By TR Robertson
Last Friday was known as Lancer Day at Carlsbad High School, otherwise known as Homecoming. The day was marked by a daytime outdoor assembly in the school’s quad area for the crowning of the 2024 Homecoming King and Queen and performances by the Lancer Dancers, Xcalibur dancers and members of the CHS Choral program. This year’s king and queen are Queen Lily Nolte and King Kai Jacobowitz. The traditional Homecoming Parade in downtown Carlsbad was held after the assembly led by Grand Marshal Mr. Peter Manzi.
One new feature recently added to the Homecoming football game, this year against Mission Hills, is the introduction of the newest selection to the Carlsbad High School Hall of Fame. The selected newest members to the CHS Hall of Fame are introduced to the Homecoming crowd prior to the start of the varsity football game. Inductees are selected for this honor based on their success in a distinguished career, an impact on the community or organizations they may be associated with and honors or recognition they may have received for accomplishments in their chosen field. Some of the categories CHS graduates can be selected for include Business, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Community Service, Medicine, Science, Technology, Engineering, Education, Humanitarian Services, and Public Service.
The 2024 recipients selected for the Carlsbad High School Hall of Fame are Danny Ashcraft – Class of 1969 – Business, Sue Averell – Class of 1976 – Fine Arts, Julie Moss – Class of 1976 – Public Service/Athletics, Thomas Rhee – Class of 1984 – Community Service, Dr. Brad Roy – Class of 1972 – Medicine, and Dr. Randi Rudolph – Class of 2009 – Performing Arts.
Danny Ashcraft – Class of 1969, started Western CNC Inc. at age 28 and owned the business for 40 years, currently employing 250 employees. He currently lives in Vista. In 2003, Ashcraft started a Premium fly-fishing brand, called Hatch Outdoors. This business features high end fly-fishing reels recognized worldwide. Fly fishing is one of his passions. Another passion was Off-road racing, winning the Baja 1000 in 1990.
Sue Averell – Class of 1976, attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where she began a career as an artist. Sue opened Gallery Sausalito in 2017 in the historic district of Sausalito, California. The gallery represents with work of 18 artists work in a variety of mediums, including her own work. Her work is also represented in the Tierra Mar Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has been invited to exhibit in a number of international exhibitions and she painted 3 murals on granite in Bangalore, India. She is also on the board of the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce.
Julie Moss – Class of 1976, has competed and assisted with Ironman competitions for 35 years. She has become a public speaker about striving for excellence, empowerment and never quitting. In 2018, Julie finished third in the Ironman World Championships and was involved in a memorable finish in 1982, leading most of the way until the final 15 feet of the finish line where her body gave out and she was passed, but crawled the final 15 feet to the finish line. Coverage by Wide World of Sports helped launch the triathlon and endurance sports boom in the United States and beyond. Julie has written her memoir, Crawl of Fame, which is now available.
Thomas Rhee – Class of 1984, became involved in non-profit organizations helping run the Chelsea’s Light Foundation Baseball Tournament, joining the Board of Directors and becoming the Executive Director. He also became the Executive Director for Lazarian World Homes, helping design foam blocks to build structures. These have been used to build a variety of different structures around the world for countries in need. Tom received a U.S. Patent for a portable block molding machine. He is also one of the 3 creators of the Carlsbad High Alumni Association in 2018. The Associations mission is to stay in touch with graduates, keep Lancer traditions alive, and providing an annual scholarship to a CHS senior. Tom also chairs the Lancer Hall of Fame Committee.
Dr. Brad Roy – Class of 1972, currently serves as the Executive Director of the Logan Health Medical Fitness Center in Kalispell, Montana. Brad has served in healthcare and fitness industries for nearly 45 years. His LHMFC facility has implemented a Journey to Wellness Program specializing in a health coached based intervention program. He is the Editor-in-Chief of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, chair of the Medicine Credential Committee, a fellow in the Medical Fitness Association and serves on the board, and a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Brad and his family live an active outdoor life in Montana just outside of Glacier National Park.
Dr. Randi Rudolph – Class of 2009, is a conductor, music director and collaborative pianist based in San Diego, California. Randi trained as a classical pianist. As a music director she has directed the orchestras for several productions at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre, The Phoenix Theatre Company, and served as an associate conductor for Street Scene at Arizona State University and for the first national tour of The Prom. Randi received the Louis J. Sudler Prize in Music for conducting and was a semi-finalist in The American Prize competition for her work in musical theatre conducting. As well as the piano, she enjoys playing the violin, guitar and harpsichord. Outside of this she is writing a musical piece on Irish nationalist Roger Casement and developing a simplified rhythmic notation for syncopated pop rock music.
