Article featuring Linda Vista can use your input

7 hours ago

Alumni- Both Boys and Girls soccer teams have advanced to CIF Finals. Come out and support them Friday 2/28 at Hilltop High School. Tix are $10 for adults and $6 for students. First game is at 5pm.Go Komets ⚽️ ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

Congratulations to Lorna Hankins, Kearny class of 1975, being inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame, April 18th!!!

Ms. Hankins is currently the Executive Director of the Southwest Texas Branch of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) where awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease is the primary goal. Previously, Lorna served as Executive Director of the Sickle-Cell Association of the Texas Gulf Coast (SCATGC). Under her leadership, their mission was improving the lives of individuals, families and communities impacted by sickle-cell disease.

Ms. Hankins has a wide range of affiliations including the UCLA Alumni Scholars Club, where she graduated from in 1979; Texas Association Mediators; Trial Consultants of America; State Bar of Texas Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section; Muscular Dystrophy Association; Los Angeles Cystic Fibrosis Association; Houston Ballet; and, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

Lorna’s special skills and abilities are extensive! As a certified mediator she has been trained in helping others reach accord in the midst of divergent and, often, continuously conflicting positions. She has worked with individuals, families, corporations, and numerous other groups. She has facilitated communication and partnership between former disputants by helping them to understand the origin of their discord and how to resolve these issues by working together in an environment of mutual respect and regard for each other’s values and visions.

Over the years, she has been a panelist, keynote speaker, and consultant at conferences and symposia related to communications and public relations best practices, public opinion assessment, and persuasion techniques. Lorna’s trial consulting, and, in particular, jury selection has enhanced her ability to understand what motivates behavior and how to reward positive action so that it is sustainable.

For a number of years, Lorna has been actively involved with The Links, Incorporated, an organization of African American women founded in 1946, that is devoted to strengthening African American communities through education, advocacy, and volunteering.

Lorna Hankins achievements are exemplary for our Kearny Hall of Fame. Because of the quality, caliber and commitment to her endeavors, it is a privilege to have her as an inductee into the Kearny Hall of Fame!! ... See MoreSee Less

2 weeks ago

Congratulations to Stephen Grooms, Kearny class of 1975, who will be inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame in April!!!

After graduation, Stephen went on to the University of San Diego for two years, followed by two years at National University, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Marketing in 1988.

Stephen has over 40 years in the tech field, predominantly with AT&T, where he has been recognized for his driven and creative management style that creates common vision and fosters peak performance, uncompromising ethics, and integrity. This has garnered him multiple customer service awards including Presidents Club 2001, 2007, 2012; Vice Presidents Club 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008; AT&T’s Race to the Warehouse 2011-2014; and he has surpassed 125% growth for the last 10 years!

Stephen has also been on the boards of many non-profits and commissions including Junior Achievement, La Mesa AYSO, Helix Foundation, San Diego Exploratory Foundation, Special Olympics, “GUHSD” The Grossmont Unified High School, The City of La Mesa Flag Day Event (Chair and fundraiser), The City of La Mesa Environmental and Sustainability Commission and La Mesa Merchants Octoberfest.

Stephen came back to Kearny as an assistant football coach in 2009 and began attending alumni association meetings. As a result of his involvement, he wound up as a trustee on the alumni board and later served as president. Stephen has always set a goal of creating a living legacy of initiation, giving, and continued support to Kearny. One of his proudest achievements being the Kearny High School Hall of Fame. Stephen was instrumental in envisioning and constructing the Hall of Fame to celebrate the achievements to the local community and beyond that Komets have made.

In addition to the creation of the Hall of Fame, Mr. Grooms has undertaken several projects to honor the Kearny sports legacy and cultivate a strong relationship of alumnus support and sponsoring of the school, including the negotiation for the return of the football uniform stripes; petitioning the district to get our stadium build date moved up; and, founding the Kearny Community Foundation in 2014, which has raised over $100,000 since its inception!! These funds go directly to support student and teacher events on campus.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, Stephen has a wife of 41 years, four grown children and three grandchildren!! ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

Congratulations to David Clements, PhD. Kearny Class of 1973, who will be receiving a Posthumous Award at this years Hall of Fame!

David, who had Muscular Dystrophy, was the first student in a wheelchair that was mainstreamed into Kearny High School. He got his first motorized wheelchair in his senior year and in fact, the handicap ramps at Kearny were built for David! Although he suffered from numerous health and disability challenges, he overcame them in his quest for a very productive life.

After graduating 44th in his class, he went on to attend the University of San Diego, graduating fourth in his class in 1977 with a BA degree in French and English. David was the editor-in-chief of their newspaper. He also purchased a customized van and learned to drive. David went on to attend the University of California at San Diego and received his Master’s degree in 1980 and his Doctorate of Philosophy in 1989!

David began his employment at Microtac, a language translation company in 1991, (later Global, Inc.) David was a Teaching Assistant and Technical Writer at UCSD, from 2000 until his death in August of 2012.

David spoke English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Arabic. His travels included Luxembourg, France twice, England, Canada, Mexico, and Alaska; all with a wheelchair and respirator.

David’s awards included: Easter Seals Child of the Year, 1967. Société d Honneur François, 1976. Who’s Who among students in American Universities and Colleges, 75 - 76. UCSD Department Honors in French 1977. Muscular Dystrophy Association newsletter editor, Citation of Merit. Muscular Dystrophy Association achievement award, 1993. David carried the Olympic torch in Coronado in 1984 before handing it off to NFL football player Jim Plunkett.

David Clements’ lifetime achievement awards are spectacular based on anyone’s standards and we are very proud he was a Komet! ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

Congratulations to Rick Christian, Class of 1972, who will be inducted to the 2020 Hall of Fame in April!!!

Rick Christian founded Alive Literary Agency in Los Angeles in 1989 and moved operations to Colorado Springs in 1991. He served 30 years as CEO until his retirement in 2019, following the internal sale of the agency. In his tenure, Alive clients scored 15 New York Times #1 bestsellers and sold more than 250 million copies.

Raised in San Diego and following his graduation from Kearny in 1972, he became a 1977 graduate of Stanford University (communications and creative writing), he also studied at Capernwray Bible School in England and the University of Southern California where he pursued graduate work in professional writing.

Christian launched his publishing career as a newspaper reporter and columnist, followed by a career switch to magazine publishing. He served as associate editor of Campus Life magazine, executive editor of The Saturday Evening Post, and then transitioned to executive leadership in book publishing. Along the way, he wrote several books himself, including Alive, The Woodland Hills Tragedy, A Gift of Life, and Silent Night, which was adapted for the television series “Sue Thomas F.B.Eye.”

It is as a literary agent that Christian became renowned, particularly for his entrepreneurial efforts behind such mega-sellers as the Left Behind series (70 million copies).
Additionally, he has championed the adaptation of Alive books for film and TV, including Tri-Star’s hit production of Heaven Is for Real, Paramount’s Same Kind of Different as Me, Karen Kingsbury’s upcoming Baxter Family streaming series with Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, and numerous films for Hallmark Channel and various independent producers.

He and his wife Debbie have a blended family of seven children and live on a ranch in Black Forest, outside of Colorado Springs. ... See MoreSee Less