Napa High Alumni Association

Legacy of Preservation, Scholarships, and Community Investment

What began in the early 1990s as a small group of Napa High School graduates trying to save a piece of school history has grown into one of the region’s quiet but steady engines of community investment. Around 1991, several members of the Class of 1948 removed the original Indian emblem from the floor of the Napa High administration building after noticing it was being damaged by daily foot traffic. With the superintendent’s approval, they carefully lifted the emblem and stored it in alumnus Jim Ford’s garage—an act of preservation that would eventually inspire something larger.

By 1993, those same graduates formalized their efforts, drafting bylaws and establishing what is now the Napa High Alumni Association (NHAA). Their mission quickly expanded beyond safeguarding memorabilia. They wanted to support students directly, and the first scholarship program was born.

A Scholarship Program Rooted in Community Support

According to current NHAA President Marilyn Reid (Class of 1965), the scholarship program has always relied on donations from alumni and community members. Awards typically range from $1,000 to $1,200, though some students have received as much as $2,750 thanks to targeted gifts made through the Association.

Scholarships are awarded based on three criteria: 1. A minimum C grade point average, 2. Financial need, and 3. School or community involvement.

Each fall, Scholarship Coordinator Lee Chapouris provides application access and information to interested seniors. A ten‑member committee reviews submissions and selects recipients.

The program received a major boost in 2023 when the Class of 1955 donated $110,000, allowing the NHAA to establish an endowment to ensure long‑term sustainability. The organization doesn’t hold fundraisers. Since 2021 alone, the Association has awarded $31,000 to 30 students, funded entirely through donations and the annual alumni newsletter.

Donors who contribute $500 or more have their name—or the name of someone they wish to honor—added to a scholarship title and are invited to present the award at the ceremony.

Preserving Napa High’s Past: The History Room

Beyond scholarships, the NHAA has taken on another major project: the Napa High History Room. Committee member Sari Cabral describes it as a years‑long effort to gather, catalog, and display artifacts from more than a century of school history. The collection eventually found a permanent home in the NVUSD building on Jefferson Street, formerly part of the Napa High campus.

“Many Napa High students themselves contributed their time and talents to help with this project: says Sari. “It now exists as a wonderful tribute to Napa High, and by proxy, the greater Napa community.”

The History Room has become a resource for teachers, students, and alumni alike. Classes visit to learn about the school’s cultural heritage, and many reunion groups begin their celebrations with a nostalgic tour.

The “original Indian” now hangs in the Napa High History Room. Thanks to Jerry Harris, Napa High wood-working teacher, and his wood-working class, the Indian was rejuvenated and hung into place by District maintenance personnel.

Why Alumni Give Back

NHAA members describe their involvement as both personal and purposeful:

•  Gary Garaventa says, “To me, the most important item that the Napa High Alumni Association has to offer is education for students who want to pursue higher education or trade school through scholarships.”

•  Lavon Henry values the Association’s support for students facing financial hardship and its work restoring the History Room. Lavon says, “It has restored the Napa High History room into a lovely ‘peek’ into our high school’s past for students and alumni to enjoy for years to come.”

•  Marc Timmons sees his participation as a family legacy. “My grandmother and mother went to Napa High School,” says Marc. “My mother was part of the beginning of the Alumni Association. Being part of and carrying on the tradition of keeping our history alive is important to our ‘small town’ school.”

•  Tom Johnston joined after the retirement of the Indian mascot, wanting to help preserve school history and support future graduates. “It was my chance to help the Association create the Napa High History room,” Tom says. “In addition, I felt that the Association giving scholarships to future graduates would not only benefit the students but would also potentially benefit our community. Hopefully, these students will help carry on our mission.”

For Sari Cabral, the work is deeply rooted in family and tradition. A 1967 graduate, she is married to fellow 1967 alum Frank Cabral, is a retired Napa High teacher and the parent of two NHS alumni. She became involved during the transition to the new Grizzly mascot.

“I volunteered to join the committee formed to help choose a replacement mascot because I could not imagine Napa High going forth with no school mascot. As a committee, we facilitated the selection process, inviting input from the students and the Napa community at large. When the choice was narrowed down to several semi-finalists, the vote was put to the Napa High student body. The committee tallied the votes, and the Grizzly emerged overwhelmingly as the majority choice. After the school had its new mascot, I wanted to continue volunteering for Napa High and joined the NHAA, eventually becoming its secretary.”

She later joined the NHAA board and continues to champion both the scholarship program and the History Room.

She emphasizes how alumni return and benefit the community.

“Our daughter Manya Cabral Franco, a 1994 grad, has been a NVUSD PE teacher for the last 25+ years. She began her career at Napa High and after many years at the middle school level, returned to Napa High several years ago. Our son-in-law Nacho Franco, also a 1994 NHS grad, has been the head NHS wresting coach for almost three decades. Our family has a deep love for and commitment to Napa High.”

“What I’m most proud of,” she says, “is that the students always come first. Our main focus is scholarships. We have awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships through the years, through newsletter fundraising campaigns, by ‘passing the hat’ at class reunions, through legacy, memorial and honorary donations and from generous Napa citizens who share our commitment to help as many students as we can to further their education. We aim to promote the interest and welfare of Napa High and to provide an opportunity for alumni to contribute to it.”

Investing in Napa's Future

Marilyn Reid puts it simply: “All Napa High grads—and anyone in the community who values education—should donate. Many of the students we support return to Napa to work, raise families and strengthen the community. We’ve already invested in their education through our taxes. This is a way to continue that investment.”