What Was That Event

OK I have vague memories of an event, possibly off-campus, that was hosted or emceed by Mike Sela and Amy Doub. Was it a talent show? An awards ceremony? I remember some girl singing a Billy Joel song...

let me know what I'm vaguely remembering....

Bacher, Hazen, Sela

Elizabeth Bacher, Brian Hazen, Mike Sela

Sela, Scholz

Mike Sela, Steve Scholz, and Steve's wife, Carly

Elizabeth Bacher

Hi Jeff,
I love that you are putting this together. What a wonderful resource and a great way to catch up with long lost friends! As for the last 20 years of my life, where do I begin? Well ... here goes:

After high school I moved up to Portland where I got a Bachelor's degree in biology/psychology, and history at Lewis & Clark College. (Steve Scholz and I would meet up for coffee from time to time as he was studying at Reed College just a few miles away. Hi Steve!)

During those years I became the editor of our college's political journal which (I guess) led me to a career in journalism. I spent the next 10 years at NBC affiliates and cable news channels in Portland, Seattle, and LA working my way up as a news writer, assignment editor, and producer.

In 1999 I left TV news and moved to Chicago where I worked as a publicist for clients in the entertainment industry and for authors (scheduling national book tours and news interviews).

In 2003 I landed back in the Northwest as the Media Relations Director for a public policy firm in Seattle ... and finally realized that moving every few years really sucks - so I decided to call Seattle "home" and have stayed here ever since.

I currently work in corporate relations for Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo where I create cause marketing campaigns that support conservation, habitat preservation, and education programs. Basically I help raise money to teach kids and families why its important to protect the environment and endangered species. It's a very rewarding job and I'm really lucky to be able to do something I love!

I've also become very involved with the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation. It's a wonderful organization that provides information, support, and resources for people with Parkinson's and their families. My dad was diagnosed with the disease about 10 years ago so I started volunteering for the group when I moved to Seattle. My involvement has grown since then and I joined the group's board of directors earlier this year.

When I'm not working I love hiking with my friends and our dogs, traveling, hunting for antiques, reading, and keeping up on politics and current events. I am also a British history nut and would love to get a Master's degree ... but for now that will have to wait.

I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to seeing more updates!

Cheers, Elizabeth

Mike Sela

Hello class of 1986! As I scan through these pages that Jeff posted I'm struck with how many of you have nice glossy pictures of yourself. I am impressed!

Meanwhile, I am some sort of troll, the kind who trots out unshaven pictures of himself taken with his laptop. (Sorry, ladies, I'm taken!)

So, what have I been up to (in addition to hiding under bridges during daylight hours)?

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 1990 with a degree in electrical engineering and then promptly ignored that degree to pursue a career in software. I worked for Hewlett Packard for 6 years and then jumped ship to become one of those software start-up millionaires that seemed to be bubbling up everywhere in Silicon Valley. That plan sort of worked. I believe I was a millionaire on paper for a week. That was a pretty cool week. Since then I've worked for incrementally larger companies as each successive one bought the previous one. I'm about ready to jump ship and go work for a start-up again.

Somewhere during that journey I tricked a remarkable woman into marrying me and bearing me a delightful daughter. She has forgiven me for the former because of the latter. We're now in our 12th year of marriage and our daughter will be entering 4th grade next year. We live in the fabulous Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco.

In my spare time I've been running the occasional marathon, playing absurd amounts of Scrabble, teaching my daughter how to become a social outcast, and practicing writing in anticiption of the day when someone would ask me to write a short bio for NGHS Class of 1986 blog. mikesela AT gmail.com

More reunion photos

Heather shares these reunion photos...keep them coming! Let me know if I get your name wrong.

(1) From left, Jeff Sykes, Teri Ross, Tom Jones, Chris Rymer


(2) From left, Mike Sela, Michele Bockstein, Ludwig Salvador


(3) From left, Tina (Buschiazzo) Kane, Heather (Darnsteadt) DeWitt, Ludwig Salvador, Paul Hohlt, Kathryn (Johnson) Bolt