Lincoln High asks to name auditorium after Sorensen
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BY MARAGRET REIST / Lincoln Journal Star
Lincoln High officials want to honor one of the high school’s most famous graduates: Ted Sorensen, an advisor and speech writer to President John F. Kennedy.
On Tuesday, Principal Mike Wortman asked the Lincoln Board of Education to suspend its policy for approving names of school facilities, thereby letting the school name its soon-to-be-renovated auditorium after Sorensen without having to convene an ad hoc committee.
Sorensen is a 1945 graduate of Lincoln High who participated in debate as a high school student, was a frequent actor on the high school stage, won writing awards and played in the marching band.
In a recently released memoir, Sorensen credits his LPS education for providing a basis for his distinguished career.
Board member Ed Zimmer said Sorensen specifically mentioned his debate coach and how he drew on what he learned at Lincoln High when he advised Kennedy and wrote for him.
“We just think he’s a pretty outstanding alum of Lincoln High,” Wortman said before the board meeting.
The idea came from theater teacher Patsy Koch-Johns, who has taught her speech students about Sorensen for years, discussing the different rhetorical devices he used.
“I grew up during the Kennedy era,” she said. “He was a hero to me.”
Recently, she started communicating with Sorensen by e-mail and has invited him to speak to her class in November.
The upcoming renovation of the auditorium offered the perfect opportunity to honor him, Wortman said.
“It just kind of fit,” he said.
The board will vote on whether to suspend the policy at its Nov. 11 meeting.
Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.
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Class of 75 wrote on October 15, 2008 8:55 am:
Class of 2003 wrote on October 15, 2008 10:07 am:
GO LINKS! "
Class of 75 wrote on October 15, 2008 11:59 am:
How about naming the cafeteria after Mrs. Jensen. She is a legend that managed the snack bar back in the 50s-80s? We need a alumni steering commitee to straighten The High out. "