached to the arm of every seat you purchase. The plaque will include your business name, organization or name and graduation year (when applicable) or a seat may be purchased in memoriam. There are only two-hundred and ninety seats, so you will have to act fast to secure yours. Please help us refurbish Nyman Hall. The Centinela Valley Union High School District has already provided new drapes, carpet, and paint to go with the seats! Our goal is to start replacement of these seats by August 1, 1999, so that Nyman Hall will be ready for the fall semester. Thank you for supporting this worthy project. Sincerely,
Melanie Chacon
Sherman Wayne, Theatre Director,
Melanie Chacon, Chairperson,
Thanks for your help.....
Dear John,
Well we had our kick off campaign on Sunday, June 27th with the following people in attendance:
Wallace Nyman, Larry Bender of the Hawthorne Rotary; Jean De Simone, School Board; Maria Calix, School Board Rep.; Mr. Pablo Catano of Senator Teresa Hughes' Office; Dr. Julian Lopez, Superintended of Centinela Valley Union High School District; Don Brand of Wiseburn School District and Alumni of HHS; Mr. Roy McNally of Hawthorne City Council and Alumni; Mayor Larry Guidi and wife Marilyn, Barbara Takumi a teacher and advisor for the Parents Committee for Academic Excellence; Hilda Leventhal an active parent and member of the PTA, Melanie Chacon our Campaign Chair; Dr. Harvey Hoyo (present principal) and his lovely wife; Vince Bravo, teacher and sponsor of two clubs on campus; Viet Tran former student and currently running for school board position; Dr. Patricia Mansfield, candidate for CVUHSD School Board; Petra Croucher, Treasurer or Financial Wizard of sorts.
Out of the 290 seats available, we sold 60 that afternoon and just a few days later Melanie sold 20 more, bringing our total up to 80 or $8,000. The first four rows on both the left and right sides are sold out, up to row D.
It was surprising to see how much Cougar pride there is among alumni, teachers and staff, current students, the community at large and members of the City Council.
Wow what a turn out! A lot of people were talking about cougartown.com. Seems like you are generating a lot of interest among the young and old alike. Even Mr. Nyman made mention of the website, suggesting that we advertise on it. We let him know, that you have already done one for us.
Larry Bender spoke about how often we use Nyman Hall, especially just two weeks ago, during the Senior Awards where we gave out $150,000 in scholarships to our graduating class.
I have some pictures of Wally Nyman, our first Principal, who is 83 years young and still speaks very well. He also seems to have all his faculties, pretty good keeping your faculties after all these years.
He said they started out with just 473 Freshman and Sophomores the first year, and built up the classes as they went along. They were excited about starting school in September of 1951, but in the middle of August, they got word that the buildings weren't going to be done on time. So they started the first semester at Leuzinger. Leuzinger went to school in the morning, and Hawthorne students started school in an afternoon session.
By the second semester, they moved into the new school, on a cold, wet, rainy day. They were told the heaters weren't working yet, so bring portable ones from home, and they did. They didn't have cement walkways, just muddy pathways.
He said that the auditorium was never designed to be a theatre, it was called the lecture hall. The concept was to have visiting speakers come, and the students would have a place to listen to lectures. Mr. Nyman said, he didn't think the name "Lecture Hall" sounded very exciting or like anything young teenagers would want to visit. The thought of getting a lecture wasn't very appealing. So he suggested to the Student Body that they come up with a name. He thought they might come up with the Cougars Den or some such thing. A few days later, the Student Body Council came to him and said, they wanted to name it Nyman Hall. He was surprised and astounded, telling them they usually name buildings after people who are dead, and he was very much alive. He told them to go back and think about it again. They did and came back saying that it is what they wanted to name it. He then told them that they would have to go before the School Board to get it okayed by them.
Wally said, that the Superintendent at the time was Jefferson Garner, and he came to Wally and said, we had 57 of your students show up at the meeting last night, and they are bound and determined to name the lecture hall, Nyman Hall.
And there you have it!
He thanked everyone for what we are doing, and for having him here today, and with the grace and charm of a gentleman, and seasoned toastmaster, took a moment to introduce his family, Mike McCoy his son-in-law, who is an Elementary School Principal in Cerritos; his daughter, Christina McCoy who is a teacher in Lawndale; and his granddaughters Vicki and Teresa McCoy.
Mr. Sherman Wayne, Drama Director, got up and spoke a few words about how some people in the community think theatre is dead at Hawthorne. He pointed out that he has six classes that he holds every day, in the theatre, and these are talented young students who give it there all. We are here after school, on weekends, during Easter & Christmas vacation, and they deserve support. They are giving their talents, their time, and let's show them that good kids also get attention. Two of my students just bought four seats, so they are giving back to the school too. On July 28 at 7:30 p.m. they will perform, "Up the Down Staircase" and on August 1, 1999, they will begin the restoration of Nyman Hall, so that it will be ready in September.
Melanie Chacon said that if we should raise enough money to refurbish the seats, we can definitely use some stage curtains, and will be glad to put plaques on the wall next to the stage, for additional funds for curtains and perhaps some air conditioning.
We have two companies involved with the project. One phase will be the application of electrolytic paint which bonds the paint to the metal, the wood arms will be sanded and refinished, the plaques will be secured in two ways, glued to the arm with a screw on each end of the plate. We will keep a copy of each plaque on file with who it was donated by, so if anything should happen to the plaque, a new engraved plaque will be ordered and replaced. The chairs will be restuffed, new springs added where needed, and reupholstered.
This is a chance for all of us to leave a legacy behind, a mark, or a plaque on the campus which has served this community for nearly 50 years.
A reception of punch and cookies were served after the presentation, and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and buy seats.
Regards, |
If you would like to sponsor a seat in Nyman Hall and have a plaque attached with your name on it, or you just want additional information on this project, Please contact: