Warrior Tailgate Kicked-Off Homecoming Game
Several hundred Westside alums, families and friends from across the metro enjoyed socializing and tailgate fare at the annual Homecoming Tailgate on Friday, October 7, 2022. Sponsored by the Westside Alumni Association and the Westside Foundation, the free family-friendly event was held at the John L. Hoich Alumni House. Younger guests especially enjoyed the bounce house and face painting. Westside’s 42-14 homecoming victory over Kearney was a prelude to its 43-41 last second victory over Gretna to capture its second Class A State Football Championship in three years. Go Warriors!
2022 Alumni Hall of Fame and Lighthouse Leaders Honored
The Westside Alumni Association and Westside Community Schools honored outstanding alumni at a gala awards dinner on October 27, 2022 at Happy Hollow Club. Five alumni who have distinguished themselves in the areas of medicine, business, education, the arts and humanitarian service were inducted into the Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame.
- Garnet Blatchford, MD (’75) is an inspiration to anyone, especially women, hoping to pursue medical careers as physicians, researchers and administrators.
- Gregg Baldwin Millett (’57) traveled the world, working to enhance the quality of life for and understanding of all individuals and cultures.
- Thomas Pflug (‘76) is an industry leader in accounting and finance, known for his dedication to business, family, faith and Westside.
- Bruce Simon (’75) built upon a family legacy, making Omaha Steaks a household name across America, a name synonymous with premium beef and gourmet foods.
- Lisa Worrall (’73) is a lifelong educator whose passion for young people and art intersected to launch her second career as a paper artist and entrepreneur.
Westside Community Schools’ Lighthouse Leaders were honored for their dedicated service to the school district.
Scott Hazelrigg (’87) If the objective of a school district is to prepare students for life after 12 th grade, no one has given more to Westside students and students in the metro area than Scott Hazelrigg.
- Laura (Graham) Iliff (’67) joined the Westside Foundation as Executive Director in 2010, leading it to record fundraising that benefited all students and schools.
Click HERE to read the full biographies of each award recipient!
Principal's Column
This past fall, I was at a football game where Westside High School was playing a school I formerly worked at. It has been awhile since I had been back and I was able to see a number of my former colleagues to catch up with them. During the small talk and catching up, I was asked a number of times about how I’m adjusting to my new role and how my family has been transitioning to our new home. In the moment, I gave the standard responses that one might give when catching up with people you haven’t seen in a while, but after the game was over, I sat in my car while traffic cleared out and really reflected on that question. As I sat there in the dark and watched fans clear out of the stadium and head to their vehicles, I had a sense of peace come over me because I realized that I am growing where I have been Planted.
You see, I have been to a number of places and moved my family around to further my career. At each stop, I felt like I had landed at the place I was meant to be, only to find out some time later that I was being called somewhere else. I didn’t move because I thought the grass would be greener in different pastures, but rather, because I felt the need to grow. Each stop along the way provided me challenges to face and opportunities that I couldn’t even imagine. Still, there was that feeling inside of me that made me wonder what else was out there. Knowing that each move would put stress on me and on my family, I embraced each opportunity as a gift that I have never taken for granted because each stop has blessed me with wonderful people and communities that have embraced me for who I am and put up with who I am not.
As I pondered this in my vehicle before I pulled out of the parking lot, I made a quick call home to my lovely bride to let her know that I would be home soon. Like most conversations we have, she asked me how my day went. I took the opportunity to go more in depth on my answer and told her that it felt good to be home and that I feel like I can grow where I have been planted. When I hung up the phone and began to pull out of the parking lot to head home, I continued to think the entire way home about the conversation that just ended because I felt like I was still missing something. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I pulled into the driveway and saw the spot in our new home’s yard where we had just removed a couple of trees. At that moment, it hit me that it was time to start developing roots.
Westside is the place to do this root growing. As a proud alumnus (Sunset Hills, Westside Middle School, and Westside High School) I have the awesome opportunity to give back to the community that poured so much into me when I was growing up. I do not take this responsibility lightly and I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of some truly fantastic educators who established a solid foundation for me. Westside is a very special place and being a proud alumnus and Principal has been my dream for quite some time. Now that the dream has come true, it’s time to roll up the sleeves, stand shoulder to shoulder with teachers, and take Westside High School to even greater heights. It’s time to grow some roots.
Dr. Jay Dostal, WHS Principal
Class of 1996