A room in the new naming rights has been dedicated in the name of former longtime Arcadia High School principal Dr. Richard Cordano.
Former and current AHS principals Dr. Joel Shawn (l) and Dr. Richard Cordano flank the new plaque behind them.
Almost 75 family, friends and supporters came together to celebrate the dedication of the “Cordano Room” at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center on Sunday, June 30, honoring AHS’s beloved principal from 1963 to 1985. The dedication included a beautiful bronze plaque featuring a photo of Dr. Cordano.
This honor was made possible by donations from more than 89 individuals, many retired AUSD employees who donated from $10 to $1,000 each. Past AHS Teacher, Jean Voznick and her committee hand-wrote notes to hundreds of AHS teachers who served under Dr. Cordano to ask for their support. The resounding response inspired the Arcadia Performing Arts Center to organize a reception to dedicate the newly-named room.
The festive celebration featured a slide show of Dr. Cordano’s years as the AHS Principal with entertaining speeches by Voznick as well as Gary Kovacic, President of Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation and Arcadia City Council Member; Dr. Joel Shawn, Superintendent of the Arcadia Unified School District; current AHS Principal Dr. Brent Foresee; and amusing anecdotes by Dr. Cordano from his years as Principal of AHS.
In attendance were such dignitaries as Michael Driebe, President of the Arcadia Methodist Hospital Foundation, City Council Member Bob Harbicht, Arcadia Performing Arts Center Foundation Board Member David Lee, and former Arcadia Mayor Mary Young.
City Council Members Gary Kovacic (l) and Bob Harbicht (r)
Sue Cook, Executive Director of the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, emceed the event and led an informative tour of the facility, pointing out the Naming Opportunities currently available for those who are interested in supporting the arts in education and the community. The goal of the Foundation is to create an endowment that will enrich the arts programs in the schools and community and maintain the Performing Arts Center as a nucleus for the arts, education and engagement for years to come. The naming opportunities are a wonderful vehicle to achieving that goal.
Former Arcadia Mayor Mary Young and former AHS teacher Jean Voznick.
The dedication of the Cordano Room is a perfect example of how these naming opportunities can both create a legacy and support the arts in the Arcadia schools and community. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate all that Dr. Richard Cordano did for Arcadia High School in his 23 years as Principal.