March 1, 2007

SCHOOL SCENEin Almaden Valley

Fifth grader’s letter brings professional wrestlers to school

World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars make appearance at Pine Hill School

By Eric Zimmerling
Staff Writer

Kenny Jacques, a fifth-grade student at Pine Hill School brought a couple extra friends to school on Feb. 27 — World Wrestling Entertainment superstars “Hacksaw” Jim Duggen and the legendary Ron “Farooq” Simmons.
Nearly four weeks ago Kenny wrote a letter, with the help of his Parents Nancy and Larry to the WWE asking if some wrestlers could visit Pine Hill School, and that wish was granted.

Fifth-grade student Kenny Jacques of Pine High School wrote a letter to World Wrestling Entertainment superstars asking them to visit his school and on Feb. 27th Kenny got to be Big Man on Campus when the superstars actually showed up. Here he poses for a picture with the legendary World Wrestling Entertainment superstar “Hacksaw” Jim Duggen on Feb. 27.

The gaudy men were greeted with cheers as they sauntered into the cafeteria at Pine Hill School full of nearly 80 smiling students and faculty.

Second Start-Pine Hill School is a nonprofit organization, which has provided specialized academic and vocational training and related services for the past 32 years. The K-12 school offers therapeutic services to disadvantaged, at risk children and adults who are challenged by learning and social / emotional differences. Many of the students are diagnosed with high-functioning autism, pervasive developmental disorder or Asperger’s Syndrome.

Many of the students struggled in district-provided classrooms that didn't meet their needs, but at Pine Hill, they are thriving, happy to come to school, and they are receiving an education and developing life skills that provide hope and promise toward a future of independent living. According to Nancy Jacques, Kenny calls Pine Hill "Heaven's Playground", a stark contrast to the "torture facility" he called his other schools.

Jacques said that having the wrestlers come to Pine Hill was a great experience for the kids.

“A lot of these kids can’t participate in sports,” said Jacques. “A lot of these kids live vicariously through sports. They are attracted to these athletes – to these wrestlers. They know all about their matches and the details of their careers. It is great to have them here because this school is very small and we need to get the word out that a school like this exists and the programs offered need visibility.”

“Hacksaw” Jim Duggen, who had his first professional wrestling match in 1979, riled up the kids with his trademark “Hoooo” chant as he entered the building, a grunt students screamed along with the legendary wrestler.

For the next hour, Simmons, who has been wrestling professionally since 1986 and Duggen answered all types of questions from the giddy group of students.

“What was your favorite match,” one student asked. “How do I get my sisters off me when they team up against me,” yelled another student. One student even sprinted around a table to show his quickness to the on-looking wrestlers.

Greg Zieman, principal at Pine Hill School said having an opportunity to bring in role models like these for the kids is something they’ll remember for a very long time.

World Wrestling Entertainment superstars “Hacksaw” Jim Duggen (left) and Ron Simmons (second from left) speak with students at Pine Hill School on Feb 27.

“We are so fortunate that we have involved parents at this school,” Zieman said. “We try and have a family environment here at this school and it opens up opportunities like this for students. A lot of these kids don’t have access to assemblies and that type of event. When role models come into the school and talk with these kids it gives them encouragement for the future – it helps build their confidence and social skills because they feel comfortable. I’m very happy they got to talk with these professional wrestlers.”

After answering questions and talking with the students about the importance of school, the legends signed autographs and took photos with everybody in attendance.

Kenny Jacques said he was happy that his letter got the wrestlers to come to his school and that seeing the men was fun and exciting, but admits that wrestling may not be in his future for a career path.

“I liked them a lot,” Jacques said. “Hacksaw Jim Duggen won the first ever Royal Rumble match and he wrestled at Wrestle Mania also. But I don’t know if I’m big enough to wrestle when I get older – I might just do something with math or create video games.”

For more information about Pine Hill School, located at 1325 Bouret Drive in San Jose call (408) 979-8210 or visit www.secondstart.org.

Almaden's Kurt Carrasquilla earns teaching award

Longtime Almaden Valley resident Kurt Carrasquilla was presented with the inaugural Tim Kochis Award for Teaching Excellence for his exceptional efforts at the University of California, Berkeley. Carrasquilla has taught the Investments course in the highly regarded Personal Financial Planning Program since 1998. His full time job is as vice president of Wealth Management for Smith Barney in downtown San Jose; however, on Thursday evenings he can be found lecturing in the classroom. Teaching is something Carrasquilla had wanted to pursue long before the university recruited him.

What Carrasquilla enjoys most about teaching is the opportunity to give back. "There were so many college classes at the undergraduate and graduate level that really helped me professionally. Everyone remembers those professors who impacted their career." For Carrasquilla that moment came in 1993 when one of his MBA professors put his reputation on the line for him. "I am eternally grateful to Dr. David Palmer for recommending me to my current business partner, Jordan Walters. I have worked with Jordan for the past 13 years and would not have had that incredible opportunity if it were not for Dr. Palmer." Carrasquilla likes making key introductions for his students such as the one he received. "Sometimes all it takes is that one little break."

The Tim Kochis Award for Teaching Excellence is an honor bestowed upon the most outstanding faculty member in the Personal Financial Planning Program at the University of California, Berkeley. This is the highest award given to faculty in the program. .

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