(R-L) Dean Serwin, President, The Oneonta Club Foundation; Jessica Zavala, Principal, Monterey Hills School; Eva Muniz, Elementary School Teacher of the Year; Theo Hilger; Benjamin Regan; Austin Hwang; Katy Chen, Secondary School Teacher of the Year; Cheryl Busick, Principal, South Pasadena Middle School; Charlie Wilson, President, the Oneonta Club (Photo – Oneonta Club Foundation)
South Pasadena’s Oneonta Club Foundation celebrated its 50th annual banquet on May 12th at the War Memorial Building continuing a tradition of recognizing academic excellence and dedicated educators.
By News Desk
In front of a gathering of 100 Club members, school officials, and local dignitaries, three outstanding South Pasadena High School seniors received the prestigious Philip V. Swan Scholarships, while two exemplary teachers were honored for their dedication to student success.
The event, hosted by Club Board member and SPHS alum, Tom Rogers, kicked off with the South Pasadena High School Jazz Band, led by new conductor Tim Orindgreff, filling the room with lively tunes during dinner. As the meal wound down, voices joined together in song—a cherished Oneonta Club tradition—with scholarship recipients and the teachers stepping onstage alongside dozens of SPHS alumni to sing the school’s alma mater.
Foundation president Dean Serwin welcomed everyone, declaring “The Oneonta Club Foundation seeks students who are exceptional people, providing them and their families with tuition assistance as they take the first steps to their next chapter, college.”
(R-L) Dean Serwin, President, The Oneonta Club Foundation; Austin Hwang; Theo Hilger; Benjamin Regan; Charlie Wilson, President, the Oneonta Club (Photo – Oneonta Club Foundation)
After thanking those in attendance and acknowledging both the Club and Foundation Boards, and other special guests, Serwin introduced this year’s Scholarship recipients:
- Benjamin Regan heads to Oberlin College this fall, to study communications and Spanish and pitch for their baseball team. At SPHS in addition to co-captaining the baseball team, Benjamin edits the Tiger newspaper and invited more than 15 authors (including recent Pulitzer winner and SoPas resident Percival Everett) to speak on campus. Benjamin is especially proud of his “Hope, Soap, and Blankets” innovation providing toiletry kits for persons experiencing homelessness.
- Austin Hwang will attend UC Berkeley studying civil engineering. As SPHS ASB president Austin honed his skills in communicating and bonding with people and sharing the importance of happiness. This is a passion he brings to his desire to build homes and renewable energy projects for underprivileged areas while celebrating the joy of life. Austin is off to a great start having already helped design a building which now is home to 150 people who previously had none.
- Theo Hilger swims upcoast to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as an Agricultural Engineering student. This Fall, Theo captained the boys varsity water polo team to its first CIF championship in 30-years and its first ever state championship. This winter, he put his carpentry skills to work rebuilding fences and play equipment in the Altadena burn area.
In addition to honoring students, Foundation Scholarship Chair Carl von Bibra awarded the SPUSD Teachers of the Year, presenting each with a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 grant in recognition of their contributions. Monterey Hills School Principal Jessica Zavalo praised Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Eva Muniz, for her innovative teaching strategies and building strong relationships with students and families. And South Pasadena Middle School honors and accelerated math teacher, Katy Chen, was celebrated by Principal Cheryl Busick for not only her dedication to her math students but for coordinating and chaperoning the annual SPMS trip to Washington DC over the past decade.
As if that were not enough, the Club celebrated its retiring Music Director, Paul Killian, for his 30 years of bringing joy to the Club meetings. Additionally, Dr. Geoff Yantz, retiring SPUSD Superintendent, presented an overview of the last 12 years of SPUSD progress, showcasing the even higher heights to which our district has risen under his tenure.
“As we celebrate the Foundation’s 50 years,” remarked Oneonta Club president, Charlie Wilson, “we are reminded of the power of investing in the future, in our educators and our youth. This evening is a perfect reflection of the spirit and legacy of our Club.”
(R-L) Dean Serwin, President, The Oneonta Club Foundation; Jessica Zavala, Principal, Monterey Hills School; Eva Muniz, Elementary School Teacher of the Year; Theo Hilger; Benjamin Regan; Austin Hwang; Katy Chen, Secondary School Teacher of the Year; Cheryl Busick, Principal, South Pasadena Middle School; Charlie Wilson, President, the Oneonta Club (Photo – Oneonta Club Foundation)
Serwin concluded the evening by inviting everyone to watch for the formal announcement of the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Fundraising Gala coming this September.
Created in 1975 as a 501c3 through the vision of Philip V. Swan (for whom the Scholarship is named), The Oneonta Club Foundation has created a lasting legacy in South Pasadena, presenting more than $700,000 in scholarships, and still counting.
Founded in 1923, the Oneonta Club creed includes the following statement, “I further believe that only with confidence founded upon acquaintance, friendship and understanding may we render free and unselfish service to each other and our country”. The Foundation works from this ethic in seeking out graduates its Board believes will do good in the world.
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