Written By: Isaac Julian, Staff Editor
TRIBUTE: Six past Poly students were added to the Bears of Distinction and were commemorated in the fourth annual ceremony.
The Bears of Distinction is a prestigious wall of plaques that honor alumni who have left Poly to go on and accomplish extraordinary things. This year, six new plaques have been added to the wall. While it is quite impressive to be awarded a plaque, “it’s not about the plaques, it’s about the story written on them,” according to Principal Darel Hansen. Beyond the awards are individuals with rich stories to tell. To understand the significance of this ceremony, let us delve into the lives of each new Bear of Distinction.
The first plaque revealed was that of Mike Churchill, a former teacher and head football coach at Poly. After receiving a master’s degree he went on to coach at the university level, became the head coach at Riverside Community College, and later transitioning to the high school level at Poly, Laguna Beach, Redlands, La Sierra, and others. Churchill’s time coaching football spanned forty-eight years, showing a truly remarkable dedication to the sport. Every season Coach Churchill was head coach at Poly was a memorable one, as he often led dominant teams to CIF Championships. Even beyond the victories he secured for this school, Coach Churchill’s greatest achievement has the impression he has made on his athletes. Whether they went on to become successful players in college or switch paths to another career entirely, his former players have all noted his positive impact on them far into life. Sports are a key component of Poly culture, and people like Mike Churchill are those who make this school so special.
One of Churchill’s star players, Bruce Campbell, is now a successful corporate manager. He was an athletic powerhouse in his time at Poly, serving as the co-captain of both the varsity baseball and varsity football teams. Campbell was a successful student in all facets, becoming one of the Valedictorians of the Class of 1986. After his graduation, he went on to get a degree at Princeton University, also playing football for all four years while in attendance. He continued his higher education at Harvard Law School, eventually becoming a lawyer in Los Angeles. He quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder, and in the next few decades found himself working as the Executive VP of NBC and later the Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer at Warner Bros. Discovery. He continues to work with massive companies helping with their financial negotiations. Now living in New York with his wife and family, Bruce Campbell has certainly made a name for himself in the business world.
The sports department of Poly High School would be nowhere near the level it is today without Gary Rawlings. Raised in Riverside, Rawlings graduated from Poly in 1946, promptly getting a degree in business and enlisting in the US Navy. After completing his time there, he returned to Riverside to begin a business in painting and drywall, which he eventually sold once it grew to become a nationwide venture. When it came to local sports, Rawlings was an avid supporter throughout his life. Granted the name “Papa Bear” after the Poly mascot, he was the reason the Athletic Booster Club exists at this school. In the entire city, this man constantly gave his support simply due to his love for the game. Gary Rawlings’ contributions to the athletics of Riverside as a whole will never be forgotten.
Diana Albarrán Chicas is being recognized for her exciting breakthroughs in space research. She was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States when she was just six years old. She grew up growing crops to make a living and had to grow up fast to help her family. She graduated from Poly after taking several advanced classes and decided to go into the engineering field. Diana took advantage of the many California outreach programs and went on to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She noted the difficulty of explaining these opportunities to her parents, but they ultimately supported her endeavors. Now Diana is the Power Propulsion Element Deputy Program Manager at Maxar Space, working on the engineering side of space travel. She is elated that she gets to help humans on the path towards space exploration.
Cheryl Murphy excelled in and out of her high school years in vastly different ways. Murphy attended Poly as a member of the Class of 1980 and shared the campus with all three of her sisters at one point. She was an impressive three-sport varsity athlete in basketball, softball, and track. She was the captain of the basketball team as a senior and continued into her time at San Diego State University and CSU Sacramento. Past her athletic career, however, Murphy had her sights set on becoming a lawyer. She has practiced family law for twenty-eight years, and most recently became a judge in the field. She now serves as a judge in the Riverside County Superior Court, and could not be more proud of the work she has done for her community.
Last but certainly not least are Bob and Gwen Ritzau, Poly students who went on to give back to the community as teachers. The couple were born and raised in Riverside, where they met and graduated from Poly. They attended the same colleges for their bachelor’s and master’s degrees, then both got their teaching credentials. After all those years, they went on to teach at Poly High School. Bob became a math teacher and began to coach varsity basketball. His team included the one and only Reggie Miller, as well as many other amazing players. Bob later switched to the role of athletic director, to which he gained dozens of CIF titles. Gwen taught physical education at Poly, and in her time became both the swim coach and the girls’ golf coach. Both of the Ritzaus made it full circle by coming back to Poly High School, where it all started.
Every person who we have honored this year has done incredible things with their lives past high school. Dr. Hansen urges us Poly students to keep in mind “what story [we] will write when [we] leave this campus.” With the right skills, anyone here on campus can earn their place as a Bear of Distinction.