Written By: Holly Pulley, Staff Writer
HONOREES: Principal Hansen recognizes former Poly Students’ achievements.
On September 29, Poly High School held its Bears of Distinction ceremony, honoring seven former Poly High students who have made a great impact on the world, whether that be in the form of art, sports, science, civil rights, or amazing food. Oscar Medina, David R. Scott, Bobby Bonds, Holly Mitchell, Dr. Shawn Ginwright, Bobby Kim, and Alan Yang were each awarded their plaque on the Bears of Distinction wall, as well as serve to be “great examples of how incredible this school is,” said Principal Hansen.
Bobby Bonds, Poly class of 1964, was a baseball player best known for his record-breaking speed and strength. He is a part of the “30-30 club” which means he stole more than 30 bases and and more than 30 home runs five times in one season. He is the fifth person in baseball history to achieve that goal. Bonds and his son, Barry Bonds, are the only baseball players “who hit more than 300 home runs and stole more than 400 bases in a career,” according to Bobby Bonds’s plaque. Bonds spent his youth playing with his friends, caddying at golf courses, helping his father work, and collecting recyclable materials for extra cash. Even if baseball was an extracurricular activity at first for Bonds, his little league coach said “[the 12-year-old] averaged a homer a game for me. He was… more powerful than anyone.” Bonds played and excelled in baseball, football, and track at Poly High, and when he graduated in 64, he played in the minor leagues until he committed to play baseball for the San Francisco Giants in 1968. He has set several records for home runs, and batting averages, and in 1968, hit a grand slam, which is when a batter hits a home run with a player on first base, second base, and third base. He married Patricia Howard in 1963 and had three children, Bobby Jr., Rick, and Barry, all sons. Barry Bonds is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and Bobby Jr. played in the minor leagues for eleven years. Bond’s plaque encapsulates his excellence.
William “Oscar” Medina, class of 1942, is best known for his restaurant Zacatecas, and his activism. After graduating, he served in the army until he was honorably discharged in 1947. He then went on to work as an aircraft mechanic for Norton Air Force Base. He left this job in 1963 to open Zacatecas with his wife, Josefina Medina. When Jonathan, his grandson, spoke on behalf of his grandfather at the ceremony, he thanked his grandmother immensely for “keeping [Oscar] in check and never letting him give up on his dreams.” Medina also volunteered at the Community Settlement House in Riverside where he taught children in the neighborhood to stay smart and out of trouble. Medina “used his voice to bring attention to problems facing Riverside’s Eastside,” his plaque describes. He advocated for Mexican-American rights and helped John Soleto (also on the Bears of Distinction wall) become the first Mexican-American man to gain a Riverside Council seat in 1963. He retired from the restaurant business in the eighties but never stopped trying to reach out to his city. When he was younger, he played softball, boxed, and learned to golf at Victoria Club which he continued all the way to his fifties. His family’s participation in the celebration and their support for their grandfather’s remembrance only solidified the impact Oscar Medina had on his community.
David R. Scott, class of 46, was best known for his career as a pilot and astronaut. He flew to space three times, commanded Apollo 15 (the fourth moon landing), and was the seventh person to walk on the moon. Scott was born near San Antonio, Texas, and moved to Riverside when his father, a fighter pilot in the US Army Air Corps, was assigned to March Air Force base. When he came to Poy High School, he joined the swim team where he set several local and state records. Scott “wanted an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point but lacked connections to secure one,” according to his plaque. So, instead, he took a civil service exam and accepted a scholarship for swimming at the University of Michigan. There, he was an honors student in their engineering program. In 1950, he was finally given an invitation to West Point, where he also competed in swimming. Scott graduated in 1954 and still wanted to fly, so he aimed to be granted a position in the United States Air Force, also established in 1954. After graduation, Scott finished “5th in his class of 633 and was committed to the Air Force.” In 1963, Scott applied to join the third group of astronauts in 1963 as more of a side mission with his main job still aiming for a military position. When Scott was accepted, he stepped into the role naturally and was called back for a second mission as “backup commander for Apollo 12.” He also worked with Neil Armstrong on a different mission, where he sat in the control room and watched his friend land on the moon. His inspiring career will forever make an impact in the world of science, and the minds of Poly students.
Holly Mitchell, class of 82, is best known for her role in local government. She serves on the LA County Board of Supervisors and is “honored to represent the two million residents of Los Angeles County’s Second District,” according to her plaque. Mitchell has made poverty alleviation in LA a priority since her election and harbored a recovery plan for COVID-19 that not only saves the lives of LA citizens but also spends as little money as possible. Before her LA Board role, she also served in the California Legislature as a representative of the 54th Assembly District and 30 Senate District for ten years. She passed over 100 bills, including the CROWN Act, which bans discrimination against hair. California was the first state to pass this law. Mitchell also helped California build its financial reserve by $200 billion while serving as the first Black person on the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee. She has started and participated in many organizations targeting family poverty and child welfare. In 2020, Mitchell was recognized by Oprah Winfrey as a “2020 Visionary” in her magazine, O. “Poly High School will always hold a very special place in my heart,” she said. “It taught me love, leadership, and appreciation for the life I have.” Oprah Winfrey was certainly right to name Holly Mitchell a visionary for her fine work to better her community.
Bobby Kim, class of 97, is best known for his clothing brands “The Hundreds” and his best-selling books, “This is Not a Shirt” and “NFTS ARE A SCAM.” He was born in Baltimore Maryland and raised in Riverside, California. Kim has always been interested in art. As a kid, he “drew cartoons, wrote short stories, shot photography… and was interested in subculture and style,” his plaque highlights. After high school, he attended the University of California San Diego and studied theater, psychology, communications, and computing in the arts. Kim then went to study law at Loyola Law School, when his mentor, Abe, told him something that stuck with him forever: “You’re one of the best interns I’ve ever had, but don’t do this. You’re not passionate about it.” He advised him to do something he truly loved, and Bobby Kim did just that. He and a classmate, Ben Shenassafar, started their clothing brand, The Hundreds, in 2003. The brand “references their community, emphasizing the brand’s ethos of ‘People over Product.’” Kim wanted to bring many New York styles in the early 2000’s to LA while bringing in his connections to his home. He also produces the Family Style food festival in LA, an event that marries food and fashion. “Going to school here was really profound for me. My entire career is figuring out what young people are thinking, and I could not have done this without my experience here,” Bobby Kim commented.
Alan Yang, class of 98, is best known for his writing, directing, and producing. He went to Harvard University where he “graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biology,” his plaque states. He co-created, directed, and produced MASTER OF NONE, a Netflix original series, and received the Emmy for Best Writing in a Comedy Series for the episode “Parents.” MON has been nominated for 12 Emmy awards, and 3 Globes, and awarded the Peabody Award, 2 AFI awards, and a Critics Choice Award. Yang also co-created the series LOOT, streaming on Apple TV+. He also serves as an executive producer for the series LITTLE AMERICA no Apple TV. He also takes part in a show on Amazon Prime starring Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, and Catherine Keener called FOREVER, which received a nomination for the WGA Award. Yang also wrote, directed, and produced the Netflix movie, TIGERTAIL which is based on his father’s life in Taiwan. The movie was named in the “Best Films of 2020” list by Rolling Stone and Indiewire, according to his plaque. Yang also directed Jay-Z’s music video “Moonlight,” and played a big role in the production and direction of sitcoms “The Good Place” and “Parks and Recreation.” He also guest starred as Andy’s bassist in his band Mouse Rat. “One of the things that set me apart and got me to where I am, is my ability to talk to all different kinds of people. Poly taught me how to do that. This place taught me to communicate with people of different cultures, and backgrounds; it taught me to listen, and that’s very helpful to me in my job and the adult world.” Alan Yang is a creator and to writers at Poly, an example of the greatness they can achieve.
Dr. Shawn Ginwright, class of 85, is best known for his work on trauma, healing, and the “empowerment of African American youth,” his plaque says. His studies have earned titles such as innovator, provocateur, and thought leader in his field of education. Ginwright works at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he researches youth development. His establishment of “healing-center learning” completely revolutionized his field, “providing an asset-based approach to addressing youth trauma and fostering resilience.” He has been cited in the New York Times, and many organizations wish for him to speak on the topics of civil engagement and youth activism. Ginwright is also a nonprofit leader. He is the founder and CEO of Flourish Agenda, Inc., a firm that strives to “[unlock] the power of healing and [empower] youth of color.” In 2011, he was awarded the reputable Fulbright Senior Specialist Award from the US State Department. He is also a former chairman for the California Endowment, where he supervised a $5 billion donation dedicated to “improving the health of underserved communities,” his plaque shares. Dr. Ginwright has written multiple critically acclaimed books all related to child trauma in black youth and the process of healing. His studies help young people all around the world, and advocate for human beings that are not always given a chance to speak.
These plaques that honor our alumni who have contributed so much to our society and world are hanging on outside of the school office wall. As you stop by to see all the honoree’s just imagine that you too can hold a place on that wall. It is great to be a bear!!!!