Harker’s Board of Fellows kicked off its year Saturday night by hosting a special Head of School Gathering with Brian Yager, head of school, and invited members of Harker’s community of entrepreneurs and venture investment professionals, including numerous Harker alumni who have founded their own companies, to attend. Yager explained to the nearly 200 guests in attendance that the purpose of the gathering was “to recognize the outstanding achievements our business and entrepreneurship (B.E.) and economics students and teachers,” and to make a special announcement about the establishment of The Harker Venture Investment Initiative and associated Mehta Scholar Program.
Kelly Horan, assistant upper school division head, gave an overview of the outstanding achievements of Harker’s B.E. and economics programs, and then students and teachers were presented certificates of commendation by members of the Harker Board of Fellows for their hard work, preparation and achievement winning all three of the national competitions they participated in over the past few months.
Following the students’ recognition, Joe Rosenthal, executive director of strategic initiatives, announced the establishment of The Harker Venture Investment Initiative and the associated Mehta Scholar Program. Rosenthal explained that the initial funding has been specifically provided to create The Harker Venture Investment Pool. Harker’s advanced B.E. and economics students will have the opportunity to work with experienced venture investment professionals and entrepreneurs to make early-stage investments, primarily in alumni-founded companies.
The Venture Investment Initiative will leverage and engage Harker parents, alumni, alumni parents and students who are passionate about entrepreneurship and venture investment and will provide a strategic ecosystem to support alumni-founded companies and possibly other startups within the Harker network.
The funding for the Venture Investment Pool will come from the Mehta Endowment in Support of Scholarships and Entrepreneurship and by a few other donors making gifts specifically for this purpose. Rosenthal said, “Neil and Jasheen Mehta have given $5 million to establish their endowment, and in addition have generously offered to match every dollar that the community contributes.”
The Capital Fund by matching those contributions to increase their endowment up to an additional $5 million. If $5 million is raised for the Capital Fund, the Mehtas’ original endowment would become $10 million.” See the full story on the Mehta Endowment.
For more information, contact Harker’s Advancement department at advancement@harker.org.
At Wednesday’s Leadership Donor Celebration, held at the middle school campus, Neil Mehta ’02 announced the establishment of The Mehta Endowment in Support of Scholarships and Entrepreneurship. This new endowment will provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships to qualified students who otherwise could not attend Harker. It also will support Harker’s business and entrepreneurship program with the creation of the Mehta Scholar Program, developing Harker’s network of student, alumni and parent entrepreneurs and investors.
A member of the first Harker upper school graduating class, Mehta said at the event that finding a way for more students to receive the unique kind of high-quality education he received at Harker has been a dream ever since he wore the cap and gown 20 years ago. “Harker changed my life in remarkable ways, and ever since I graduated, I’ve been looking for opportunities to pay it forward,” said Mehta, who is now the founder and managing director at Green Oaks Capital. “Today, I’m pleased to share that at least five students each year will be able to attend the upper school with a scholarship specifically designed to support young people of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.”
The endowment will be established with an initial gift of $5 million, and every amount donated to the Harker capital fund as part of the donors’ 125th Anniversary Gift will be matched, up to an additional $5 million. The full transcript of Mehta’s announcement speech at the event has been provided below:
Dear Fellow Members of The Harker Community,
I won life’s lottery the day I was born. I was fortunate to grow up with remarkable parents who cared deeply about who I would become, and who provided me with a set of values and priorities that allowed me to flourish within and beyond the walls of the classroom. Harker took this luck and amplified it. Since its earliest days, Harker has had an ability to bring out the best in young people – to push them to achieve things they don’t think themselves capable of; to expand the horizons of their minds; to remind them that hard work matters, and that to whom much is given, much is also expected. All of those things were true for me.
Harker changed my life in remarkable ways, and ever since I graduated, I’ve been looking for opportunities to pay it forward. Today, I’m pleased to share that at least five students each year will be able to attend the upper school with a scholarship specifically designed to support young people of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
It’s no exaggeration to say that whatever personal or professional accomplishments I’ve enjoyed in my life wouldn’t have been possible without the opportunities that I was afforded at Harker. I had extraordinary teachers who challenged me intellectually. I had sports coaches who put in time and effort to shape the person I would become (and encouraged us to play on, even as a new varsity program that was sometimes hilariously overmatched). And I had exceptional peers who were by my side throughout high school, many of whom remain my closest friends even today.
As more time has passed since graduation, I’ve come to appreciate a few things. First, while raw talent is evenly distributed, the opportunity to make the most of it remains largely limited to the well-off. Too many brilliant young people never attain their greatest potential simply because their families lack the resources to give them the best shot at it. Second, education is one of the highest leverage ways to amplify opportunity. When you are able to influence someone positively, early on in their development, you can profoundly change the arc of their life. And third, Harker provides the kind of education that gives talented students a springboard to become people of consequence – not just learners, but doers. A Harker education is an investment that pays lifelong dividends.
The Harker School is an exceptional place in the truest sense of the word. At a time when many schools in California are shuttering programs that let students aim for and achieve their grandest ambitions, Harker remains an exception, cultivating talented minds and affording them the conditions to flourish. It’s a place where you succeed because of what you can do.
Nowhere is there more human potential than in the young minds of our future. Their talent and energy are more urgently needed today than ever before. I’m confident that Harker is the right steward for those minds and hopeful that the Mehta Scholarship will help open its doors to anyone who can make the most of it, regardless of their ability to pay. My aspiration is for this scholarship to change the lives of its recipients, and also for its recipients to change the face of Harker, helping build a school that represents the technicolor of our community.
If you’re a high-achieving young person with big dreams, I hope you take the time to apply, even and especially if you don’t think that you could afford a school like Harker. I’m supporting this scholarship because the greatest talents, those that can really put a dent in the world, are vanishingly rare. To miss out on your potential simply because some are born lucky and others aren’t, is a loss not just for you, but for all of us. The Mehta scholarships are a small step towards ensuring that more talented students will have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. We can’t wait to see what you’ll do.
P.S. One person in particular deserves special gratitude for his work with me on this gift is Joe Rosenthal. Joe took a keen interest in me as an unremarkable 14 year old. When I felt like giving up, he wouldn’t let me. He encouraged me to dream big when it felt irresponsible to do so. Thank you, Joe.
Last Friday, middle school faculty were given an opportunity to tour the new middle school campus, which is being built at the former site of the preschool campus. Teachers were greeted by middle school division head Evan Barth and guided by facilities director Mike Bassoni, who led the group around the site and explained the features of the new buildings and helped them envision what the campus would look like when finished. Teachers had the opportunity to explore the new buildings and enjoyed getting an up-close look at their future classrooms.
DoorDash co-founder Andy Fang today gifted $10 million to The Harker School to establish The Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund. Fang is a 2010 graduate of the private K-12 school, located in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The fund will create a permanent legacy at The Harker School to provide need-based financial aid to students who qualify for admission, but otherwise could not afford tuition and fees. It will support Harker’s commitment to diversity at the school.
“A great education is one of the best ways to even the playing field for underprivileged kids,” Fang said. “I hope this endowment can help families from underserved communities achieve the American dream.”
Harker’s Head of School, Brian Yager, expressed pride in Fang’s efforts to improve access to education at Harker. “Andy is doing something of profound impact for the school, and his vision, forethought and overwhelming generosity will have a significant effect on Harker and the community for generations to come.”
Board of Trustee Chair and ’79 alumnus, Albert Zecher, Jr. added, “Andy’s commitment to creating this historic endowment for scholarships at Harker is inspiring. As a young alumnus, his philanthropy is especially laudable.”
Fang cited his experience at Harker as a motivating force. “With my philanthropy, I was looking to focus first on an institution that I knew could help the community, based on my personal experiences,” he said. “I’m thankful for the education I received at Harker, and I want to provide a way for more students to get access to Harker’s world-class education.”
Kim Lobe, Harker’s Director of Advancement, added, “Increasing our endowment is an important goal of our strategic plan. We couldn’t be more grateful that Andy has established this new Alumni Scholarship Endowment fund to inspire others to join him in giving to this very worthy cause.”
Fang co-founded DoorDash in 2013 with Stanford University classmates Evan Moore, Stanley Tang and Tony Xu. The company went public in December 2020.
This year’s Alumni Day of Giving campaign is set to take place on April 8. This is a one-day effort that will take place online in partnership with GiveCampus.
Once again, this year’s goal is based on participation. We are aiming for 250 alumni donors, and no gift is too small or too big! In addition of the use of #loveharker to help spread the word, the beloved slogan “Put Your Eagles Up!”, used traditionally during school meeting athletic announcements, has been added to this year’s campaign in the spirit of our alumni community helping to lift up all future Eagles and showing their love for their first alma mater.
A link to make a gift will be emailed to all alumni beforehand and will be posted on all of our social media beginning April 7. This notification also will include ways to share the news about a donor’s gift as well as help with spreading the word to fellow alumni. All donors will be encouraged to post their donation status on social media using the hashtag #loveharker.
We are excited to announce that both Venmo and PayPal have been added to the platform to make it even easier to give.
The alumni office will have its virtual zoom room open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for alumni and friends to stop by and check in to help celebrate the big day’s milestones!
Those interested in becoming advocates for this campaign should contact Kristina Alaniz, director of alumni relations, at kristinaa@harker.org.
Each year, the Raju and Bala Vegesna Foundation’s Teacher Excellence Program at Harker launches a group of teachers on voyages of discovery. The teachers apply for and are awarded grants from the program to further their teaching skills. The program, started in 2015, has sent a score of educators to seminars, study abroad programs and other educational opportunities. Grants are awarded to individuals and to groups, and are used for entry fees and travel expenses.
“We are incredibly grateful to Raju and Bala for their commitment to teaching excellence at The Harker School,” said Kim Lobe, director of advancement. “The generosity of Raju and Bala Vegesna in allowing our teachers to pursue an opportunity they are passionate about and then share it with their students in the classroom creates an opportunity to impact student learning in a transformational way.”
The San Diego Wildlife Experience
Kristen Morgensen, middle school biology teacher, expanded her world with a weeklong visit to wildlife preserves in the San Diego area focused on conservation science and education.
“The first three days were spent at the San Diego Safari Park and the Institute for Conservation Research located within the park,” said Morgensen. “This was a three-day course offered each summer to help teachers incorporate conservation into concepts and topics that are already being taught in the classroom.
“The course was designed with five modules, and we were put through the rigors of being students for the three days. What I did in the workshop was exactly what I am able to now do in class with my students. Three of the five modules are being incorporated into the classroom this year.
“The first focused on biodiversity and specifically living in a biodiversity hotspot. A hotspot is defined as an area with high natural biodiversity and high human impact. This activity relates greatly to the Bay Area and our students, as we are impacted by higher populations and more development. The other two modules I plan to use this year are focused on genetics and the reproductive system.
“During our genetics unit, we will be studying California condor genetics and how the researchers at the institute were able to save and rebuild the California condor population. During our study of the body systems, we will be looking at the elephant populations and how they have been impacted by habitat loss due to palm plantations in Africa. By studying their hormones, researchers have been rebuilding elephant populations as well. We will also discuss the research that is more recent and related to the Northern White Rhino. This species is considered reproductively extinct as there are only two females remaining alive in the world and neither can carry a baby to term. At the workshop, we met one of the leading researchers looking at rhino feed in captivity and how it is impacting their reproductive rates by influencing their hormones as well.
“After doing the biodiversity activity earlier this year, students have told me they are more aware of their water usage and how the drought impacts native ecosystems. As grade 6 class dean, I am working with Pat Burrows, assistant middle school division head, and Janet Rohrer, assistant facilities director, as we try to save/transplant some of the native plants currently on the Union campus. This year’s grade 6 will be the first grade 8 class promoted from the Union MS campus. We will be taking a representative from each advisory over to Union to transfer native plants into pots so they can be replanted after the construction by the same group of students.
“Another tool I learned at the workshop was a method of peer review. As each group of teachers prepped a poster for presentation to the group, we were given two Post-its. We went and looked at the other groups’ posters and wrote three things – one thing we liked, one suggestion we had and one question we had based on what was written. I have used this method in my classroom and the students really appreciated seeing the feedback and being able to revise their submissions.
“The non-classroom based highlights of the trip were a few special treatments for the teachers. We had a few animal encounters with a three-banded armadillo, and a caravan Safari into the African exhibit where we fed a giraffe and a greater one-horned rhino. We also had a tour of the vet hospital located at the Safari Park as well as the Frozen Zoo. This is where they have cell lines from almost 10,000 animals representing 1,120 species for research as well as reproductive tissues from over 400 species cryogenically frozen for research as well as the hope of helping to rebuild genetically diverse populations of various endangered species.
“The final component of my trip was a day spent behind-the-scenes at SeaWorld. It was interesting hearing of the conservation efforts of a for-profit organization compared to the non-profit zoo. I found it fascinating how little they publicize the efforts they have made like working with the governments in South America to preserve the penguin and turtle breeding areas by regulating the collection of guano for fertilizer.
“This truly was an amazing experience that I would not have without the Vegesna grant. I am looking at many things in my life differently after this experience and carrying what I learned professionally into my personal life as well,” Morgensen finished.
Institute for Social Emotional Learning
A group of teachers from the middle school availed themselves of a Vegesna grant to attend the summer 2019 Institute for Social and Emotional Learning (IFSEL) held at Nueva School in San Mateo in early June. Attending the conference were Patricia Burrows, assistant middle school division head; Mark Gelineau, English teacher; Sharmila Misra, computer science teacher; Kathy Pazirandeh, math teacher; Samantha Salfen, physical education teacher (Salfen had and individual journey, as well; see below); and Ramsay Westgate, history teacher. The group attended the intensive conference for four days, taking workshops, discussing ideas, and learning ways to incorporate social-emotional learning into the Harker middle school community. “It was an absolutely incredible experience,” noted Burrows.
“The selection of this activity came about from the evolution of the middle school advisory program and a growing need we are noticing in our students,” she added. “Last year, the grade level advisory deans and I attended a conference by the IFSEL and came back with not only wonderful ideas to implement, but a sense of direction to help steer both our faculty and students.
“Our educational environment here at Harker is rigorously academic, and while that is one of our greatest strengths, when divested from character, empathy, and a general awareness of the complexities of social and emotional interaction, can also be one of our greatest challenges with our students,” said Burrows. “This conference and the knowledge gained from it was a tremendous step towards helping to ensure we are preparing our students in all facets of their growth and education.”
National Association of Independent Schools Diversity Leadership Institute
Bernie Morrissey, middle school librarian, used his grant to attend the National Association of Independent Schools Diversity Leadership Institute at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va. “This intensive, residential experience brings together independent school faculty from across the country to explore topics related to ability, bias, racial equity, gender identity, socio-economic status and more,” said Morrissey.
Sessions are taught by faculty from schools around the country, including heads of school, directors of diversity and other leaders within the NAIS community. Working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days in both plenary sessions and smaller groups, attendees enhance professional competencies, build credibility, foster innovation, and plan strategically for building and sustaining school communities that maximize the potential of students and adults alike, according to the institute.
“This opportunity can help me make our school a safer, more supportive and inclusive environment for all students, teachers and families,” Morrissey noted. “As a librarian working with teachers in all departments, I have the unique ability to impact a large number of classes and students, and I hope to use the learning from this conference to benefit all of these constituencies in the Harker community.
“One of the first steps, which Pat Burrows and I have already discussed, is expanding the windows and mirrors reading program beyond just grade 6, maybe to summer reading, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) days or other occasions. This experience may also enhance my collection development practices and information literacy integrations.”
The Paideia Institute for Humanistic Study
Scott Paterson, Latin teacher, participated in Caesar in Gaul, a two-week program last summer for AP Latin teachers organized and run by The Paideia Institute for Humanistic Study.
“This program combines in-class seminars with visits to various important ancient Roman sites in modern France,” said Paterson. “Classes were taught by Dr. Luca Grillo, assistant professor of classics at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and Dr. Christopher Krebs, associate professor of classics at Stanford University.” As co-editors, they recently released “The Cambridge Companion to The Writings of Julius Caesar,” said Paterson.
“Classes focused on Caesar as a man of letters, rather than as military man or politician, and included examinations of Caesar’s literary style, his contribution to the standardization of Latin grammar, the genre and themes of his ‘Commentarii de Bello Gallico,’ and possible approaches to the analysis of his literary works,” said Paterson.
“Site visits were led by Paideia staff and generally included some Latin readings that were relevant to the place. Places we visited included Bibracte, the Pont du Gard, and Alesia, the location of the final showdown between Caesar and Vercingetorix, the leader of the unified Gallic resistance to Roman occupation,” he noted.
“Participating in this program was a truly wonderful experience for me,” said Paterson. “Because the study of Caesar had to a large degree fallen out of fashion by the 20th century, I had never formally studied Caesar – indeed, had scarcely even read any Caesar before the College Board changed the AP Latin syllabus to include one semester of Caesar beginning in the 2012-13 academic year.
“The College Board’s decision resulted in much surprise and not a little consternation throughout the Latin teaching community,” Paterson said. “Publishers rushed to provide new texts and commentaries, and Caesar scholarship in universities flourished. My experience with Caesar in Gaul was a terrific chance to engage with the latest Caesarian scholarship and to develop a better appreciation for and understanding of Caesar’s literary achievements, and I have returned to the classroom with renewed enthusiasm.”
Asia Pacific Physical Education Conference
P.E. teacher Samantha Salfen and lower school P.E. teacher Walid Fahmay attended the Asia Pacific Physical Education Conference in November in Hong Kong to enhance their gym and field expertise. The trip gave them the opportunity to learn from the leading global innovators in the physical education field, noted Salfen. “I had the opportunity to learn new practices in physical education while creating friendships to broaden the Harker physical education network,” she added.
“I expanded my knowledge in gymnastics, while also learning the best teaching practices of health education, integrating movement in the classroom and how a healthy physical education program can combat the challenges facing young people in our countries,” she said. “The most interesting thing I received from the conference was from the keynote speaker who opened the conference by speaking on what the end (the purpose/outcome) of physical education should be: to improve its longevity and purpose. He went on to talk about the research of what physical education should look like and how we as physical educators can embody these practices in the ever-changing environments today.
“That speech inspired me to look deeper at my own practices, and to look for different ways I can implement these practices not only in my class but also schoolwide,” said Salfen. “My goal is to create an environment where ‘soft skills’ of physical education are transferable to other subject matters and real-life applications. These ‘soft skills’ include teamwork, communication, problem solving, intrapersonal skills, conflict resolution and leadership.
“Starting in the month of December, I will be kicking off by implementing the activities learned in the pre-conference gymnastics session into my own grade 8 girls class of tumbling. I would also like to start working closely with a classroom teacher in trying to implement the sports education model in the classroom, which involves the ‘soft skills,’ allowing students to see and apply these applications in physical education, the classroom and in the outside world,” Salfen noted.
Fahmy noted the pair attended various workshops on P.E. and health. “Each workshop was geared towards improving the P.E./health teacher and their skills in that specific area (i.e. health, invasion games, nutrition, etc.),” he said. “I was also networking with other educators from all around the globe, bouncing ideas off each other. We learned about the different cultures and health needs for each. It truly was an amazing time learning and networking.”
Fahmy added that one of the highlights was just going overseas. “The more adventurous the destination, the more learning and often times the more enjoyment.” He and Salfen attended and networked during all of the sessions, and “it was well worth it,” he noted.
Fahmy brought home the useful values of tolerance, adaptation and preparation. “The idea of mindfulness and using meditation during our health class was great,” he said. “This will bring tolerance into the classroom. Adaption is strictly for me, we need to understand we are not raising robots, but each of us is an individual and therefore we must adapt accordingly in our teaching methods. Preparation – if we are prepared for the day, then nothing can stop our success and progression.”
During the conference, Fahmy said he was reminded about the importance of “being the sunshine” in the room. “Students feed off of our energy. Whether they admit it or not, students look up to their teachers and hold them in high regard. That really reminded me to continue to be a positive role model. I want to always demonstrate confidence and leadership, let the students see that in me and watch it catch on with them.
“I am going to double down on being a good role model!” said Fahmy. “This is someone who is always positive, calm and confident in themselves. You don’t want someone who is down or tries to bring you down. Everyone likes a person who is happy with their achievements, but continues to strive for bigger and better objectives! I really felt passionate about wanting to make things better, for both myself and my students!”
Alan Alda Center for Science Communication
Andrew Irvine, upper school chemistry teacher, attended a workshop in New York City in June to learn about science communication through the Alan Alda Center for Science Communication, affiliated with Stony Brook University. Better known as an actor, Alan Alda has devoted himself to helping scientists and doctors learn and improve their communication skills about technical ideas to the general public using acting and improv games. “I spent two days with Ph.D. scientists from a wide variety of specialties,” said Irvine, “working with communication specialists and acting coaches to learn how to erode barriers and build connections with an audience so that our messages were clear and easy to digest.
“On day one, our focus was building a message to be delivered in 60 seconds or less without using technical jargon. On day two, we focused on how to craft our story about science to better connect and engage with our audience. I’m excited to share some of these activities with my colleagues to help improve their message, delivery and connection with their audience during my workshop at the 2020 faculty retreat. The conference has helped me not just in the classroom, but in my engagement with my friends and family in personal life. I look forward to sharing my experience with the community,” he finished.
Yesterday, parents of the Class of 2019 attended a pair of events to reflect on their years as Harker parents, share their most memorable moments and celebrate Harker’s impact on their children’s lives. At the annual Senior Moms Luncheon, mothers of this year’s graduates gathered at the upper school campus quad where they socialized and enjoyed delicious food. In the evening, the fathers of soon-to-be graduates enjoyed dinner at the Dads of Grads event at the auxiliary gym.
This tradition extends back to 2004, when it began as a potluck for senior mothers. Senior fathers were included starting in 2012, and in 2016 it was split into separate events. Parents of students in grades 9-11 plan and serve the meals, and the senior collages – made by the members of the graduating class to commemorate their time at Harker – are displayed so parents can reminisce.
The upper school campus became an eveningland of lights, music and fun on Saturday night, as Harker held the 125th Anniversary Gala, its first gala since 2016. Held in the new athletic center and branching out to the Rothschild Performing Arts Center’s Patil Theater, more than 370 parents, alumni, faculty and staff were feted with custom videos, singing, live music, dancers, top-drawer food and drink, a hot band and great company.
Actor D.J. Blickenstaff ’09 and opera singer Gabrielle DeMers ’03 brought their special talents to their alma mater for the evening, along with a host of current student performers.
The gala, reformed and resurrected following the opening of the new athletic center (2017) and Rothschild Performing Arts Center (2018), was also the final major event in Harker’s 125th anniversary celebration. Suspended during construction, the event took place in the newest portion of the upper school campus, opening with the show in the Patil Theater at 6:30 p.m.
The Gala Show was emceed, and included a special performance, by Blickenstaff (“Dear White People,” “Colony” and “Catching a Break”). Segments highlighting aspects of Harker’s programs were enhanced by historical photos and related performances by the Harker Jazz Band, Varsity Dance Troupe, Cantilena, Dance Fusion and Downbeat.
DeMers, a professional opera singer, sang the tour de force aria “The Jewel Song” from Gounod’s “Faust.” The show’s finale brought back Blickenstaff and DeMers, and culminated in – for the first time ever – all of Harker’s vocal, dance and instrumental groups performing together, including the middle school’s Concert Choir; boys hip-hop group, Kinetic Krew; and Showstoppers, the grade 7-8 dance troupe. Head of School Brian Yager shared a few remarks and announced the launch of the school’s new 125th Gift Initiative.
Following the show, guests moved to the athletic center’s Zhang Gym, now deep in party trim, for cocktails and more entertainment, including an auction.
Master of Ceremonies Jeff Draper welcomed attendees and led them through some games. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks were available in a beautifully decorated area on the gym floor, where guests could bid on auction items and try to win jewelry and wine. The evening’s food was prepared by the outstanding Harker culinary staff lead by Chef Steve Martin.
During dinner, Draper introduced a tribute to the seniors, which included some recorded memories by students and a slide show of every member of the Class of 2019. The event really got swinging after dinner as the Cosmo Alleycats brought their special brand of music to the dance floor. Other features of the evening included a special 125th anniversary photo booth with cool props where guests could take selfies or have a portrait taken.
The whole extravaganza was made possible by many kind donors, including presenting sponsors Rao and Rohini Mulpuri, and Fermi Wang and Jean Aida Kung. Gold sponsors were Atiq Raza and Nandini Saraiya of Reveti Jewels Inc., and Bobby and Ann Johnson, as well as an anonymous donor. Gold group sponsorship included DJ and Devika Patil, Vik and Roma Ghai, Amrita and Sunit Mukherjee, Priya and Shiva Shivakumar, and Suneela Muddu and Muddu Sudhakar.
Silver sponsors were Neeraj and Anisha Gupta; Nikki Lin and Brian Duff; and Yoko, leok SiTou and Tony Lau. Bronze sponsors were Ganesh and Sunitha Krishna, Robert Lee & Associates LLP, Devcon Construction Inc., and Vivek Thoppay, managing director at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
Adam Vucurevich was in Harker’s first high school class, the Class of 2002, and he set the pace for Harker athletes to come, scoring Harker’s first touchdown and hitting Harker’s first home run. On Oct. 5, 2018, Vucurevich was inducted as an inaugural member of Harker’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Vucurevich family moved to San Jose when Adam was in fourth grade and brother Matt was in second grade. They looked at many, many schools, but Harker was unanimously the family favorite, Vucurevich noted. “It proved to be a great choice. It was a good mix of academics and sports, but what I noticed most was that everyone gave their best effort whether in sports or academics, and that really impressed me.”
Vucurevich nearly earned his plaudits at another school, but Harker opened its high school in the nick of time. “When I finally reached the eighth grade, it was sadly time to move on to high school. St. Francis was my choice, but then, in the eleventh hour, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols decided they would extend Harker to include high school, one year at a time, [so] we would be seniors for four years. That was interesting, but I was not yet convinced to stay until Mr. Nichols decided Harker would have [its] first high school football team, and then I was in,” he said.
Vucurevich took full advantage of Harker’s athletic program, playing football, baseball and wrestling, making him Harker’s first three-sport athlete. He was team captain for football in both his sophomore and junior years, and was MVP and got an honorable mention in the All-CCS team that year. He also captained the baseball and wrestling teams.
“Being a member of Harker’s first graduating class and being seniors for four years had been a unique and challenging experience,” Vucurevich said. “We had no senior classmates to set the pace or to look up to. Instead we had the pressure of being the leaders and setting the example for the lower classmen to follow. It was interesting being the first Homecoming King, since I had no idea what to expect or to do, so I just smiled.”
Reflecting on those first years of the high school, he noted, “Academically, Harker was very challenging. They offered a wide selection of classes, but we had no feedback on what courses to take because we were the first. We had no feedback on the teachers’ personalities either, but they equally gave copious amounts of homework. I challenged myself by taking the top math classes Harker offered (Honors Multivariate Calculus, Differential Equations, AP Statistics and AP Physics C). They were tough, but I stayed with it and I did not quit.”
High school athletics were challenging with only one class – freshmen at that – to draw from. “Our athletic teams struggled without upperclassmen for the first two years because we were a very small, new school with only 100 students in our freshmen class,” Vucurevich reminisced. “With only 15 football players, it was difficult for us to find games with freshmen-only teams, so we found ourselves facing many much larger and more experienced JV teams, and a few varsity teams as well.
“Even though this was challenging, it was a great experience being on Harker’s first football team, first wrestling team and first baseball team. I made the first winning touchdown; the team was so happy, we were all screaming and yelling. It was always thrilling to hear Mr. Bither’s voice on the PA saying ‘Harker touchdown!’
“The same was true in baseball when I hit Harker’s first home run. One team member, in his excitement, ran out to retrieve the ball I just hit to give it to me as a keepsake as we were all screaming and yelling. High school years at Harker were definitely challenging, exciting and lots of fun.”
Vucurevich is grateful for all the guidance he got from both faculty and coaches. “My teachers taught me patience and persistence,” he said. “My coaches taught me what it takes to be part of a team. They taught me the team is as strong as the weakest link and you need to pick each other up and be supportive of each other, be selfless and sacrifice to help the team win, which translates to life, everyone takes a piece of the pie and helps out and we get it done, life is a team effort.
“The staff at Harker, Mr. [Howard] Nichols, Mr. [John] Near, Dr. [Cheryl] Cavanaugh, Mr. [John] Hawely, Mr. [Jack] Bither, Coach C.J. [Cali], Coach Karriem [Stinson], Smitty [Theresa Smith] are the nicest people and the best role models I have ever known,” he said. “They were not just role models, they were my friends; they helped me, encouraged me and were always very supportive.”
And then Vucurevich moved into college life and beyond. “With all this great background and education from Harker, I was accepted into University of California, Berkeley engineering department and graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. I worked at a couple different tech companies in the valley, but I was not happy, it wasn’t me and I wanted to find my purpose and find something I would be happy doing.
“Harker instilled in me kindness and respect for others and challenged me to do and to be my best both academically and athletically,” Vucurevich said. “This drive to be my personal best and to do the best for others has led me to my current career of law enforcement in which I am most excited. I have truly found my passion. Helping others and dealing with all sorts of people, handling a variety of stressful situations with the right amount of tact, being creative and resourceful, showing good judgment in all types of situations, and having good teamwork skills is essential in my line of work.
“I have to work hard every day to make sure I am at my best I can never be below 100 percent no matter how much overtime I had to work the day before,” Vucurevich added. “I am proud to have been part of the Harker family who instilled these values of perseverance, being your best, determination, commitment and teamwork. I help others every day and I love the challenge. I greatly appreciate the sacrifice my parents made to send me to Harker, that was the best school for me, and I am very grateful for the teachers, coaches and staff at Harker for the experience, training and education.”
The middle school campus was bustling with activity today as more than 3,400 Harker community members, including about 200 alumni and their families, came together for the 68th Harker Family & Alumni Picnic. This year’s theme, “Back to the Future,” celebrated Harker’s 125-year history and brought optimism for the future to the students, parents and faculty in attendance. The carnival games, food booths and attractions such as inflatable slides and laser tag remained popular, as did the annual lunchtime show, a time travel-themed production that featured performances by lower, middle and upper school performing arts groups. Here’s to the future!
Many thanks to the sponsors who helped make this event possible:
Gold Level:
All Natural Stone
Anonymous
Silver Level:
Stan and Lena Tomberg
Anonymous
Bronze Level:
Lijun Zhang and Chun Wang, V1 Group
And congratulations to this year’s raffle winners: