The Sequoia High School Alumni Association

The Sequoia High School Alumni Association was founded in 1985 with an eye to the upcoming celebration of Sequoia’s Centennial in 1995. Since then, the SHSAA has accomplished many special projects to support and enhance Sequoia High School. Please see SHSAA Projects.

Our Mission Statement is “To maintain positive and productive relationships among present and former students, faculty, and staff; To promote and support Sequoia’s traditions of excellence in education and community service.”

Please visit our website at www.sequoiaalumni.org for membership information, a history of SequoiaHigh School, the Sequoia High School Sports Hall of Fame, merchandise, and much much more.

You may contact us by mail at P.O. Box 2534, Redwood City, CA 94064, or by e-mail at shsaa@sequoiaalumni.org, or by phone at (650) 592-5822.

SHSAA Projects

CURRENT SHSAA PROJECTS

  • “Cherokee Grants” Program - The annual "Cherokee Grants" program, so named in honor of Cherokee scholar and educator, Sequoyah, for which the Sequoia tree is named, is set up to fund instructional services and/or the purchase of instructional equipment and materials that are not included in the current school budget.
  • "Spirit of the Seal" Scholarship Program - One or more scholarships are donated each year to a graduating senior.
  • Native American Book Collection - The Alumni-sponsored Native American section at the Sequoia library continues to grow. Many students and teachers are using this invaluable resource to enrich their educational experience at Sequoia. It is in Sequoyah's honor that the SHSAA sponsors the Native American studies section of the school's library.
  • Purple Patriot Awards - Recognition of individuals who have made significant contributions to Sequoia High School. Plaques are presented annually, and the names of honorees are engraved on a perpetual trophy housed in Sequoia's main hall, near the library.

MAJOR PROJECTS FUNDED BY SHSAA

  • Dedication of Argo Tower (1988), to recognize the influence of A.C. Argo, an early principal.
  • Dedication of the Sequoia Seal, (1990) in memory of its 1925 designer, faculty member Gladys Beeman Bruce.
  • El Camino Gate Restoration (1991): $15,000 donation
  • Tea Garden Restoration (1991 - 1995) $28,000 was expended for this project that was completed in advance of the Sequoia Centennial in 1995. In addition to the cash expenditure, Alumni Association volunteers put in over 1900 hours of volunteer labor. Combined cash and volunteer labor totaled about $37,000 for the project.
  • Listing Sequoia on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Celebration of the Sequoia Centennial (1995) and the Diamond Jubilee of the current campus (1999).
  • Carrington Hall Restoration (1995 - 2003): $57,500 donation
  • Development of orientation materials for incoming students and faculty on the history of Sequoia High School, the campus and the school's many traditions
  • Sequoia Veteran's Memorial (2005) - Contains the names of Sequoians who have died in service to our country. Total expenses to date are $56,000 out of $74,000 collected.
  • Recognition of Sequoia High School's athletic heritage (2004 - 2006): $26,000 plus considerable man-hours spent developing a seventeen foot lighted sign at Terremere Field ; a thirty-six foot linear display on the first floor, with signage "Sequoia Sports Hall of Fame"; large Gym Foyer remodel with the installation of the "Sequoia Cherokee Wall of Fame" show- casing Hall of Fame athletes and coaches, league and section championship teams and photographs of high profile Hall of Fame athletes.
  • Naming of the baseball field, "Bob Andersen Field", (2010) in honor of former student and long-time coach (1950 - 1980), Bob Andersen. A fund drive accompanying the naming of "Bob Andersen Field" grossed $32,240. Not included in this figure, but part of the fund drive effort, was a donation by the I. B E. W. (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 617 of a new baseball scoreboard denoting "Bob Andersen Field" valued at $8,000 for a combined gross total value of $40,240. Net proceeds in the amount of $25,600 were donated to Sequoia High School to establish a fund benefiting athletics by helping economically disadvantaged Sequoia athletes, providing uniforms and attendance at sports camps for years to come.
  • Inspiration Grove (2012), a stand of Redwoods landscaped with pavers outside the Business wing of Sequoia and in close proximity to the baseball field, "Bob Andersen Field", was initially created as a fund raising mechanism for the "Bob Andersen Field" fund with net proceeds now used for teachers' grants.
  • Sequoyah Statue (2015), a 3-foot bronze statue of the great Cherokee scholar, Sequoyah, which sits on a pedestal. Gifted sculptor, Daniel HorseChief, who designed and created a statue of Sequoyah for Northeastern State University in Tahlequah Oklahoma, was selected to do the work. The statue is located in the foyer of the main entrance. Creator of the Cherokee writing system known as a syllabary, Sequoyah reflects the great history of Sequoia High School, capturing the importance of education and global understanding. He is the perfect symbol of this institution, "Sequoia" being the Latin form of Sequoyah. Total expenses were $19,000.