"Thank you, voters, for the brand new school!" Three recent grads spoke at the Highline High School Opening Year Celebration & Ribbon Cutting on June 15.
Alumni, elected officials, community members and some incoming families who toured the new facility were awestruck and beamed their delight: "It's amazing!"
And it took three tries, but Tricia Anderson, class of 1977 and scholarship committee co-chair with the Highline High School Alumni Foundation chopped through the double purple and gold ribbon with giant scissors.
Alumni, elected officials, community members and some incoming families who toured the new facility were awestruck and beamed their delight: "It's amazing!"
Alumni from the class of 1948 up to as recent as this year's class of 2022 helped celebrate the end of the first year in the all-new school, constructed after voters approved the 2016 school bond.
Principal Architect Dan Miles of Bassetti Architects appeared a bit emotional upon leaving: "I've never heard students speak so passionately about a new school before."
Staff from Bassetti Architects, Skanska USA and Vanir turned out in force for the ceremony, which was postponed from the original date in October due to covid concerns, although self-guided tours were offered last fall.
Speakers included:
- Clint Sallee, Principal, Highline High School
- Scott Logan, Chief of Operations, Highline Public Schools
- Aaron Garcia Virgen, President, Highline School Board
- Sarah Moore, Council Member, City of Burien (and parent of HHS graduate Noah who served on the HHS design review committee)
- Kyla Blair, President, Yes for Highline (bond and levy campaign committee)
- John and Nanci (Yarno) Leonard, class of 1964 (staff speakers)
- Roxana Pardo Garcia, class of 2008 (alumni speaker)
- Dominique Taylor, Dado Cokic and Karis Gran, class of 2022 (student speaker & panelists)
The cheer squad performed, followed by a ribbon cutting.
Refreshments were provided by Vanir Construction Management and Ohrt Real Estate Group.
Online Memories, Photos and History Wall
- Leading up to the event, HHS alumni and community members shared stories, memories and connections. We compiled them in a fun list in HHS Stories & Memories from Alumni & Community.
- If you didn't make it to the event, you can watch the livestream video of the ceremony shared by B-town Blog, and you can go on a digital tour using our 360-degree HHS Virtual Tour page.
- More event photos can be viewed on our Facebook photo album.
- A digital, accessible version of the 18-panel HHS History Wall is online!
