‘Blown Away’ by UCHS grad 

University City High School graduate Annette Sheppard is one of 10 contestants on the newly released Netflix reality series, “Blown Away.” The series features professional glass artists producing original works of art, one to be selected as “Best of Blow” in each episode, with one artist being eliminated from the competition in each episode.

Filming took place in Toronto in October-November of last year in a warehouse converted into a “hot shop” featuring 10 furnaces. This made for less than ideal conditions at times as temperatures climbed to as high as 130 degrees. Judging was performed by well-known artist and professor at CSU, San Bernardino, Katherine Gray, and a variety of guest judges. Grand prize package included an “Artist in Residency” stint at the famous Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.

Annette graduated from UCHS in 1998. She was a three-sport varsity athlete and continued her educational and athletic career at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where she was the four-year starting catcher on the varsity softball team, making two appearances in the NCAA softball regionals as Ivy League champs in 1999 and 2001. Annette graduated with a bachelor’s degree in design and environmental analysis in 2003.

During her final year, on an architecture class field trip to the Corning Museum of Glass, she became fascinated with the medium and began taking classes and acquiring internships and scholarships at Corning, the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, and the Pilchuck glass school in Washington. In 2008, she began working full-time at Corning in the traveling Hot Glass show, spending time at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and the Norton Museum of Art in Palm Beach.

She spent the last six years of her career at Corning as the team leader of the Hot Glass program on Celebrity Cruises, during which she traveled to over 60 countries. Congrats, Annette!

UCHS needs volunteers 

A little less than two years ago, after the Parkland, Florida school shooting, University City High School Principal Jeff Olivero sent out a request to the UC community to help create an on-campus Neighborhood Watch program. With this call out, four amazing retired seniors in the area agreed to join the high school and become senior “ambassadors” to the school.

Not only did the UC seniors provide an extra pair of eyes on campus, they also immersed themselves into the fabric of the school. They visited classes, talked to students and staff, and helped around campus when needed. UCHS wants to again extend this opportunity to the UC community by asking seniors to consider joining the UCHS team.

If you are a senior with two-three hours of free time a week to join UCHS as a senior Centurion, please email Principal Jeff Olivero at [email protected] or drop by UCHS, 6949 Genesee Ave. Senior Centurions will enjoy this relationship with their local high school as there is nothing better than to be around an energetic and vibrant school community.

Summer fun continues at Standley Park 

Summer Movies in the Park continues with “Ralph Wrecks the Internet” on Saturday, Sept. 7, starting at dusk. The free movie is a chance for the whole family to relax and enjoy a safe and special night under the stars. For a schedule of all remaining Summer Movies in the Park scheduled throughout San Diego, visit summermoviesinthepark.com.

The final Summer Concert at Standley Park is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 25 from 5-7 p.m. The band Forecast will play a wide variety of jazz styles, from funk to swing to bossa. Don’t forget to bring your dancing shoes. This will also be the special occasion where the University City Community Association will honor the many volunteers that help make University City more than just a neighborhood!

For both free events, bring a blanket, chairs, and a picnic snack and drinks. Come early to enjoy the park and get a good seat. Standley Park is located at 3585 Governor Drive.

Night walks in Rose Canyon

In the still of the night, there’s a whole world of critters that comes alive. Take a walk during one of the upcoming Friends of Rose Canyon’s free nighttime events and you can experience the animal night life. 

Evening Nature Exploration Walk — Saturday, Aug. 24, 6:30-8 p.m. Meet at Regents/Lahitte Court (two blocks north of Governor Drive). Kids will especially enjoy finding birds, rabbits coming out to eat, animal tracks and beautiful night-blooming flowers as they open. During the easy walk, you can enjoy the sunset, feel the cool evening air, and experience the canyon as it transitions from day to night. It’s a peaceful and magical time of day.

Discover Insects at Night — Saturday, Aug. 31, 8-9:30 p.m. at UC Village Park (corner of Florey Street and Cather Avenue) Jim Berrian, field entomologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum, will set up blacklights to attract insects such as moths and beetles. Participants will catch them, identify them, and then let them go. UC Village Park is on the rim of Rose Canyon adjacent to native habitat where many nocturnal insects live. 

For both events, you may leave at any time and there are no bathrooms at either site. For more info, contact Debby Knight, Friends of Rose Canyon, 858-597-0220, [email protected].