WHAT'S NEW at West

West Teacher of the Year Richard Maynard (center), and West Alumnus of the Year, Don Clark (right).

Richard Maynard, West's director of choirs and department head of world languages, arts and music, was chosen Teacher of the Year this past May. An alumnus of Memorial High School in Manchester (along with class- mate- now West principal - Bob Baines), Richard has taught at West for 24 years. The award was presented at the Excellence Banquet held at The Courtyard, where Don Clark ('56) was recognized as Alumnus of the Year.
"I accepted this award on behalf of my colleagues for the work we all do every day to achieve a high standard of excellence," Richard says. "The reason I come to West every day is to work with kids who are just beginning to discover music and see how they grow - not just to work West Teacher of the Year, Richard Maynard with future stars like Pat Racette (see Diva Patricia Racette )."

No wonder Jack Amero was named National Coach of the Year in 1995 by the National Federation of High School Athletics in America. Under his aegis, the West girls soccer team has won 11 state championships in the last 15 years and finished second three times. Last fall the team was ranked 15th in the country in a USA Today poll.
Girls soccer is the leading sport at West for sending kids on to Division 1 schools. Emily Driscoll ('97) now plays for Holy Cross College and Angeline Alexakos ('97), who was High School All-American at West, plays for UNH. Both young women were among the top scorers as freshmen on their Division 1 teams.

In a ceremony last December, parts of the West campus were dedicated to past principals. Columnist and author John Clayton ('71) served as master of ceremonies.
The gymnasium was named in honor of Charles J. Quinn ('38), principal from 1972 - 80, assistant principal from 1968 - 72, teacher from 1947 - 68 and student from 1934 - 38. The original building was dedicated to John C. Mackin, the school's first principal (then called "headmaster") from 1920 to 1937. The 1967 addition was named for Kendrick C. Bean, principal from 1937 - 58 and mathematics teacher from 1922 - 37. The former industrial arts area was named for Andrew M. Boland, principal from 1958 - 72 and also a West alumnus ('28).

West Memorial Field is getting much bigger and much better, thanks to a gift from the federal government. Land previously occupied by the Naval Reserve Center was donated to the city of Manchester in 1996. Construction is now underway for six tennis courts, a regulation-size track, a football stadium, and 100 parking spaces for faculty and staff. By 2001 West hopes to play all home football games in its new digs.

B A C K | Manchester High School West