The official web site of the Lowell Alumni Association

More LAA History
The feature article in our last issue, covering the modern history of the Lowell Alumni Association, failed to mention the important activities and contributions made over the past 17 years by our Southern California chapter. Founded by the late Jackie Gordon Sherman '36, the group held its first Southern California luncheon in early 1988, featuring former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown '23 as keynote speaker. Since then, eleven more luncheons have been held, with the most recent this past April in Burbank. Over the years, these events have helped keep local alumni informed about developments at Lowell, established and strengthened alumni friendships and generated thousands of dollars in support for Lowell and the Lowell Alumni Association.

Helen Louie Wax '66 has led the group for many years after first helping to organize the 1990 luncheon. Other long-time members of the Southern California chapter's steering committee have been the late Elisabeth Repp Cooper '37, DeeDee Kabushco Walser '41 and Nancy Martin Albrecht '55. Thanks to all who have helped to keep the Lowell flag flying high in Southern California for nearly two decades - and get ready for the next Southern California luncheon, planned for April, 2007!

SF Prep Sports Hall of Fame to Honor Gong
One of Lowell's finest runners, Olive (formerly Diane) Gong '80, will be among the select few inducted into the San Francisco Prep Sports Hall of Fame at its 2005 banquet, set for Saturday, May 21st. Entering Lowell just as girls high school sports in San Francisco began to blossom, Olive placed second in the inaugural girls cross-country meet as a sophomore (finishing behind her sister, Jennifer) and then won the meet in her junior and senior years. She went on to place fourth in the Northern California Cross Country Championships as a senior.

Olive also excelled in track, where she won the mile event in the first-ever girls all-city track meet in 1978 with a time of 5:28. As the number of track events for girls expanded, so did Olive's medal haul. She had a lock on the 880-yard, one-mile and two-mile events, sweeping all three as a junior and senior. Olive won every all-city track event she entered during her high school years, going seven for seven, and her record-setting times stood for more than a decade.

Beyond San Francisco, Olive finished 10th in the 3200-meter run at the state track meet as a senior and was Western Regional Junior Olympic 3000-meter champion. She continued to compete in cross-country and track at Stanford University and now lives and works in San Francisco. In a very pleasant coincidence, Olive will also join the Lowell Sports Hall of Fame this year. Congratulations to this outstanding Lowell alumna!

For tickets to the SF Prep Sports Hall of Fame dinner, send your check ($40 per person; made payable to SF Prep Sports Hall of Fame) to Al Vidal, 440 Gold Mine Dr, San Francisco, CA 94131.

Teacher Selected for NEH Institute
Lowell English teacher Teresa Bookwalter has been selected from a national applicant pool to participate in a special summer study opportunity sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Ms. Bookwalter will participate in a six-week program in Canterbury, England entitled "Chaucer's Canterbury Comedies". The fifteen teachers selected for this program receive a stipend to cover their travel, study and living expenses.

At Lowell, Ms. Bookwalter teaches drama and world literature courses. Her daughter, Anne Marie, is a Lowell alumna from the class of 2000.

Lowell Family Album
Beginning with this issue, the Lowell alumni newsletter will be sharing photos of various Lowell families. So please send us a current or historical photo of yourself and other relatives who attended Lowell - parents, children, uncles, aunts or third cousins twice removed. Digital photos may be sent to lowellaa@lowellalumni.org while prints should be sent to: LAA, PO Box 320009, San Francisco, CA 94132-0009.

Extra Lowell Yearbooks Are Available
Interested in buying a Lowell yearbook? The LAA has uncovered extra yearbooks and wishes to make them available to alumni. Here is a listing of yearbooks currently available.

1956, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001

To order, send your check for $50 (price includes shipping/handling) made payable to "Lowell Alumni Association" to: ( Please indicate which year you want. )

Lowell Alumni Association
PO Box 320009, San Francisco CA 94132-0009

Sesquicentennial Planning to Begin
In 2006, Lowell will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its 1856 founding as Union Grammar School. Planning for the various commemorative events will begin in earnest early next year. If you are interested in participating in any way to help make this grand celebration a smashing success, please contact the Lowell Alumni Association.

Lowell Sweatshirts Delivered to your Home
Beautiful Lowell sweatshirts are now on sale for $40. Made of quality material by Russell Athletic, these sweatshirts come in dark red with the famous Lowell logo on the left side. We have medium, large and extra-large sizes in stock to ensure a generous fit. Please make all checks payable to the LAA. (shipping and handling is included.)

Old Lowell Yearbooks Wanted!
The Lowell Alumni Association is setting up an archival collection of all Lowell yearbooks. They are interested in receiving donations of any old yearbooks and can make arrangements for delivery. Please contact the LAA for more details.

Lowell Court Painting available!
Add this classic piece of art to your collection.

Click on the photo to expand it.

Your Lowell alumni Association is pleased to offer prints of an historic painting that has been hanging in the Lowell Library for more than 25 years. The original work was by Daniel Poon, Class of 1960, who has given the Association permission to reprint his work for alumni. His large water color captures the excitement and color of a student rally against the backdrop of a hugh Lowell banner. Although the painting is of a courtyard scene at the Hayes Street Lowell, it portrays vividly the Lowell Spirit that transcends any point in time. These colorful prints now bring a touch of nostalgia to the homes of over 700 Lowellites.

Reprints of the 16 by 20 inch painting are available for $35, which includes shipping and handling fees. A perfect gift for any Lowellite, please make your checks payable to the Lowell Alumni Association.