Chino's Don Lugo alumni, students dig in for new stadium
With golden shovels in hand, the Don Lugo High School community dug into the Earth to celebrate the culmination more than 30 years of hope.
More than a hundred current students and alumni joined faculty for a groundbreaking and fundraiser to celebrate the beginning of construction for the school's new football stadium in Chino.
They gathered near the site where bulldozers have been clearing what was once the school's old football field and track.
Commemorative shovels, painted gold, were handed out to 132 alumni at $50 a shovel for fundraising efforts. Proceeds go toward stadium enhancements like track hurdles and the stadium's anticipated scoreboard.
In addition to the $6.75 million to build the stadium, Don Lugo is also looking for at least $150,000 in donations to help with athletic supplies and enhancements for the stadium.
Alumni gathered in a circle and began digging in the spot, near the old track and field where the stadium's parking lot will go.
The approval of a new football stadium gives Don Lugo something it's never had in its 37 years of existence.
"It was just time for this and I think the entire community has sympathized with Don Lugo," said Brandon Blanchard, a Don Lugo parent and school booster. "Everything flowed together."
When stadium construction is anticipated to be complete in March 2010, Don Lugo athletes and musicians will get to play in a 4,000-seat stadium with artificial turf, a synthetic track, elevated-field lighting, a public-announcement system, a press box, concession stands, a ticket office, and an electronic scoreboard.
Kimberlee Gariador is a 2003 Don Lugo graduate and now works as assistant soccer coach for the school.
"It's fantastic," she said. "We'll finally get more recognition here."
Don Lugo freshman Alex Orozco was also at the event.
"I like it so I can graduate here instead of going to Chino High School," Orozco said.
The funding for the construction comes from Measure M, a $150 million bond approved by voters in March 2002 for school improvement and upgrades throughout the state.
Don Lugo, which was built in 1972, is the only high school in the district without a stadium. The school's athletes have had to play home games at rival Chino High School.
"I think the stadium brings the students a certain sense of equality," said Ron Rios, president of the Don Lugo All-Sports Boosters fundraising organization. "The analogy I like to use is it's like being the second born child and the younger siblings are able to get a car before you did. It's a simple analogy but it pulls the point."
Once called a "forgotten school" in the past, the green light on the stadium is icing on a cake which has seen the school transform into a state-of-the-art campus with new buildings and a swimming pool thanks to recent school modernization efforts.
Don Lugo officials say they hope the new stadium will strengthen campus identity and support efforts.
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 483-9356
More than a hundred current students and alumni joined faculty for a groundbreaking and fundraiser to celebrate the beginning of construction for the school's new football stadium in Chino.
They gathered near the site where bulldozers have been clearing what was once the school's old football field and track.
Commemorative shovels, painted gold, were handed out to 132 alumni at $50 a shovel for fundraising efforts. Proceeds go toward stadium enhancements like track hurdles and the stadium's anticipated scoreboard.
In addition to the $6.75 million to build the stadium, Don Lugo is also looking for at least $150,000 in donations to help with athletic supplies and enhancements for the stadium.
Alumni gathered in a circle and began digging in the spot, near the old track and field where the stadium's parking lot will go.
The approval of a new football stadium gives Don Lugo something it's never had in its 37 years of existence.
"It was just time for this and I think the entire community has sympathized with Don Lugo," said Brandon Blanchard, a Don Lugo parent and school booster. "Everything flowed together."
When stadium construction is anticipated to be complete in March 2010, Don Lugo athletes and musicians will get to play in a 4,000-seat stadium with artificial turf, a synthetic track, elevated-field lighting, a public-announcement system, a press box, concession stands, a ticket office, and an electronic scoreboard.
Kimberlee Gariador is a 2003 Don Lugo graduate and now works as assistant soccer coach for the school.
"It's fantastic," she said. "We'll finally get more recognition here."
Don Lugo freshman Alex Orozco was also at the event.
"I like it so I can graduate here instead of going to Chino High School," Orozco said.
The funding for the construction comes from Measure M, a $150 million bond approved by voters in March 2002 for school improvement and upgrades throughout the state.
Don Lugo, which was built in 1972, is the only high school in the district without a stadium. The school's athletes have had to play home games at rival Chino High School.
"I think the stadium brings the students a certain sense of equality," said Ron Rios, president of the Don Lugo All-Sports Boosters fundraising organization. "The analogy I like to use is it's like being the second born child and the younger siblings are able to get a car before you did. It's a simple analogy but it pulls the point."
Once called a "forgotten school" in the past, the green light on the stadium is icing on a cake which has seen the school transform into a state-of-the-art campus with new buildings and a swimming pool thanks to recent school modernization efforts.
Don Lugo officials say they hope the new stadium will strengthen campus identity and support efforts.
neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com
(909) 483-9356
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