Central’s Model U.N. Team Takes On the World’s Challenges
At the Philadelphia region’s most diverse school, diplomacy matters By Yvonne Dennis (246) While many Americans today are staying as far away from political talk as they can, especially in mixed company, a group of Central students has sought to not only study the most contentious global issues of the day, but to develop the […]
Members of 256 Present Holiday Gift to Capital Campaign
Members of the 256th class recently reunited, 20 years after graduating from Central, and collected $1256 for the school’s Capital Campaign, says Central Development Director Lynn Norton Robins. Every donation helps Central achieve its goal of raising $42 million for the capital improvement campaign, the centerpiece of which is a new two-story Performing Arts Center that […]
Businessman, Musician Joseph Field Gives $10 Million for New Central Arts Center
Alumni Hall of Fame member Joseph M. Field (192), founder of Entercom Communications, violinist and philanthropist, has donated the initial $10 million for a $42 million capital improvement campaign for Central High School. The centerpiece of the effort is a new two-story Performing Arts Center that will house its music and theater programs. Joe […]
Come See Newest Inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame
By Steve Burnstein (222) Eight distinguished living Central High School alumni have been selected as the latest inductees to the Alumni Hall of Fame. Please plan to join fellow alumni at the Philmont Country Club in Huntington Valley, Pa., on Wednesday, Oct.17, 2018, as we honor these remarkable scientists, entrepreneurs, an educator, architect and two […]
Get Updated With the Fall Alumni Journal
Alumni, the fall journal has arrived with news about the new location for the annual Thanksgiving breakfast, new alumni board members, and how your donations have made positive impacts on Central High School students. New Journal Editor Neil Deegan and Development Director Lynn Norton Robins provide updates on the Capital Campaign. Board Co-Vice-President Steve Burnstein […]
Central’s 276 Leads Among Classes With Gift to New Capital Campaign
Central High School’s youngest group of alumni just became the leading class donor to the school’s new performing arts center capital campaign, gifting $30,000 to the multimillion-dollar drive. The 276th class, which graduated in June, wanted the money left over from its various fundraisers and student fees to have lasting personal and educational benefit for future students, said class sponsor Laura Jacklin. So leaders surveyed their classmates as senior term was coming to a close and two primary focuses emerged: the suicide of one of the members in the fall of senior year and the new capital campaign.
There Are Dynasties, and Then There’s Central’s Girls Tennis
Yvonne Dennis (246) Central High School’s girls tennis players dominated the PIAA District 12 Championship Thursday afternoon just like they have dominated city tennis for the last four years–undefeated. Yes, Central’s Lancers have not lost a Public League or district–which encompasses the public and Catholic leagues–match in four years. (Soak that in for a second.) […]
Join Central Friends for Breakfast and Football Thanksgiving Day
Alumni, please come join Central students, faculty and friends for an AACHS annual tradition: breakfast and football on Thanksgiving Day. This year the pre-game breakfast will be held at Tiffany’s Diner, 9010 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, at 9 a.m. Then the Central’s Lancers annual Turkey Day matchup at the Northeast’s Vikings Charles Martin Memorial Stadium begins at 10:30. […]
How Old Is Too Old to Still Get Together? Don’t Ask The 177
By Yvonne Dennis (246) When you have experienced some of the most momentous events of the 20th century and there aren’t a lot of people left with whom you can relate, you don’t hesitate to get back together with your contemporaries–even if you need a little help getting there. “As soon as I got the […]
2017 Lancers Football Schedule
Alumni, why not drop in for a Lancers football game this fall to find out what’s happening at Central High and stir up those old feelings about your alma mater? The regular season begins on Sept. 1 with Central visiting Wissahickon. Below is the full schedule, plus here is a link to Eastern PA Football’s […]
Recent Grad Helping Central Development Office Through Its Next Phase
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Central High School’s Development Office is getting a temporary staffing boost from a young alumnus, just as the office is making inroads into its mission. The Developmment Office, headed by Lynn Norton Robins, is charged with building a comprehensive fundraising plan for Central, with an emphasis on major-gifts and alumni outreach. In […]
Here’s How Much One Class Cares About Students, Teachers Most Members Don’t Even Know
Central High School’s famous alumni funds don’t come from faceless, bored old guys. They come from hard-working Central graduates likely one and two generations removed from the current student body. They come from people with special hearts who believe in the moving power of education and the right of all young people to have a fair chance at success.
Central Graduates Continue to Pursue Higher Education in Overwhelming Numbers
Central graduates continue to pursue higher education in overwhelming numbers. Dr. Christine Soda, a Central counselor, reports the following college-acceptance numbers for the 276th Central graduating class: Temple University: 465 students Penn State (all campuses): 275 students Drexel University: 254 students University of Pittsburgh: 135 students University of Pennsylvania: 48 students Central also had at least […]
Summer Intern Position Available
Description: The development office of the Associated Alumni of Central High School is seeking a Summer 2017 Fundraising and Administrative Fellow. The fellow will be a key part of our team, with responsibilities to include basic administrative duties, preparing research on potential donors; working closely with the Director of Development and Alumni leadership, managing and […]
Big Professional Moves for Two Alumni Board Members
By Yvonne Dennis 246 AACHS board member Ken Wong (232) was recently invested as one of two new civilian aides to the U.S. secretary of the Army, while fellow AACHS board member Nicole Gaughan VanBuskirk (257) was recently promoted to assistant principal at Central. Ken Wong is the president of CIG Asia, Ltd, a national insurance […]
Intelligencer Newspaper Pays Tribute to Late Central Alumnus Herman Silverman, 168
You may want to read a lovely tribute in the Intelligencer of Bucks and Montgomery counties paid to Central alumnus, businessman and philanthropist Herman Silverman (168), who died Wednesday at age 97. Among many friends quoted in the article describing Herman’s selfless deeds is Richard Reif, a former CEO of Doylestown Hospital. He told the […]
Alumni Board Member Honored as Abington-Jefferson Health Physician of the Year
Central High Alumni Board member Steven A. Shapiro (225) was recently honored as physician of the year by Abington -Jefferson Health system for his commitment to community needs.
‘Captain of Industry,’ Explainer of Law, and Now Proud Grandfather of a New Central Wonder
By Yvonne Dennis (246) When Edward Snitzer (191) set out for the world from the halls of Central High School 68 years ago, he had no idea of the impact he was to have on the law and civics in the state of Pennsylvania. Today his grandson Joshua Snitzer (276) is also effecting change in […]
Catch Up With the Alumni Journal
Hello, fellow alumni: Your spring edition of the AACHS Alumni Journal is here! Inside, you’ll find updates from President Tim McKenna on all the great things happening at Central today; information on upcoming reunions; updates and features on your fellow alums making good in the world; amazing student art; and details on our upcoming Annual Meeting. Please […]
Central Girls, Boys Track Teams Take Public League Titles
Yvonne Dennis (246) Germantown Super Site transformed into the House of Lancer on a chilly, mostly overcast Thursday afterrnon as the girls and boys outoor track teams captured Public League Championship titles. For the girls team, the reigning champs, it wasn’t even close. The Lady Lancers scored 130 points, with Girls High scoring exactly half […]
Members of 212 Tied by More Than Just Their Central Memories
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Skip Markowitz served as Lanny Edelsohn’s best man. Larry G. Schwartz, a devoted baseball fan, never forgets the date he attended his good friend Barry Shinberg’s wedding (June 21, 1964) because it turned out to be the day he didn’t get to see live on TV the Phillies’ Jim Bunning throw […]
Come Walk, Run, Golf and More at May and June Alumni Events
Hey, Lancers: There’s an event for every Central alum this spring.
‘Crimson & Gold Spectacular’ to Feature School and Alumni Updates, Special Keynote Address
It’s here… the Alumni Association’s premiere event: our 2017 Annual Meeting and Dinner beginning at 5:30pm on Tuesday, June 6th! This year’s event, at the beautiful Union League of Philadelphia, will feature a special keynote address by Philadelphia City Councilman At-Large David Oh (237). We will also exhibit our Lancer Teamwork and that CENTRAL ALUMNI CARES by sharing experiences, expertise, and connections […]
Mike Waddington Scholarship Speaks for Its Silenced Namesake
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Michael Waddington (245), without question, enjoyed an enormously successful career at Central High School. As one quarter of the 1986 Penn Relays 4 x 400 meter high school boys record-setting tandem, he was instrumental in helping the Lancers win indoor and outdoor track and field championships. Mike went on to college, like more […]
Volunteers Hope to Recapture Big Energy for Central Cares Day
By Yvonne Dennis (246) About 200 volunteers who care deeply about Central High spent hours on Comcast Cares Day last April helping to beautify the school inside and out. But a building populated by close to 3,000 people, situated on a busy city street corner, doesn’t take long to get messy again. As Central’s custodial staff […]
Ring From the 156th Class Makes Its Way Back to Central
By Yvonne Dennis (246) A Central High School student’s class ring from 1931 will soon be making its way back to his alma mater after alumni archivist David Kahn (220) won an online auction Tuesday night to purchase the ring. Kahn learned about the ring through a Facebook posting by 248’s Jim Junger, who learned […]
Aspiring Sports Journalist Gets a Little Help from the Pros
Central High School senior Kristian Rhim will be heading off to Springfield College in Massachusetts this fall with a lot of guidance and a few extra dollars from some of Philadelphia’s best newspaper journalists.
Join Central Wrestlers at Chipotle Temple Campus
Alumni, make dinner (or late lunch) easy on April 5 by having it at Chipotle on Temple University’s campus, 1100 W. Montgomery Avenue. Half of what you pay when you show the below flier goes to the 2017 Public League wrestling champion Lancers! Come meet Coach Jeremy Julien (259) and the team, who will arrive […]
“Sweeney Todd” Performances Coming to a Central Auditorium Near You
Alumni, Central hopes you’ll come out for a fun performance of its spring musical, the macabre British drama “Sweeney Todd.” Shows are as follows: April 6th @ 3:30 April 7th @ 7:00 April 8th @ 1:00 and 7:00 General Admission- $10 Reserved Seating- $20 Students/Alumni/Seniors/Military- $5 Directed by Mary Guarnieri and Peter Kelsey Choreographed by Summer […]
Come Play at the Alumni Baseball and Softball Games
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Hey, alumni baseball players: On Saturday June 10, Cental’s baseball team will be hosting the second-annual alumni baseball game at Lancers field, Ogontz and Somerville avenues. This is serious hardball with jerseys, umpires and skin left on the field. First pitch is at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $100 to cover umpires fees, and gets you […]
Distinguished Alumnus Dr. Cato Laurencin to Discuss Regenerative Engineering
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Students of science and alumni with continued interest in learning will not want to miss Central High School Hall of Famer Dr. Cato Laurencin (235) lecture on “Regenerative Engineering: A New Convergence Field” on April 4 at Widener University’s Alumni Auditorium. Dr. Laurencin leads a team of 70 faculty, fellows and students at […]
Time to Come Have Some Fun
Join alumni and friends at the Ides of March Happy Hour March 15 at Vesper in Philadelphia.
Central’s Baseball Team to Play at the Home of the Trenton Thunder
Yvonne Dennis (246) What young baseball player hasn’t fantasized about stepping up to the plate at a major stadium and hitting one out of the park? On Monday April 24, members of Central High School’s varsity baseball team will get a chance at such a thrill when they play at the home field of the Trenton Thunder. Last year, the baseball Lancers […]
Central High School Seniors to Attend Presidential Inauguration
Central High School social-studies teacher, tennis coach and alumnus Mike Horwits (251) issued the following news release on Thursday:
Gifts From 228 Help Central With Multiple Challenges
You have to have a good sales pitch to raise millions of dollars and the ability to take that pitch to the right audience. Central just got a big hand in its effort to do that from its 228th graduated class. Central’s alumni association, administrators and its new director of development, Lynn Norton Robins, are […]
Psychiatrist, Author and Former AACHS President Dr. H. Michael Zal, 210, Dies
Former Associated Alumni of Central High School President Dr. H. Michael Zal (210) died on Friday, AACHS board member Alan Budman (229) advises. Dr. Zal served as president of the board from 1991 to 1993. He was also Program, Scholarship and Hall of Fame chairman. Dr. Zal was a psychiatrist for over 40 years. He was the […]
Alumni Put Up Funds to Help Send Central’s Chess Team to the ‘Supernationals’
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Members of Central’s top-ranked chess team are eager to test their skills on the national level, and some Central alumni with personal appreciation for their passion want to help them get there. Retiree Larry Plotkin (230) read on Central’s alumni website last year about the Lancers’ successes despite a lack of team […]
A Thank You From The Alumni Association President
Thank you to those alumni who have donated to the AACHS Annual Campaign; we are very grateful for your generosity. Thank you to those of you who will give and enable AACHS to ensure the future of Central and its ability to retain the excellence its extraordinary student body deserves. Give more without giving more! Does […]
Members of 255 Raise Money for Central
Members of Central’s 255th class report that not only did they have a terrific 20th reunion recently, but they collected $2,050 to gift to their alma mater. “We are happy to report that we had over 150 attendance and collected $1,023, which I will personally match,” Class President Broderick Jones told Central Development Director Lynn […]
Central Seeking JV Baseball Coach
Central’s athletic department is looking for a coach for the junior varsity baseball team for Spring 2017. The position pays a little more than $4,000. Anyone interested should email an introductory letter and resume to Central Assistant Athletic Director Rich Weiss at rweiss@philasd.org.
What Students Don’t Know About Today’s Library Can Set Them Back
By Yvonne Dennis (246) The internet, with its three-to-five second ability to school us on anything from Ancient Greece to zodiac signs, can make it easy for people to believe that they don’t need libraries anymore. Especially for many people coming of age when internet answers are as close as their phones, their tablets and even their […]
Author Omar Tyree to Be Honored at Central for Literacy Work
By Yvonne Dennis (246) As the author of 28 books, Omar Tyree (246) certainly wants to see people reading, but his literacy advocacy over the last 30 years goes beyond personal interest. “If you can’t read and you can’t write and you can’t think and you don’t visualize, and if you have no application of skill, […]
Catch Up on School, Alumni Matters With the New Journal
Central’s football team at the start of the 2016 campaign; The Lancers will cap the season, as usual, at Northeast High School on Thanksgiving morning. Read how to attend the AACHS annual breakfast and the game in the new alumni journal. And click here for pictures of the Lancers by JS Garber (230) through the […]
Come Out for Thanksgiving Breakfast and Football
Friends, get your tickets now to the annual AACHS Thanksgiving Day Victory Breakfast on Thursday Nov. 24. For the special price of $25, you get a ticket to the Central-Northeast game and a complete buffet breakfast at Jack’s Deli, 8500 Bustleton Ave., Philadelphia. Breakfast begins at 9:00 a.m.; the game kicks off at 10:30 A.M. […]
Class of ’69 Aims to Enrich School, Challenge Others With Special Gift
By Yvonne Dennis 246 When Central’s 228th class concluded its 45-year reunion in mid-2014, Class President Steve Kaplan conceived an ambitious legacy idea—challenge himself and classmates to raise $228,000 to gift to the school by the time of their 50th reunion. Two years later, 228 meets serendipity. Central’s administration and its alumni network are probing to […]
Young Author Loves Inspiring Others
by Yvonne Dennis (246) Nia Sol Bradford was standing in the kids section of the Willow Grove Barnes & Noble on Sunday when the mother of a toddler inquired about the book Nia was holding. When Nia told her she wrote it, the mom excitedly asked if Nia would pose for a picture with her little […]
AACHS Receives Grant From Comcast Foundation
by Yvonne Dennis (246) The Comcast Foundation has awarded a grant of $778.88 to the Associated Alumni of Central High School for participating in Comcast Cares Day this past spring. The grant was awarded “in gratitude for our work together improving our communities,” wrote Charisse Lillie, executive vice president of the Comcast Foundation, in a […]
When You gotta Go to Mo’s, You Can Help the Lancers Too
Friends, please print this coupon and keep it in your wallet. Then, when you find yourself wanting to buy some athletic gear, please do so at any Modell’s in the tri-state area. A portion of your purchase cost will go to Central athletics. If you go to a store without a coupon, simply mention Central High […]
Career Day Information, Including New Date
On Monday Nov. 21, your Alumni Association will proudly present its annual Career Day program for Central’s seniors and juniors, the 276th and 277th classes. Career Day is typically held on the Tuesday immediately before Thanksgiving but due to a half-day school schedule on Nov. 22, the event has been moved to the Monday. The […]
Central Football Climbs to 2-0, Hands MLK Its Third Loss
Yvonne Dennis (246) Edward Dunn (263) was excited to return to the field where he racked up good memories as a player in high school, but the homecoming was spoiled as Central’s Lancers handed him and his Martin Luther King Cougars their third loss of the young season. Dunn, who played linebacker while at Central, has […]
Unique Central Biology Program Helped Shape His Cancer Research
Dr. Michael Birnbaum (263) is a perfect example of how a Central education can serve as pre-college and put a student well ahead of peers elsewhere if the student is a hard worker and focused. Dr. Birnbaum is leading research at the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology aiming to engineer new methods to more potently mount […]
Preserving Central Sports History Is His Drug
By Yvonne Dennis (246) When Jesse Garber (230) photographs a single Central High School sporting event, he’s building on a nearly 50-year narrative. It’s a narrative about victory, frustration, ambition, growth, tradition and change. And while he’s traversing the Lancers sidelines in blazing heat to bitter cold, or inside stuffy gymnasiums, to get his amazing […]
Lancers Overcome Mistakes to Sink Wissahickon in Season Opener
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Three times in the closing minutes of Central’s 2016 football season opener on Friday, turnovers changed the trajectory. But the Lancers fought hard till the last seconds and overcame a tough opponent in Wissahickon High School to secure the win, 27-21. The first score of the game came late in the second quarter […]
Your Phone Wants One of These
Hey, Lancers, check out these great phone cases available through Central’s Athletic Department. Only thing left to do is use the below form to get the design you want in the size that fits your phone, then display it with pride, right? Great. Proceeds benefit your Lancers and they thank you, as always. Philadelphia central pre […]
Register for a Chance to Win Alumnus’ New Book
The website GoodReads is giving away 10 copies of Dr. Sheppard Benet Kominars’ (192) new book of Poetry: “Angles of Incidence: Poems of 7 Decades.” In the book, Dr. Kominars shares a lifetime of poetry written since Portal Poems: Perspective on Aging (2013). A selection of his early poems, written before 2000, is also included. Dr. Kominars’ earlier books […]
Help Lancers Baseball Whenever You Purchase Gifts
Alumni, Central’s baseball team has partnered with Yankee Candle Company to help the Lancers raise money all year long. Anytime you need to buy gifts or are looking for something for yourself, please consider buying from Yankee Candle. When you use the Lancers team code, 40% 0f every sale goes to the team. Click on […]
2016 Football Schedule
Here is the Lancers 2016 football schedule. The Thanksgiving Game versus the Northeast Vikings is, as usual, away at 10 a.m. Schedules of other sports will be posted here as they become available so please check back often.
Happy Hour-Lancer Fall Kickoff
Come have a good time with fellow alumni, friends and Central family at the AACHS Lancer Fall Kickoff Thursday Sept. 29 at Pagano’s downtown starting at 5 p.m.
She’s Got the Will to Go to Central, Just Hoping for a Way
Thirteen-year-old Erin McGinniss is one of the top students at her middle school and she is hoping to continue her education at Central High School of Philadelphia. Dependent on a wheelchair, Erin is hoping to get some help with transportation so that she can achieve her academic dreams.
Alums Use Science to Serve Their City
Real-life forensic lab work takes time, can often be tedious and offer few answers. But for four Central High School grads working at the Philadelphia Police Department’s Forensic Science Center at 8th and Poplar streets, it is incredibly rewarding providing answers for crimes in their city, big and small.
New Central Development Director Aims to Better Harness Alumni Resources
Central High School of Philadelphia, its alumni association and its Home & School Association have hired a director of development to be better organized in drawing the kinds of gifts that can elevate the 2011 Blue Ribbon school even more.
Alumni Doctors, Central Could Use Your Spare Equipment
Calling all doctors: Please consider donating any expendable small medical equipment such as stethoscopes, reflex hammers and sphygmomanometers to be utilized for teaching purposes in Brian Howland’s anatomy class at Central. Anyone who has donations may contact Dr. Steve Burnstein (222) at slburnstein222@gmail.com) or 856-264-1446. Mr. Howland would love it if any alumni doctors are […]
First Alumni Baseball Game Scores Big for Central Program
Video courtesy of Steve Butler (241) Yvonne Dennis (246) The muscles have more miles on them, but they haven’t forgotten how to slide, throw curves and make great plays. Lancers from Central’s 272nd class all the way back to its 225th returned to the home field at Ogontz and Somerville avenues Saturday morning for the […]
Police Capt. Robert Glenn Wants You to Express Yourself–The Right Way
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Whether for large conventions, labor disputes, or highly charged protests, Police Capt.Robert Glenn (242) is responsible for keeping peace and order in Philadelphia. Assigned this year to head of the department’s Civil Affairs Unit, Capt. Glenn swears by the 225-year-old edicts of the Bill of Rights, modern technological tools and good sense. In […]
As 275 Readies for Life After Central, 186 Marks 70 Amazing Years Since Graduation
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Star quarterback Norman Salvat almost died his senior year at Central High School. Self-described ”loner” Gerry King recalls a lot of antisemitism against others at the school in his years there. And Ed Jawer was dealing with issues from his childhood that left him “inattentive” as a student. But life is full of […]
Dr. Pavel Joins Fellow Past Central Presidents in Portrait Gallery
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Images of Dr. Sheldon Pavel—the beard, the pipe, the coffee mug, the sweater vest, the soft smile—are ingrained in the minds of 28 years worth of Central students, staff and parents. For many, those images are coupled with countless demonstrations of his care for them and for the principles on which […]
Retired Central Science Teacher Joseph Diviny Dies at Age 89
Retired Central science teacher and department chairman Joseph Paul Diviny died Monday of esophageal cancer at age 89 at his home in Philadelphia, reports the John F. Fluehr & Sons funeral home. Mr. Diviny taught in Philadelphia schools from 1957 to 1993. Read the complete obituary, including viewing and funeral information, here.
Central Seniors Accepted to Prestigious Colleges in High Numbers
One of the most frequently asked questions by Central alumni about their alma mater is: “Is it still as great as it was back…” The following information is shared by Central administration. Judge for yourself. This year’s graduating class, the 275th, won high numbers of acceptances at local and faraway universities: Drexel University 300 Penn […]
Spring Alumni Journal Is Published
The spring Alumni Journal is here, with a sharp new look thanks to the Central students who designed it and their teacher/adviser. There is an article on the coming alumni annual dinner, featuring Mayor Jim Kenney, and columns by School President Tim McKenna, retired teacher Bruce Yasgur (216), and the Journal’s editors. There is also […]
Alumni Come Back to Spruce Up Central
About 200 graduates, students, staff, parents and other members of the Central family spent Saturday morning beautifying Central inside and out as part of Comcast Cares Day. Kristina Chang (254) shares this outstanding Comcast slideshow from the day, which featured a visit from the Phillie Phanatic. Thank you Comcast, Kristina and all of the volunteers. Everyone, please […]
Notice of Elections
The Committee on Nominations and Elections, Hon. Denis Cohen (228) chairman, presents the following nominations for positions on the Alumni Board of Managers. The election will be held at the annual meeting on June 1, at 6:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Society Hill, Philadelphia. Details on the meeting, which will feature keynote speaker Mayor Jim […]
AACHS Annual Dinner to Feature Mayor Jim Kenney
Mayor Jim Kenney will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Spring Dinner Meeting of the AACHS on June 1 at the Sheraton Society Hill. The cocktail hour begins at 5:30 P.M. and dinner will follow. The dinner cost for alumni (and non-alumni guests) is $75 per person. Please also consider making a contribution of […]
Unveiling for Dr. Pavel Portrait Set for May 17
The 271st class is proud to sponsor and invite fellow alumni to the unveiling of the portrait of Dr. Sheldon Pavel, Central’s longest-serving president, on Tuesday May 17 at 4 p.m. at Central. After the unveiling there will be snacks and drinks in the Spain Conference Center, above the library. Come see your alma mater, […]
Central Job Opening: Director of Development
Who We Are: Philadelphia’s illustrious Central High School is the second-oldest public high school in the U.S. As a college preparatory public school, CHS challenges students with rigorous academic programs to prepare them for the demands of higher education. Recently designated the most diverse public school in the country, Central leverages its diversity to prepare […]
Volunteers Wanted to Help Spruce Up Central for Comcast Cares Day
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Central’s landscape is set to get some long-needed TLC next month thanks to Comcast, a member of the 254 and lots of volunteers. Comcast Cares Day, set for Saturday April 30 this year, brings together Comcast employees, their families, friends and community partners on hundreds of volunteer projects annually. Last year more […]
Writing Can Be a Thrill When You Control the Fear
When crime novelist Jon McGoran (240) started writing his first book, there were three things he was afraid of.
“The first was that I wasn’t going to enjoy it; the second was that I wasn’t going to finish it; and the third was that it was going to be terrible.”
He was one for three.
(This event is over) Help Central Students Fight Pediatric Cancer
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Central students and staff are putting on a fun event to help tackle a far-from-fun reality of life: pediatric cancer. The sophomore class (277) is organizing the school’s first Central-THON, a six-hour dance marathon on Tuesday April 26 in the main gym to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and […]
Retired Central Teacher and Archivist Dr. Robert Sanders Dies
Dr. Robert A. Sanders (180), a former chairman of Central’s English department, and for many years the archivist and historian for the Associated Alumni of Central High School, died on March 21. Dr. Sanders “will live on forever as a member of the CHS Faculty Hall of Fame,” said David Kahn (220), who succeeded Dr. Sanders […]
Author Takes Old-School Wisdom to Kids’ Prefered Platform
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Making a living as an author for near 25 years only to find that audience habits are changing dramatically might be enough to prompt some writers to pack it in. Twenty five years in any entertainment industry is remarkable, none maybe more so than books given the falloff in American readership the last two […]
Alumnus to Headline Night of Comedy for Abington PAL
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Comedian Chuck Nice might just as aptly be called Chuck Profound, Chuck Easy-Going and most definitely Chuck Hilarious. The platforms for this Central graduate-turned entertainer include comedy clubs, podcasts, television and radio. And the topics on which he delivers his insights aren’t just the easy, pop-culture, low-hanging mental fruit designed to generate a […]
Central Junior Brian Kennedy Crowned Top High School Bowler in the State
By Yvonne Dennis 246 Central Junior Brian Kennedy (276) overpowered the top high school bowling talent in the state Friday to win the Pennsylvania individual high school bowling championship at North Versaille Bowling Center near Pittsburgh. The title of the state’s No. 1 high school bowler comes less than a month after Brian was crowned the top high school […]
Calling Former Baseball Lancers for Alumni Game
Central’s 1987 varsity baseball team. Michael Monroe is #28, standing next to the late coach Cullman. By Yvonne Dennis (246) Hey, former baseball Lancers: Remember how you felt putting on those crimson and gold uniforms and gloves, representing Central on the field at Ogontz and Somerville and all around the city? Well, you may […]
Philly Heads to Oxford
By Yvonne Dennis (246) When Eleanor St John Sutton (273) heads to Oxford University this fall as part of the University of Pennsylvania’s study-abroad program, it will be almost like going home–even though she’s lived in Philadelphia her entire life. Eleanor’s parents, Clare and Martin, are British transplants who came to the U.S. when Eleanor’s father […]
Central Theater Department Invites Alumni to ‘Suessical’ Performances
Central Theater Department invites alumni, family and friends to see this year’s spring musical production, “Seussical.” Performance times are: Thursday April 7- 3:30 PM Friday April 8- 7:00 PM Saturday April 9- 7:00 PM Sunday April 10- 2:00 PM Reserved seating costs $20 General admission is $10 For seniors, non-Central students, military personnel and CHS […]
Registration Open for 5k Run, 1M Walk at Central
Update: This event has been postponed until June 12 due to the forecast for severe rain on June 5. It’s time to sign up for the AACHS annual 5k run and 1 mile walk at Central, set for Sunday June 12. The event was a load of fun last year and raised $3,000 for Central extracurricular […]
Math Chairman Dishes Basketball and Other Skills
Central High School Math Department Chairman Haviland Harper (230), with pictures of his daughter and his grandchildren, in the Math Department office. By Yvonne Dennis (246) Haviland Harper (230) didn’t know it at the time, but when he started teaching math at Vaux Junior High in North Philadelphia on Oct. 17, 1977, he was his […]
Judge Benjamin Lerner (209) Appointed to Kenney Administration
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has named Common Pleas Court Judge Benjamin Lerner, a member of the 209th class, deputy managing director for criminal justice, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Prior to joining the bench in 1996, Judge Lerner was Of Counsel at the law firm of Dilworth, Paxson in Philadelphia, according to his bio with the American Law Institute. […]
In Death, Professor Shows His Appreciation for Central
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Albert Hunt Ewell Jr.’s genius was apparent early on. His 179 classmates at Central noted in his yearbook entry: “One of our most profound and inquiring students, Ewell aspires to attain the pinnacle of all that is fine and noble in life; ah yes, to become a Latin Professor.” Hunt, as […]
New Alumni Journal Is Here
Friends, the 2016 Winter Alumni Journal, full of insight on school happenings, significant alumni life events and more is now available here. AACHS Winter 2016 Read the beautiful and inspiring reflections of newly inducted Hall of Fame member Dr. Arnold Eisen (228) as he returned to the school for a visit. (“The greatest satisfaction of my visit […]
Central’s Longest-Serving President Immortalized With Portrait
Dr. Pavel at his home in Elkins Park, Pa. By Yvonne Dennis (246) For the thousands of students who attended Central High School from the mid-1980s through to the spring of 2013, Dr. Sheldon Pavel is an unforgettable figure. With his famous pipe or cup of coffee almost always in hand, Central’s longest-serving president(28 1/2 […]
Catching Will Reed Is Still Not Easy
By Yvonne Dennis (246) For the generation that grew up in the late 1980s and paid even the slightest attention to high-school track, the name William Reed Jr. needs no explanation, no context, no superlatives. A young man recently watching a tape of one of Will’s old races put it perfectly—“Nobody’s near you!” That young […]
Dormant Athletic Honor Roll Getting Support
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Hanging in Central High’s main gym are banners for the school’s Athletic Honor Roll, celebrating some of the most extraordinary athletes Philadelphia, and even the world, has ever seen. They include an NBA championship winner, a record-holding swimmer, a world-class sprinter, a Negro Leagues pitching ace and a Major League baseball […]
Student Environmental Society Seeks Your Recycle Bank Points
Central science teacher Galeet Cohen advises that Central has been designated a “green school” by Recyclebank and is in the running for a $2500 grant. “We are 76% of the way to that goal,” she says. With this grant, the Student Environmental Action Society can create a solar powered water maintenance system for Central’s newly […]
Updates on Central Athletics
The first-place Lancers boys bowling team and the third-place girls team begin playoff competition Wednesday Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Erie Lanes. The boys, undefeated this year, are defending their Public League Championship title. Take the afternoon off Wednesday and go cheer your Lancers. ——————————————————————————————————————- Central track coach Fred McCray Jr. (246) proudly posted […]
Students See Resurrection of CBN as Educational and Symbolic
Seniors Aavo Reinvald and Albert Tanjaya are eager for the day when student-produced video will again be broadcast on hallway television monitors at Central. By Yvonne Dennis (246) When exceptionally severe state budget cuts hit Philadelphia public schools a few years ago, the Central High School Broadcast Network was one of the student activities that bit […]
Central Bowling Aims for Repeat
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Central’s girls and boys bowling teams are burning up the Public League again this year, anchored by the highest scorers in the city. Central’s girls went into their Wednesday match at Erie Lanes 19-1. The Lady Lancers bowled but they had to wait a day to find out if they were […]
Dr. Cato Laurencin to Receive U.S.’s Highest Technology Honor
By Yvonne Dennis (246) Dr. Cato Laurencin (235) has brought enough innovation to the field of joint repair and tissue regeneration that he is being honored by President Barack Obama on Friday with the nation’s highest award for technological achievement. But Dr. Laurencin may yet be on the cusp of his greatest scientific work—leading a […]
Get Your Personalized Baseball Gear
It’s almost baseball season. Why not rock a new hat, shorts or a T-shirt personalized with your name, player number or class number while supporting Central Lancers? Email baseball coach Rich Weiss at rweiss@philasd.org Thanks on behalf of the team.
Alumni Volunteers Wanted for History Day at Central
Central is seeking 15-20 alums with a passion for history to serve as judges on National History Day, Thursday Jan. 21. National History Day consists of a contest to encourage students to develop a passion for history. Students use primary and secondary sources to create projects on specific topics of historical interest. These projects may include […]
Incoming Police Commissioner Richard Ross, 241, to Be Sworn in at Central
Richard Ross in his Central yearbook, left, and as he is about to be sworn in as Philadelphia’s top police official. By Yvonne Dennis (246) Richard Ross (241) is a proud product of Olney-area public schools, so when new Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney asked him if there was a special […]
