Ygnacio Valley High School
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| Ygnacio Valley High School | |
| "Be safe, be respectful, be responsible." | |
| School type | Public Secondary |
|---|---|
| Established | 1962 |
| Grades | 9 to 12 |
| Colors | Navy blue and gold |
| Website | http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/ygnaciovalleyhigh/ |
Ygnacio Valley High School (YVHS) is a public secondary school located in Concord, California, although it also draws its students from the neighboring communities of Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. The school opened in 1962, and its first senior class graduated in 1964. Originally conceived as a temporary facility, the school currently carries an enrollment of over 1,500 total students for grades 9 through 12. It is part of the Mount Diablo Unified School District.
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[edit] VIP visits
During the 1988 Presidential campaign, then Vice President George Bush made an appearance at YVHS and addressed the student body. In 1996, YVHS received another Presidential visit when Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore made a rare joint appearance. They visited the campus as part of the NetDay 96 event, which kicked off a drive to connect California public schools to the Internet. It has been noted that YVHS is an ideal location for such high-security visits, due to the limited entry points into school property.
In the early 1990's, YVHS also received visits from U.S. Representatives George Miller and Bill Baker, sponsored by the school's now-defunct Public Policy Society.
[edit] Athletics
Since 1964, the school's main athletic rival has been the Clayton Valley High School Eagles (formerly Ugly Eagles). YVHS also shares a lesser rivalry (as well as a property line) with neighboring De La Salle High School.
Thanks in large part to the efforts of the YVHS Athletic Boosters , ground was broken in August 2005 on a new running track and all-weather turf football and soccer field. The first home varsity YVHS Warrior football game in 38 years was played on this new field on September 16, 2006. Prior to that date most football home games were played at Mount Diablo High School or Diablo Valley College, due to poor field conditions and a lack of lighting,
In December 2005, the YVHS Football team won the NCS-2A championship against Miramonte High School for the second time since 1999.
In 1992, YVHS changed its school colors to navy blue and gold. The student body felt that the previous colors of powder blue and yellow were no longer fashionable for athletic team uniforms.
[edit] Ongoing issues
The school mascot, the warrior, is represented as a Native American with a feathered headdress. Similar mascots representing Native American culture are often a point of debate throughout the state of California, where over 100 high schools have American Indian mascots.
YVHS is occasionally cited in the ongoing school prayer debate, after allowing Muslim students to use an available room for prayer during Ramadan in 2004.
The current principal of YVHS is Carolyn Plath.
[edit] Noteworthy alumni and faculty
- Mike Bellotti - Head coach of the University of Oregon football team.
- Lance Blankenship - Member of 1989 World Series champion Oakland Athletics.
- Jonathan Dayton - Film and music video producer and director; credits include the Academy Award-winning Little Miss Sunshine, R.E.M. ("Tongue"), the Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Californication") and the Smashing Pumpkins ("Tonight, Tonight").
- Tami Erin - Actress, best known for title role in The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking.
- Mary Fettig - Musician; played saxophone with Stan Kenton.
- Kiko Garcia - Shortstop; played for Baltimore Orioles in 1979 World Series.
- Donald Hanna - Economist, Managing Director, Citigroup Hong Kong; Contributor, World Economic Forum.
- Kristin Heaston - Shot put athlete; in 2004 became the first female Olympic athlete ever to compete in Olympia, Greece.
- Damian Jackson - Infielder for the Washington Nationals.
- Carl Ryanen-Grant - UC Berkeley University Medalist in 1997; received widespread attention for his battle with malignant melanoma.
- Richard Sakai - Film and television producer and director; credits include The Simpsons, Taxi, Bottle Rocket, and Spanglish.
- Chris Walsh - Retired Minnesota Vikings wide receiver.
- Kara Young - Fashion model appeared in Sport Illustrated Bikini issue February 1989
