News

Willowbrook High School celebrates 50 years

Posted October 08, 2009 11:00 pm

By Elisabeth Mistretta

The class of 2006 graduates from Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. Administrators say every class has a responsibility to continue building the school's reputation. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer, 2006

In Donna Cain's family of seven siblings, there is a running joke that at least one brother or sister attended Willowbrook High School in Villa Park for almost 20 years starting in 1969.

"We cover the gamut," Cain said.

Well, almost.

This week the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary. To mark the milestone, the Willowbrook community has organized a slew of anniversary activities to coincide with homecoming week, most which are free.

Like Cain, who lives nearby in Lombard and serves on the DuPage High School District 88 school board, many former grads are still connected to Willowbrook, school officials said.

"So many of our alums are still in the community," said Gina Mucha, District 88 spokeswoman. "They've really supported us through Building the Future (a $104 million district renovation project) and we want to thank them."

Today, alumni and community members are invited to join students in celebrating the school's five decades during its Spirit Day pep assembly and two soccer games. On Saturday, alumni will be honored during a reception, a concert and pancake breakfast. The breakfast is the only weekend event with a fee, which will benefit the Willowbrook Parent Organization Scholarship Fund.

Saturday also will include the school's homecoming varsity football game and homecoming dance, which both happened on the exact same date 50 years ago.

The special homecoming events are a way to connect the past with the present, said Willowbrook Activities Director Cristy Hebreard.

"We wanted to try to have events where alumni were honored, where they had a place to share their memories either with each other or former teachers, and where they show their kids where they went to school," Hebreard said.

But 50th anniversary events won't end with homecoming. Willowbrook Principal Dan Krause said this week is just a kick off, and the school year will include future events such as Willowbrook's first athletic hall of fame induction and the creation of a distinguished alumni program.

"We want to continue to recognize this both internally and with community events," Krause said. "Once you're a Willowbrook Warrior, you're always a Warrior. It's our focus for our current students to understand the importance of having a school that has existed for 50 years and the success of the alums who have walked these hallways."

Indeed, Cain credits her success in life - and the success of her three children - to Willowbrook's influence. She graduated in 1981, her daughter graduated last year, her son is a current student and her youngest son will enter Willowbrook next year.

"I was actually really shy coming in and through my experiences at Willowbrook I was able to find out who I was," Cain said.

As a sophomore she joined the YMCA Youth in Government Program and by senior year, ran for a state office with the organization and won. Today, in addition to serving on the school board, she is a lawyer in Villa Park.

"Our program director even said, 'When I first met you I never thought you could do this,'" Cain said.

Now her daughter, Tess, is aiming to make Willowbrook proud as she studies chemical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terra Haute, Ind.

Krause said Donna and Tess Cain are just two examples of many successful alumni. And Willowbrook aims to continue the spirit of achievement with each graduating class.

"There's a passion for what's done here, a pride in terms of being a part of it," he said. "Each class has a responsibility to continue it."

The school also has a responsibility to students to remain viable for the next 50 years. That, Krause said, is why Building the Future renovations and upgrades are so important. The project has included electrical, plumbing and air conditioning improvements; upgrading the whole school to a wireless system; and, among other renovations, the district office will move to the former Addison Public Library building, allowing Willowbrook to reclaim the north administrative wing for student classrooms.

"Through Building the Future, Willowbrook was designed so that it would help carry us forward through the next 50 years," Krause said. "We know the needs of education are for us to be flexible, and this will allow us to do that.

For details on any anniversary events, call (630) 530-3981.

Willowbrook High School's 50th homecoming king and queen will be crowned this weekend as part of the school's 50th anniversary festivities. Here, 2005 queen and king, Rosie Piech and Alex Otake, show their crowns. Daily Herald file photo

Willowbrook High School being constructed in Villa Park. The school opened in 1959 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Courtesy of DuPage High School District 88

During a 2008 dress rehearsal of "The Nerd" at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Stephen Boyer portrays The Nerd and Tyler Baumann plays Willum. Tanit Jarusan | Staff Photographer, 2008

Anniversary party Today 1:30 to 3 p.m. Willowbrook Spirit Day pep assembly and king and queen coronation 4:30 p.m. Sophomore soccer game vs. Glenbard East 6:30 p.m. Varsity soccer game vs. Glenbard East Saturday 7 to 10 a.m. Willowbrook Parent Organization pancake breakfast. Tickets: $5 for adults, $3 for ages 4-12 and free for children 3 and younger; proceeds benefit the organization's Scholarship Fund 9 a.m. Homecoming parade steps off at Ardmore and Park avenues 11:30 a.m. Sophomore football game vs. Addison Trail Noon to 4 p.m. Alumni and retiree reception; Building the Future tours 1 p.m. Alumni and staff concert in the auditorium; pre-game presentation of alumni classes 1:30 p.m. Varsity football game vs. Addison Trail with free Community Day stadium admission 3:30 p.m. Alumni concert, "Strange Outlook" in the auditorium 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Homecoming dance Willowbrook timeline Sept. 10, 1959: First Issue of school newspaper, Skyline, published Oct. 9-10, 1959: First homecoming 1960: First graduating class, which had 364 students 1974: Major building improvements 1998: Building wired for districtwide technology April 17, 2007: Building the Future plan OK'd by voters, allowing district to borrow $104.7 million for major renovations to Willowbrook and Addison Trail high schools June 1, 2008: Building the Future groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 9-10, 2009: 50th anniversary homecoming celebration Fall 2010: Building the Future renovation and construction estimated to be complete Warrior trivia • First students had strict dress code: no jeans, long hair or short skirts • First principal was William Herbster; current Principal Dan Krause is the seventh principal • Escalating enrollment in the late 1960s resulted in students attending school in multiple shifts • Most notable landmark on campus: "The Rock," a place to meet, wait for your ride and express yourself

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