Connect (or Reconnect) Through The Haybaler Alumni Network |
Welcome to San Benito High School's monthly, alumni-focused newsletter, which will help you connect or reconnect to SBHS and allow us to share information and about our proud alumni. In addition to receiving the newsletter, there are many ways to stay connected to your alma mater, from attending sporting events and performances on campus to lending your time and expertise to future alumni activities, participating in a Spotlight Speaker series during our Haybaler Support Time period, helping us plan future alumni activities and events, and following us on Facebook (San Benito High School), Twitter (@BalerNews) or Instagram (@Baler News and @BalerSports). If you are a Haybaler alum who wants to get involved with our alumni outreach, please click the link below to email district Communications Officer Adam Breen (Class of '87) to let him know how you'd like to help. You can also get more info on our new alumni webpage.
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Hollister High? San Benito High? Let Us Know What You Call Your Alma Mater |
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With renewed discussion recently about the historical references to our school -- for some, it was always "Hollister High" and others have always known it to be "San Benito High School" -- we want to hear from you, our alumni, about your perspective on your alma mater's name. Specifically, we'd love to see photos of any historical artifacts or memories from your time on campus. Do you have a letterman's jacket or sweater? How about a yearbook or sports team jersey? If you don't have any photos to share, we'd still like to know how you refer to your alma mater. Let us know if you consider yourself to be a Hollister Haybaler or a graduate of San Benito High School -- or maybe both. As part of this discussion, prompted by the Board of Trustees' recent directive to Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum to pursue a name change from San Benito High School to Hollister High School, we'd appreciate your perspective on the proposed change. Please email Communications Officer Adam Breen any comments, photos or other perspectives and he will share those with the superintendent, who is preparing further presentations for the board to discuss at upcoming public meetings. |
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Baler Alumni Webpage Goes Live |
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Check out our new Baler alumni webpage, located under the "About" tab of our school website. Here, you'll be able to access information such as news about class reunions, archived issues of the alumni newsletter, ways to get involved and stay in touch, plus much more. Click the link to access the site. |
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Baler Alumnus is New Chamber Director |
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The San Benito County Chamber Foundation announced San Benito High School alumnus Eduardo Navarro as its newest executive director.
The SBC Chamber Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works in tandem with the SBC Chamber of Commerce & Visitor’s Center to promote and celebrate the economic vitality of San Benito County. The foundation said that in his new role, Navarro will work closely with the SBC Chamber and local partners. Navarro is the founder of Navarro Consulting and also serves on the Board of Directors for the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce. He was previously appointed to the Planning Commission by the SBC Board of Supervisors and has worked extensively in community engagement initiatives and outreach events throughout San Benito County.
“Eduardo is a strong community advocate and champion of education with a background in education policy and education equity,” a release from the Chamber states. “He worked at Youth Alliance as Development and Public Relations Coordinator and is a proud Hollister Haybaler and Hollister native.” Navarro graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and French, and a M.A. in Latin American Studies. Shortly after he went abroad to France to teach English. Navarro also has a background in tech previously working at Mercari US and eBay as a taxonomy and localization specialist. In his free time, he is a linguistics enthusiast with a passion for traveling, languages, and cultures.
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Baler Alumni Power Hartnell Women's Soccer to Successful Season |
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(Photos, clockwise from top, of Lowi, Taylor, Castillo and Molina and Story Courtesy of the Hollister Free Lance)
Bolstered by a pipeline of former San Benito High standouts, the Hartnell College women’s soccer team had a historic season.
The Panthers reached the California Community College State Final Four for the first time in program history and earned the top seed from the North. They then went on to win the state championship match on Dec. 5. Former Haybalers standout Carly Lowi had a goal and two assists, Belinda Ascencio had a goal and assist, and Stephanie Castillo—another San Benito High product—finished with a score. Six players who prepped at San Benito played for Hartnell, with Lowi, Castillo, Jada Taylor and Mayvene Molina playing a huge role in the team’s success. Lowi, who along with Taylor was named an All-American this season, was stellar with her goal-scoring ability. The sophomore forward led the squad in goals, assists, points, and shots on goal.
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Do You Have Your Alumni Pin? |
Attention Haybaler Alumni: If you haven't yet gotten a complimentary alumni pin, please email Carol Heiderich at cheiderich@sbhsd.k12.ca.us and she will get one to you.
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Alumni's Perseverance Leads to Opportunity |
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Ruben Sobreyra, a 2017 graduate of San Benito High School, on Dec. 10 is scheduled to complete his studies at University of California, Davis, becoming the first in his family to earn a college degree. Sobreyra will receive a bachelor of science in civil engineering with an emphasis on structural and transportation engineering. He has accepted a position with Carlson, Barbee & Gibson Inc. in San Ramon. The 23-year-old, shown here in a file photo next to former SBHS teacher Mitchell Huerta, was awarded 25 scholarships in high school and college, three research internships at U.C. Davis, and had the opportunity to study in Japan prior to his sophomore year. He also served three years as an ambassador for the College of Engineering, and the LEADR (Leadership in Engineering Advancement, Diversity and Retention) program. During college, Sobreyra worked several jobs to provide support to his family, working 48 hours per week to secure housing in Sacramento for his mother, three brothers, two sisters and a nephew. "There were days I would cry on the way to and from work so my family wouldn't know I was stressing," Sobreyra said. "I was overwhelmed." But the love from his family and teachers motivated him to complete his college degree. Sobreyra noted the support of his high school teachers Christine Dukes, Hayley Vandercook, Dan Quinn, Mitchell Huerta and U.C. Davis professor Holly Oldroyd. "I learned not to be afraid to ask for help," Sobreyra said. "I learned to persevere." |
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Rick Rivas Named to Coastal Commission |
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The California Coastal Commission announced that longtime San Benito County political leader and community advocate Rick Rivas, a San Benito High School alumnus, was appointed Nov. 16 to the California Coastal Commission by unanimous vote of the California State Senate Rules Committee. Rivas, brother of Assemblyman and Balser alumnus Robert Rivas, was nominated by President pro tempore of the State Senate, Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). Rivas is the first San Benito County leader to serve on the commission, which oversees development and public access of California’s vast 1,100 miles of coast line. Rivas was raised by a family of farmworkers at Almaden Vineyards in Paicines, California. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University, as well as a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
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Stadium Press Box Dedicated to Mike Sanchez '71, 'The Voice of the Balers' |
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The San Benito High School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 24 approved naming the press box at Andy Hardin Stadium in honor of Mike Sanchez, a long-time local educator who is known as "The Voice of the Balers" for his work announcing SBHS football games since 1974. The "Mike Sanchez Press Box at Andy Hardin Stadium" was formally dedicated to Mike Sanchez '74, who is referred to as "The Voice of the Balers," during the Balers' football game against Palma on Oct. 15. |
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Share your news with your fellow Haybaler alumni by emailing Communications Officer Adam Breen (Class of '87) at abreen@sbhsd.k12.ca.us with information. Make sure to include your graduating class year and maiden name, if applicable.
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San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey St. Hollister, CA 95023 |
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