Update 6-12-07

Hi,

Gotta start with this:

To the Fabulous Class of '65,
        Last night was the annual awards night at South High.  Of course, I was pleased to go, but I had some of my usual difficulties when Linda Tobin Kettering began introducing me.  I had begged her not to pour it on so much.  My wife even left the room.  As Linda was finishing and I had to stand up, this loud standing ovation started.  It was a very long, slow walk across the stage using my cane.  And the ovation just grew louder.  So I had a difficult time reading the award presentation for Peter Olson.
         He is wonderful.  You may remember him  from your last reunion, where he helped interview many of us about South.  Last night, he got fourteen or fifteen awards, and I heard that he "really wanted" the Booker Gibson one.  He's so polite and humble.  How could these young people know me with so much enthusiasm?  So thanks so very much to all the class of 1965 and the other donors to this annual award.
        Sincerely,
        Booker T. Gibson
   
    [Rich -- as I wrote Booker:  "That's just really neat news.  And you're just going to have to live with some more ovations in your life.  It's nice that you continue to have such a strong influence at South and in that way continue to teach.  And it's nice that someone really wanted to 'win your award.' "]
   
    A follow-up from Linda Tobin Kettering:  I was just sitting down to write you an e-mail about last night's award ceremony when I saw your e-mail thanking me for standing in for your class and all the other donors.
        Since Booker had told me last year that he was terribly embarrassed by my long introduction, I edited it this year.  I guess it was still too much information for him since he teared up quite a bit as he gave the award to Peter Olson.  While Booker may have been surprised at the standing ovation, the alumni group sitting with me on the stage -- Emily Kleinman Schreiber and Mindy Dickler Sherman -- was thrilled.  And we all agreed that the selection committee had made great choices for this year's recipients.
        Peter Olson, who won the Booker Gibson Award, is one of the finest young men you could ever meet. Aside from being valedictorian, he is going to Harvard next year -- he was also accepted at Stanford, Yale, and Brigham Young.  I am attaching his very impressive resume to wow you.  He happens to be my best friend's son, so I am prejudiced but also pleased that he received this award and the other honors.
        The student who won the Vince Tampio Award also has an outstanding resume.  He has been active in South High School drama productions since the seventh grade and has had the lead in almost every musical.  He writes a weekly column in the Valley Stream Herald newspaper, is active in many extracurricular activities, and is an outstanding student. He will be attending Northwestern University next year and was thrilled to receive the award.  Expect him to look you and other alumni up if and when he gets to California.
        It is my pleasure to help present these awards.  I thank your class for starting and collecting the funding for them.  I hope I'll see some of you on August 1st when many of the South High School Alumni Association members are going to the Irish Pub to hear Booker play.  Until then, regards to all.
   
    A side-note from Emily Kleinman Schreiber:  I'm going to that B'Nai B'rith Girls site as soon as I send this off to you.  And, during South's Awards Assembly, I'm presenting the Alumni Association's $500 Scholarship to a senior named Peter Olson.  At this time, he's choosing among Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and Brigham Young.  He's one of the young men who videotaped alumni and teachers at your reunion back in 2005.  That videotape became the wonderful dvd that was sold at the Fifty Year Celebration at South on March 11, 2006.  Peter Olson's essay is incredible.  I think I'll reprint it in the Alumni Association bulletin.
   
    A related note from Bernie Scheidt:  In reference to Stu Borman's note about AZA, I just started a new job
    selling Hondas in Roswell, Georgia, and I was talking to one of the other sales people.  In turns out that he who was a member of AZA in Buffalo.  So from not hearing anything about AZA since our 37th reunion to having two references made to AZA in one week is quite amazing.
   
    A reminder:  the Evening with Booker Gibson at the Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip, New York, will be on Wednesday, August 1, 2007.  It will start around 6:15 though Booker does not begin to play until 7:00.  To make a reservation, please contact Claire Brush Reinhardt at:  reino@optonline.net   Thanks.
   
    Another reminder, from Andrea Schwartz Neelan:  The 40th reunion of the class of '67 will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2007, at the Huntington Hilton Hotel in Melville, New York.  Everyone is welcome.  For further information, please contact Andrea at:  aneenan@tampabay.rr.com
   
    Finally, the information about Peter Olson sent by Linda Kettering:
   
    Academic Achievements:
    -- Rank: 1 of the 217 members of the class of 2007
    -- Combined SAT Score of 2390 (CR 800, M 790, W 800)
    -- SAT IIs: Math IIC – 800, Physics – 800, American History – 800
    -- AP Tests and Scores: European History – 5, Computer Science A – 5, American History –  5,
     English Language – 5, Physics B – 5, Spanish Language – 5, Statistics – 5
    -- National Merit Semifinalist
    -- Principal’s Award for Academic Excellence – 10/11 (Highest unweighted average in class)
    -- Selected for All-State String Orchestra
    -- Selected for Columbia Science Honors Program (2005 – present) on the basis of a comprehensive examination and competitive application process.  Classes:  (1) Chaos and Non-linear Dynamics and (2) Microbial Genetics and Genomics in 2005-2006  (3) Number Theory in 2006-2007
    -- Bausch & Lomb Medal Award
    -- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal
    -- George Washington University Medal
    -- University of Rochester Humanities Award
    -- Excellence in Physics Award
    -- Nassau Zone P. E. Teachers’ Award
    -- First place in the 2006 Henry Waldinger Memorial Library Poetry Competition
   
    School Activities:
    -- Television Production (Falcon Report): 9, 10, 11, 12 (President – Grades 11 & 12; Secretary – Grade 10;
          Leadership Award – Grade 11; Distinguished Service Award – Grade 12)
    -- Mathletes (Senior-High):  10, 11, 12 (President/Captain – Grades 11 & 12)
    -- It’s Academic (Trivia Team):  9, 10, 11, 12 (President – Grade 12; Vice President – Grade 11)
    -- South High School Orchestra: 9, 10, 11, 12 (Concertmaster – Grades 10, 11 & 12)
    -- Chamber Orchestra:  9, 10, 11, 12 (Concertmaster – Grades 10, 11 & 12)
    -- District Select Orchestra: 9, 10, 11 (Concertmaster – Grade 11)
    -- All County Orchestra: 10, 11; Long Island String Festival: 10, 11, 12
    -- Pit Orchestra: 10, 11, 12; Musicals and Drama Productions: 9, 11
    -- Honor Societies: 10, 11, 12 (National, Mathematics, Science, Language, Music)
      -Cross-Country Track: 10 (All-Division Athlete)
   
    Community Activities and Service:
    -- Church Youth Activities – 2 hours per week
           First Assistant to the Priesthood Quorum President
           Responsible for organization of Youth Activities and Instructional Programs
    -- Boy Scouts of America – 1 hour per week
          Earned the rank of Eagle Scout
          Senior Patrol Leader – Grades 10, 11 & 12
          Patrol Leader at the National Boy Scout Jamboree – Summer 2005
          Organized my Eagle Community Service Project (widening and deepening a stream) – There were over 60 volunteers, and a total of 340 man-hours (including 40 of my own hours)
    -- Home Teacher for Church – 5 hours per month
          Delivered a religious lesson once monthly each to five families
    -- Donated blood eight times