Happy Birthday Southwestern!
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| House teams competing in the water balloon relay race. |
In April of 1924, Southwestern Academy was founded by Maurice Veronda. Veronda had come to the United States with his family from northwest Italy. This year, eighty-eight years later, his son Kenneth Veronda continues to direct the school in accordance to its original mission. "Our mission then
continues today, to prepare young people for not only college but also life
with motivating encouragement and close support. We can all be
proud of our many successes in doing such over the years," said Mr. Veronda regarding Southwestern's recent birthday.
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| The Kings (in blue) won this year's Anniversary Antics! |
Each year in celebration of the school's anniversary the various house teams, Deuces, Aces, Jokers and Kings, compete against each other in various Anniversary Antics. In addition to the games that are held a tree is planted in respect of all the trees cut down years ago in order to build the school. This year's trees, a Japanese cherry tree for the San Marino Campus, and several young magnolias planted along the stream at Beaver Creek, were graciously provided by Jim Folsom.
The day went on without a hitch with each team donning respective colors, the Jokers in yellow, the Deuces in blue, the Kings in red, and the Aces in green. At the end of the many competitions the Kings were named victors of this year's Anniversary Antics!
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| Every year, as part of the tradition, cake and ice cream is served! |
In an email sent out by Mr. Veronda, he concluded by saying, "Then we move into the 89th year, preparing to celebrate the Class of 2012 in less than two months, and rolling on with summer and fall schedules. But I hope each of us will pause a moment today to congratulate each of us for contributing to Southwestern's stability and service to the young people of America and the world."
For additional pictures of this year's Anniversary Antics, check us out on
