fall 2010 inside: building on tradition - Junipero Serra High School

Building it BigBob Olson ’85 OverseesCenter for the Arts and SciencesAs the project managerfor Serra’s new Centerfor the Arts andSciences, Bob Olson’85 sees his alma mater from anentirely different perspective—literally and figurativelyspeaking. Whether he’s analyzingconstruction from a rooftop ormanaging a hard-working team onthe ground, Bob is excited aboutSerra’s contemporary vision.“It’s like coming home,” he said.“It’s an opportunity for me toreengage with people from the Serracommunity. It’s a high-energy joband I love it.”The lessons Bob learned at Serrawere invaluable. Many of thoselessons have stayed with him hisentire life—particularly how to create relationships builton trust.“I didn’t realize what an impact my time at Serra had on mylife until I was older,” Bob admitted. “I remember my friends,coaches, teachers and all of the positive experiences. At Serra,there is such a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood. Wedid not know it at the time, butwe learned a lot about <strong>building</strong>relationships. In the work world,we are often faced with ethicaldecisions. I always go back towhat I learned at Serra.”Bob played baseball all fouryears at Serra and at SantaClara University. He noted thatconstruction is similar to baseballin that people learn how tobecome a part of a team.“Baseball taught me how to trustand be trusted—the team as awhole is greater than the sum ofthe individuals,” Bob said. “Thesame is true of a constructionteam working on a project. Myjob as the project manager isto make sure that everyone onthe team—Serra, Nova, Ratcliff and Hathaway Dinwiddie—understands the goals of the project and pulls the oars in thesame direction with the same cadence.”According to Bob, the new Center for the Arts and Scienceswill create a learning environment that is in sync with Serra’svision for advances in technology, science, the performingarts and the Academic Resource Center. In addition, it willprovide students with a state-of-the-art aquatics complexwith a 38-meter by 25-yard pool.“To teach science, music and art in the 21st century, youneed a 21st century facility combined with a 21st centuryacademic program,” Bob noted. “The new facility willchange how Serra teachers are able to teach these subjects.Serra will be offering a modern curriculum in a modern<strong>building</strong>.“Serra is located between the cutting-edge biotechcompanies of San Francisco’s Mission Bay and South SanPhase II Capital Campaign GiftsCenter for the Arts and Sciences and Aquatics FacilityMr. Brandon C. ArnoldMr. and Mrs. Stephen BarulichDr. and Mrs. Norbert W. BischofbergerMr. and Mrs. Mario BuljanMr. and Mrs. Walter H. ChangMr. and Mrs. Michael S. CoughlinMr. and Mrs. Kevin E. DunleavyMr. and Mrs. John EaglesMr. and Mrs. Kevin D. FlynnMr. and Mrs. James P. FoxMrs. Pam FrisellaRev. David A. GhiorsoMr. and Mrs. Robert T. HaslamMr. and Mrs. Richard J. JusticeMr. Kevin Kelly and Ms. Erin JaebMr. and Mrs. Martin LeahyMr. and Mrs. Ronald S. LonginottiMr. and Mrs. Lawrence LumpkinsMr. Thomas C. MohrMr. and Mrs. Richard MooreMr. and Mrs. Carl J. MoroneyMr. and Mrs. Brian T. MortonFrancisco and the technology giants of Silicon Valley,” headded. “It’s imperative that our campus curriculum andfacilities reflect that. Our students are in the epicenterof change. We are on task and on time—and very muchlooking forward to opening the doors of the new <strong>building</strong>in August of 2011.”Bob is a vice president at Nova Partners Inc., a constructionproject management firm located in Palo Alto. He and hiswife, Ann, live in San Mateo with their three children—Cailyn, Meghan and Jack.Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. OlsonMr. and Dr. Steve OlujicMr. and Mrs. David J. PhilpottMr. and Mrs. Stephen RutledgeMr. and Mrs. James TerranovaMr. and Mrs. Michael J. TurzanskiMr. and Mrs. Sean WardMr. Sean T. Ward, IIMr. and Mrs. David R. WhitneyEmerald Packaging Incorporated38 ANNUAL REPORT 2009-<strong>2010</strong>ANNUAL REPORT 39