Compton Center Rolls Out Facilities Master Plan
Compton Center Announces New Permanent Provost
City Announces Gang Injunction Finally Moving Forward at Anti-Crime Group Meeting
Wilson Skate Park Project Breaks Ground
Vanguard
Junior High Alumni Invited to Big Picnic
8th annual
event set for June 28 at Magic Johnson Park
By
Cheryl Scott
Bulletin Staff Writer
Life
is a picnic for anyone who attended Vanguard Junior High School. For
the eighth year, a reunion picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
on June 28 at Magic Johnson Park, 905 E. El Segundo Blvd.
Beverly Jackson has been organizing the event since it began in 2000.
“I’m so glad I got this started eight years ago,” she
told The Bulletin. “Since that time we’ve lost four or
five of our alumni. This is a great way for us to support each other
as
we grow older. It’s also lots of fun to get together again.”
Not only are alumni invited to the reunion. Families, friends and others
who know alumni of the school are also welcome to attend.
This year at the picnic, Winston Robinson will be honored.
“I spoke with Dr. Fred Kennedy, who will be attending the picnic
this year,” Jackson said. “He is a former boys assistant
principal at Vanguard. He told me that the school was actually named
by Winston
Robinson in 1958.”
That year the Compton Unified School District launched a contest to
select a name for the then new junior high school located on San Pedro
Street between 131st and 135th streets. Robinson was a student at Enterprise
Junior High School at the time. His entry in the contest was “Vanguard” after
the first satellite launched by the United States.
The district selected his entry as the winner of the contest, and the
new school was subsequently named Vanguard Junior High School. Today
it is called Vanguard Learning Center.
Winston is being honored for his achievement.
“After Dr. Kennedy shared Winston Robinson’s success story
with me, I decided to contact him at Price’s Barber Shop in Compton,” said
Jackson. “We are proud to announce that on February 22, 2005,
Winston Robinson was recognized at a Compton School Board meeting for
his accomplishment and contribution to the district for naming one
of the finest junior high schools in the state.”
Jackson attended Vanguard from 1965 to 1967. At that time, the area
where the school is located was bisected by Rosecrans. “Anyone
living on one side of Rosecrans went to Compton High School,” she
said. “Those on the other side went to Centennial. So the Vanguard
alumni were separated after they graduated and had little opportunity
to see each other.”
The picnic draws alumni from both high schools, allowing the Vanguard
students to get back in touch with each other. “It’s so
good to see everyone meeting each other again and sharing memories,” said
Jackson. “The picnic is definitely a reunion for all the Vanguard
students who attended the school back in the day. Recent alumni are
also welcome, of course.”
This year the picnic is featuring a health fair coordinated by St.
Johns Hospital. Health care vendors will be manning booths explaining
their services, and various screenings will be offered.
All day long there will be nostalgic games played for prizes donated
by local businesses and individuals. So far, donors are Barbara Rowden
of Charles Drew University, Ron Roberson of WPMD.org Internet Radio,
Michael Hopwood of Secrets of Success, Starbuck’s at Rosecrans
and Compton Boulevard, Fresh and Easy Food Markets, Kaiser Permanente,
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the National Diabetes Association,
Gerald Washington Alumni, Pastor Troy and Teresa Campbell, Richard
Wright, Victor Moore, Tillman Puckett, Aja Campbell and Albert Claiborne.
When the first alumni picnic was held, about 100 people attended, Jackson
says. This year about 200 are expected. “Getting attendance has
never been a problem. Each year we try to do something special. Last
year we had a car show. This year we are having the health fair.”
Everyone should bring their own food to the event. “We try to
keep it simple,” said Jackson. “I think that’s why
it has been so successful every year. One of the alumni makes fried
fish and shrimp. And the lake is stocked with catfish after the fishing
derby that is held at the park shortly before the picnic. Other than
that, it is an old school picnic. Everyone brings their own food and
picnic supplies. The idea is to get everyone together to reminisce
and get reacquainted.”
Music from the early days of Vanguard will be played throughout the
day, and there will be a dance contest for those who remember the old
steps.
“I hope everyone who attended Vanguard will come and have a good
time with us,” Jackson said. “It’s a day that has
become a tradition for many of us. We hope everyone will join in the
fun this
year.”
ADVERTISE | CLASSIFIEDS | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIBE | HOME
This site and its contents ©2008 thecomptonbulletin.com