The Origin of the
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame
Contributors:
Denise Anderson
Jennifer Wildenburg
Kayla Keyzer
(excerpted from “The History of Mira Costa High School – The First Decade”)
Bill Cooper, who taught at Mira Costa for nearly four decades, found the inspiration for a hall of fame at Oregon’s Bend High School, with an assist from long-time friend, Costa graduate and teacher Mickey Craven ’65, who was similarly a near 40-year teacher at that school. This occurred around 2011.
“The inductees [at Bend High School] were selected from nominations made by graduates, teachers, staff, and members of the community. The selection criteria were based on individual achievement after graduation. Each year, on ‘Hall of Fame Day,’ the new inductees were introduced and honored at a school-wide assembly. Following the program, the inductees visited classrooms to talk with students and answer questions. Later, they attended a luncheon with selected faculty, students and the selection committee. At the time I thought this program would be great for Mira Costa and presented it to Ben Dale, who was the new principal at that time. He was enthusiastic about the program and we formed a committee of several people including students, faculty and alumni. It was at these meetings that we formulated the Mira Costa Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. The first induction ceremony took place in 2012.” -Bill Cooper
Mira Costa’s program takes place each fall in late September or early October, starting with a morning reception in the library, followed by a school-wide induction ceremony in the auditorium (actually two), a luncheon for the inductees and their guests and the visitation of classrooms, and wraps up with recognition under the lights on the 50-yard line during half-time of a home football game in Waller Stadium. It has arguably become one of the most popular assemblies each year among both students and teachers. The fact that the inductees walked these hallways, learned in the same classrooms (the 22 original classrooms of September 1950 are still in use as of this writing), and in some cases even have children (or grandchildren) at Mira Costa, makes for a very strong sense of connection between inductees and current Mustangs.
Sixty-four graduates have been inducted since the first ceremony in 2012.