Congratulations to seniors Jeff Boortz and John Patterson, who have been named National Merit Semi-finalists for their outstanding scores on the nationwide test. Once again, Woodrow has more finalists than many suburban schools.
Among area schools, Woodrow has a higher percentage selected than Lake Highlands and Bryan Adams. Private schools First Baptist and Bishop Lynch each had one semi-finalist.
Last year, Woodrow semi-finalist Matt Olin ’92 went on to win a National Merit Scholarship and is now a freshman at Texas Tech.
More Scholarship News
Olin was one of 10 Alumni Association scholarship winners this year. In its third year, the W.W. Alumni Scholarship Trust invites previous winners to submit their grades for subsequent support throughout college.
The Trust recently issued $5,000 in checks to former Woodrow students. Of the 1992 winners, we have learned that Melinda Jones, Kiecee Naim and Lisa Shiels are legacies.
Melinda’s dad, Dr. Ellwood Jones, is a 1959 graduate; uncle Wayne Jones graduated in 1962. Kiecee’s late grandfather was Wade Thompson, who coached Wildcat football from the school’s opening (1928) until World War II.
Thompson’s most famous player was our first Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O’Brien.
Lisa’s mom, Joyce Peyton Shiels, is from the Class of 1965, and her grandmother, Mary Ann Ramsey Shiels, graduated from Woodrow in ’41.
Teacher Development Fund Announced
With money raised by the Class of 1952 at its reunion last summer, a fund has been established by the Alumni Association for teacher development.
Directors will be Jackie Smart Andrews, Mickey Wiseman Enlow and Elbert Norton, all from the Class of 1952. Bill Booziotis, another classmate, will coordinate fund-raising.
An Already-Developed Teacher
Marca Lee Bircher, choir director at Woodrow for 17 years, recently won a Minyard Teaching Award. She will receive $1,000 for the award, and the school will receive an additional $1,000. Bircher previously received the Perot Award, among many others.
The late Henry and Buddy Minyard, founders of the chain of grocery stores (now the largest family-owned enterprise in Texas), graduated from Woodrow in the early 1930s. They established their first store on Lindsley in the Mt. Auburn area.
Sound Off
Bircher and her outstanding music program should soon have a new sound system in the auditorium. Parent Mary Hodge, who pays tuition for her daughter to attend Woodrow from Highland Park; is only $6,000 short of her $42,000 goal for the system.
If you would like your name listed on the commemorative plaque, rush your contribution of $100 or more to: W.W. Auditorium Fund, c/o Mary Hodge, 3804 Amherst, Dallas 75225.
Donations more or less than $100 also are welcome.
Red-Letter Days
WoodrowFest, featuring food and fun, will be held from 4-8 p.m. at the school Oct. 3 following the football game against Lincoln. The game begins at 1:30 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Stadium.
Homecoming festivities are scheduled the weekend of Oct. 16-17. Be sure to call the Alumni Association at 214-601-2164 for a recorded message of all activities. And don’t forget to tie red ribbons to your trees.
Mark your calendars now for Nov. 11. That’s when the popular Choir Dinner Theater will be held at the school at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 214-841-5097.
