11th Annual Encina Alumni Challenge

Date: Friday, April 29, 2011
Final score: 74-52

This year we raised $43,300 for Encina!

The gym was packed for this year's game due to all the special half-time activities. The alumni team lead briefly 9-7 in the first quarter. But the varsity team's relentless pressure and deadly three point shooting resulted in the varsity leading 30-21 at the half. At half-time the championship soccer team and wrestling team were acknowledged, followed by the induction of John Goodman 63 into the Encina Hall of Fame. In the second half, the varsity team doubled their margin, winning 74-52.

[ Pledges ][Photos][ Alumni challenge pledge form ][Videos][Testimonials]

Alumni and varsity teams

Alumni team
James Jones '87, Aaron Spann '01, Wes Baggs '99, Chris Dahlberg '80, Avi Chand '04, Bob Goosmann '74, Tony Smith '83, Ryan Conner '92

Varsity team
#1 Nelson Rodriguez, #2 Cody Avers, #3 Dominique Kirvin, #4 Eddie Chessman-Hernandez, #5 Keontay Lee, #10 Lorenzo Runnels, #11 Viet Nguyen, #15 Tyler Kroneberger, #21 Drey Cook, #22 Elijah Hudson, #24 Kimani Ingram, #32 Quentin Strickner, #41 Datwon Bryant, #55 Mohamd Alaiddin

Alumni Challenge BBQ and Game
Friday, April 29, 2011

Message from Bob

Another amazing event with an incredible crowd and spectacular generosity from all of the Alumni donors. Thank you for once again stepping up! The only negative was getting stomped by the Varsity, who quite frankly played out of their minds. It didn't help that we missed most of our free throws, but the bottom line is they simply out-played us. That's two losses in a row (and an overall 6-5 lead in the series for the Varsity), and of course this trend cannot be allowed to continue. I am already pondering strategies for next year, and promise the Alumni Team will be back with a vengeance. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the ongoing success of this great event!

Bob Goosmann '74

Message from Steve

WOW! This year's Alumni challenge is over and although the Alumni team didn't win the basketball game, we ALL won by giving our support to Encina's students and OUR school. I was so glad to see so many familiar faces from the decades and to meet new ones. The classes of 63 and 61 we out in strong support of John Goodman and the Class of 61's Golden Anniversary as were alumni from most of Encina's graduating classes.

We could not have chosen a better person for the Encina Hall of Fame than John Goodman '63 and I am so glad that he, Gayle and family could join us Friday night in celebration and recognition. John and Gayle represent the best of what it means to be an American and to serve our country.

I think we set a record for turnout of BOTH alumni and students. I was sweating it from a food standpoint as I saw the double lines formed out the door!!

From a fundraising perspective, I'm happy to say that we'll pass $38,000 and maybe make $40,000. We all should be very proud of our support of Encina's kids. I KNOW they appreciate it. I have 6 hours of video from the event and will begin editing in the next few weeks to post highlights and more. If you require a DVD, please email me and I'll send one out when I have it compiled.

My thanks to Peter Boam ('63) for announcing, Guy Blair ('70) for all around help before and during this year's Alumni Challenge, Bob Goosmann and the Alumni Team for busting their tails, Shelley Burns ('70) for singing the national anthem, Rollin Coxe ('64) for photography , Irene Birchfield Campbell ('68) for wearing her Apache mascot costume and, of course, Harlan ('73) for all his work in contacting and gently nudging alumni and photographing the event. Thanks also to Heddy Crowder, Encina's Community Liaison, Lori Sato, Activities Director, Encina ASB and Principal Dan Kenley.

Most of all, thanks to ALL who donated to Encina and who came to the game on a wonderful Friday night.

Sincerely,

Steve Palmer '74
Alumni Challenge Co-organizer
Encina High School Booster Club Treasurer

Program

BBQ Dinner, 5:30 - 7:15 pm

As always, a delicious free BBQ dinner will be served in Encina's cafeteria prior to the basketball game. Award-winning Texas West BBQ will serve chicken, ribs, salad and side dishes, drinks and dessert. Join us to share memories and favorite stories, meet old friends and make new ones! In addition, student body leaders will be on-hand to give campus tours.

Encina Hall of Fame Ceremony

We're VERY excited to announce the creation of the Encina Hall of Fame and our inaugural inductee, Lieutenant General (ret.) John F. Goodman, Class of 1963. General Goodman will be inducted in a ceremony during halftime at this year's Alumni Challenge basketball game, thus initiating an annual tradition of honoring Encina graduates and others who have noteworthy accomplishments or have contributed to the school in a significant way.

Class of 1961 Golden Graduates

This year marks 50 years of Encina graduates. Join us to celebrate Encina's first graduates--the Class of 1961--with special remembrances, Class of 61 alumni, faculty and a special "50 Years" Birthday Cake!

Apache Mascot

My school friends/family are telling me that they believe we should be eblasting that I'll be wearing my Apache mascot outfit to the Challenge. They say it will stir up old memories among the "Apache" graduates....and create more discussion i.e. DONATIONS !!!!
Irene "Birchfield" Campbell "68"

Alumni Challenge Basketball Game, 7:30 - 9:00 pm

Dinner will be followed by the always-exciting basketball game between Encina Alumni and the current Boy's Varsity team. This extremely competitive series is knotted at five wins each, so both teams will be extra motivated to bring home a victory this year. Our professional announcer, Peter Boam (Class of 63) will call the game and be Master of Ceremony for the event.

All Proceeds Help Encina and the Students

The Alumni Challenge is one of the most successful high school fundraisers in Sacramento history. Last year we raised over $34,000, and our goal this year is to top $40,000! Even if you cannot attend the event, please consider a donation on behalf of your graduating class. Your donation helps fund equipment and tournament fees for sports, academic programs, field trips, scholarships, college campus tours, and much more at Encina. Most of these programs and projects get no funding from the school district or other sources, but make a big impact on campus.
We look forward to seeing everyone at this year's Alumni Challenge!

Steve Palmer Bob Goosmann Harlan Lau
Class of '74 Class of '74 Class of '73

Alumni roster

Bob Goosmann '74: captain
Avi Chand '04
Aaron Spann '01
Wes Baggs '99
Ryan Conner '92
James Jones '87
Tony Smith '83
Chris Dahlberg '80

Videographer: Robert Bataille
M.C.: Peter Boam 63
National anthem: Shelley Burns 70

What is the Alumni Challenge?

Here's an excerpt from the Encina "Bulldog Barks" parent newsletter describing the Alumni Challenge:

"If you have not yet attended an Alumni Challenge, you are in for a REAL treat.
"What is an Alumni Challenge?" you might ask.
It is a basketball game, where the current Encina varsity basketball team plays a full basketball game against the alumni from the class of 1961 (Encina had its first graduating class that year) to alumni as current as five years ago.

You need to know that this is not a slam dunk! The Alumni have won four (4) out of the last six (6) games, playing our varsity boys team. So, this is an event you don't want to miss. The evening starts off with a free dinner at 5:30 p.m., and admission to the game is free as well. The game starts at 7:30, and there is a rousing half time event scheduled.

Why would the alumni put themselves in such a position? This is a fund raiser they started to help the Encina Booster Club raise funds to support ALL the students and programs here at Encina High School. Over the years, the funds raised have supported our sports, reading, visual and performing arts, Encina Broadcast System (EBS), tutorials, just to name a few.

The fund raising component to the Alumni Challenge is the donations received through alumni class pledges. An example is an alumni will pledge dollars per point, or per three point baskets, or per the number of points a specific player makes, or perhaps a flat donation. Current students and families can pledge as well, as a way of cheering on the current varsity team.

This game is a very entertaining event and gives our students and families a chance to meet past Encina students. It has become a rivalry between the Apaches/Bulldogs (Encina changed its mascot to the Bulldogs in 1991) and the Bulldogs. Please come out, have dinner and enjoy a GREAT family fun night."

Who is eligible to play?

"CALL FOR PLAYERS: any alumni who graduated at least 5 years ago or earlier and played basketball for Encina is eligible to play on the Alumni team. Preference will be given first to those who have not played in a previous Alumni Challenge. All players must be available for Saturday practice (at Encina) during the weeks leading up to the event. They must also be in reasonable condition--the game is very competitive and we are competing against players half (and in some cases one-third) our age. If you are interested in playing, contact Bob Goosmann at [email protected]."

I understand we have some fairly recent grads who are interested in playing this year. If you are in contact with your basketball playing classmates, please let them know about the alumni challenge and encourage them to play. Several years ago the high scorer for the alumni team was Norm Siefkin from the class of 1963!

Every year we receive inquiries from female alumni who would like to play. Unfortunately, the alumni team is not co-ed. In order to field a women's team, we need someone like Bob to captain/coach/organize a women's team.

What are we raising money for?

Encina gets money for the traditional "core" classes such as math and reading . We (alumni) are providing assistance for many of the extracurricular programs, elective classes, clubs and other programs that help to enrich students' experience at Encina.

The money goes to the Encina Booster Club, who allocates the funds based on requests from students and faculty. While much of the money is allocated to sports as you would expect from a booster club, a lot of the money also goes to non-sports programs.

Here are some of the projects funded by the Encina Booster club in the past year from Alumni Challenge monies:
Viet Nam Memorial
Alumni Website
All Sports (uniforms, tournament fees, bleachers, transportation, stipends, supplies, etc.).
Business Academy End of the Year Luncheon for Seniors
Cheer Camp
CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) tutoring and incentives
Wish Lists for staff (this is open to ALL staff to submit items that are not covered by district nor department funds). Some of the items purchased were box converter for VHS to DVD, supplies for counseling for welcome bags for new students,
Alumni Challenge expenses
Undergraduate Awards Program
Business Academy Mentor Meeting supplies
Friendship Day (Mix It Up) supplies (4 times per year)
STAR testing incentives
Scholarships
AVID T-Shirts
CSF Fieldtrip to UOP
Controllers for Interactive Education
Spanish games (verb conjugation, etc.)
Computer programs, guides and graphics for journalism, French and English
Prizes for Open Enrollment Parent Night
Gift cards for a drawing for Take Your Parent to School Day
Special Ed Students field trip to San Francisco
Incentives for PBS (Positive Behavior Systems)

Here is a list of some of the programs funded in the past:
New Student Welcome Program through Counselors
Encina Art Gallery (Art Opening Receptions)
Performing Arts (Students attending local plays)
Cheerleading
Freshman Feast (a Freshman event with Senior peers/guides)
Encina Broadcasting System (EBS) (equipment and supplies)
Football
Boy's Soccer
Girl's Soccer
Girl's Softball
Girl's Volleyball
Girl's Basketball
Boy's Basketball
Basketball Tournaments
Sports Banquets
Every 15 minutes (drug/alcohol intervention)
Alumni Challenge event
The encinahighschool.com Website
SAP (Student Assistance Program)
Reading Program
Student to Ashland to participate in Shakespeare Festival
After school tutoring
Backboard replacement
Drama department (students) trip to Ashland

FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT

Several alumni have asked whether there is any financial oversight for all the money donated to the Encina Booster Club. Whether there is anything which prevents the funds from being misused or even embezzled.

Steve Palmer 74 realized very early on, that the Encina Booster Club lacked such oversight and worked with Encina to implement sound financial practices. Here is Steve's description...

"I am happy to talk about Encina's Booster Club financial oversight. I sat on the Booster Club as "Auditor" for several years and have been Treasurer for the last three years and was re-elected for the 2011-12 school year. I attend most monthly meetings which are held at 5:30 pm on the second Tuesday of each month except July and August.

Funds that are collected by the Booster Club are deposited into a Bank of America account. Heddy Crowder, Encina's Community Liaison, records how much is received from whom (photocopies incoming checks, snackbar sales records, etc). She emails Harlan and me with Alumni donor name, date of receipt and amount. While Harlan does not usually see snackbar, t-shirt sales and such, I do. The majority of our funding is from Alumni Challenge pledges. As treasurer, I reconcile each month's bank statement with our Quickbooks records and provide a detailed transaction journal, spending vs budget and balance sheet at each monthly meeting. Treasurer's records are reviewed at each meeting at which time we also make disbursements for approved expenses. All personal who handle money are bonded.

Each year, Principal (Dan Kenley) , Booster Club President (Angie Kerr), Encina Community Liaison (Heddy Crowder) and I build a proposed budget to be approved (with modification/changes) by the membership. We allocate funds to Encina programs based on department need with about 50% going to sports and 50% going to academic programs, scholarships, Alumni Challenge expenses, and such. Each semester we ask staff to submit requests for program and project funding. We fund those that are believed to provide the greatest positive impact to Encina students.

We hold about 15% in reserve from one year to the next and for "emergency" requests. For example, this year Encina fielded a Girls' Softball team for the first time in many years! The Booster Club (because of Alumni generosity) was able to purchase uniforms and equipment.

Please let me know if you'd like more detail or additional information.

Alumni, thank you for supporting Encina's students and future alumni!

Steve Palmer
Encina '74"

How do I pledge?

Send your check to:
Encina High School Booster Club
Encina High School
Attention: Heddy Crowder
1400 Bell Street
Sacramento,CA 95825
(please note your class year and whether you want pledge to be anonymous)

Is my contribution tax deductible?

Yes, your contribution is tax deductible. Please take advantage of your company's matching funds program if you have one to double your contribution as I do. Encina will send you a tax letter.

How effective is the Alumni Challenge?

In the past ten years the alumni challenge has raised over $400,000 for Encina!

2010: $34,000
2009: $36,000
2008: $48,000
2007: $53,000
2006: $51,000
2005: $48,000
2004: $46,000
2003: $44,000
2002: $40,000
2001: $15,000

While this is due in no small part to the generosity of alumni benefactor Paul Bonderson 70, last year we had tremendous participation with almost 400 individual alumni pledges. These pledges ranged from a few dollars to thousands of dollars. No pledge is too small, nor too large <g>.

Alumni Challenge plaque

The alumni challenge plaque recognizes the five classes who:
1. pledge the most money
2. have the most pledges

Can I pledge anonymously?

Certainly. When you write, say your pledge is anonymous. However, please let me attribute your pledge to your class so they receive credit.

Why should I contribute?

Well, I can't speak for all alumni, but I give because it makes me feel good <g>. I enjoy supporting the next generation of Encina students, the interclass competition, the funny pledges (Tom Clark 70 gave $50 for a 3 pointer I made before the last game), the pride of supporting my classmates, and the feeling that we, as Encina alumni, are doing something special for our school and the community...

So do it for the kids! And do it because it makes you feel good...

Last updated: 09/08/2015