Palo Alto High School Athletic Director Earl Hansen will present the 2011 Baccalaureate address to the graduating class, according to a statement released by the Associated Student Body.
The news came only a few days after Paly baseball won its first Central Coast Section championship, the fourth Paly team to win the title this year. Paly also experienced two state championship wins by the volleyball and football teams.
Hansen’s education career spans 28 years, with the past 20 at Paly. He oversees Paly’s athletic program, which has grown significantly in past years, according to the ASB statement. About half of Paly’s student body participates in a Paly sport.
Hansen’s success “as both coach and athletic director” has been recognized regionally, according to the statement
“Hansen was named Athletic Director of the year by the California Coaches Association at the state level, after receiving the same title in 2010 from the CCS section,” the statement said. “He was also named the 2010-2011 Coach of the Year by Paly’s sports magazine, The Viking.”
While Hansen’s career has revolved mainly around Paly athletics, his address will focus on “ideas and skills for life” in general, according to ASB. In addition to athletics, Hansen pointed to Paly programs such as robotics, student government, journalism and Science Olympiad as activities that build character and skill necessary for life.
“Standing in front of me, there will be a lot of leaders who are going to come out of this class, at various levels of society,” Hansen said in the statement. “I think it’s a privilege to speak to this class, and an honor for the kids to select me.”
Principal Phil Winston also praised Winston for his leadership and motivation.
“He is much more than a football coach and athletic director, he is an accomplished leader [with] decades of experience,” Winston said. “He is an expert in motivating people. I have no doubt he will deliver a memorable speech.”
The Baccalaureate ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. today in the Stanford Memorial Auditorium. Graduating seniors should arrive by 12:30 p.m., according to Chirag Krishna, Paly ASB President.