Daily Sun News
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Last Friday Sunnyside High School honored three of its alum who began lives of success as graduates of SHS.
The three were afforded Wall of Fame honors.
One of the three, Jim Cornelison, was unable to attend the event because he was set to perform before the Chicago Blackhawks National Hockey League playoff match this past Saturday.
Cornelison lives in Chicago, Ill. and is a professional opera singer. He is also a real estate agent.
Cornelison is noted for singing the National Anthem at the Blackhawks' matches.
This year, the hockey team is in a fight for the Stanley Cup. They are in a playoff battle against the defending NHL champions, the Los Angeles Kings, and Cornelison could not attend last Friday's Wall of Fame dinner.
The Blackhawks hosted and won the fifth game of the Western Conference finals against the Kings this past Saturday. Cornelison opened the game with his tenor sounds, belting out the song that brings so much national pride to Americans.
Cornelison has also performed for the Chicago Bears during a National Football Conference Championship game and has performed with numerous opera companies since leaving Sunnyside.
He attended Yakima Valley Community College and earned a Master's in music at Indiana University. He graduated from SHS in 1982.
His niece, Carly Arroyo, shared a message from Cornelison at last Friday's Wall of Fame induction, "I regret that I cannot attend, but it is an honor to be inducted to the Wall of Fame...go Blackhawks."
Karst Brandsma graduated with the SHS class of 1972 and dedicated his life to the education of others.
He is a retired superintendent, now living in Everett.
"I was always told it's not how much you know, it's how much you care," Brandsma said last Friday.
He said he, too, was honored to be named to the Wall of Fame "...with so many famous and honorable graduates."
While at SHS, Brandsma was a highly honored athlete. He received several football awards and was named Outstanding Senior of the Year by the Sunnyside Rotary Club.
He left Sunnyside to attend Eastern Washington University. In 1975, Brandsma was the team captain for the Eagles football team and was named the all-conference quarterback the year prior.
Brandsma earned his Bachelor's degree in education, graduating from EWU in 1976.
He began his career as an educator in the Tumwater School District the next year. He also served as a coach. During Brandsma's tenure in Tumwater, he earned a Master's degree in education from EWU.
Brandsma managed 28 WIAA high school State championship events from 1978 to 1995 and was presented the WIAA West Central District 3 Meritorious Service Award in 1996.
From 1981 to 1989, Brandsma was the activities and athletic director in the Peninsula School District. He was also a teacher and coach.
He wasn't finished learning, however. In 1985, Brandsma earned his administrative and principal's credentials from Central Washington University.
That year, he was the recipient of the Ellen Fay Award for Educational Excellence presented by the Peninsula School District.
During his years in the school district, Brandsma was three times named football coach of the year for the Pierce County League.
In 1989, he began his years in administration. He was director of athletics in the Tacoma School District, director of secondary education and technology in the Tumwater School District, deputy superintendent in the Everett Public Schools and retired as superintendent of the Everett Public Schools in 2009.
The following year, Brandsma was inducted into the Washington Secondary School Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame.
He has since retiring served as acting deputy superintendent in the Bellingham School District and interim superintendent in the Mount Baker School District.
Linda Roberts is an advocate for migrant youth, currently serving as the director of the secondary education for migrant youth program.
At Friday's Wall of Fame induction, she said, "Sunnyside has provided me with a great number of opportunities."
Roberts said she is proud to be one of many members in her family to have graduated from SHS.
The 1971 graduate of SHS began working to support migrant students immediately after leaving high school.
She serves on the National Portable Assisted Study Sequence coordinating council and is focused on providing migrant students with educational opportunities.
Roberts has been the recipient of several awards, including the Washington State Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Award for Excellence and the state Golden Apple Award.
Washington State Director of Migrant Education Raul de la Rosa said, "Her love of the program and her willingness to work endless hours were exceptional qualities behind my decision to grant her, and those who assisted her, the funds to create the Secondary Education for Migrant Youth (SEMY) program."
Roberts still lives and works in Sunnyside.
The Sunnyside School District received numerous letters and nomination forms endorsing Roberts' work and dedication to the education of migrant students
