Parker Forward

Over the past year and a half, visitors to the Linda Vista Campus have witnessed the evolution of the Parker Forward project from demolition to completion. The project began with the School’s commitment to Healthy Minds and Healthy Bodies and a strong vision for a campus hub that supported that initiative. Members of the Parker Community worked together to ensure the spaces foster the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students throughout the construction of the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center, Douglas Aquatic Center, Vassiliadis Commons, and Vassiliadis Athletic Center.

Parker’s Athletic Director Dr. Mahina Hannemann-Gago wanted the project to stay true to the Parker value of Students First—emphasizing the need for a strong student voice to be visible throughout the new spaces. 

To accomplish this, Mahina supported the Student Athletic Advisory Council (SAAC), a representative body of interscholastic athletic and club programs, as they worked with Parker’s External Relations team to create wall graphics, artwork, and branded designs for the new buildings. 

External Relations team members attended SAAC meetings and held focus groups to bring student visions to light. “I am so happy to see that our student voices were so readily heard by Coach Mahina and the rest of the admin who made our ideas possible,” said Evan Bohne, Class of 2025.

During these sessions, over 30 students worked together to identify keywords they felt represented the Parker Community. A few of the most mentioned words included pride, spirit, dedication, and commitment. The group’s overall energy was aligned with the unofficial athletics mantra, “Our family vs. their team.”

Over the course of several meetings, SAAC helped design and create the Legacy of Champions wall in the hallways outside the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, along with the slogan “Champions Play as One Parker.” They approved the student photo canvases hanging in the halls leading to the athletics offices, which will be cycled out on a regular cadence to include new photos of current Parker student-athletes with equity in mind. They assisted in the lighting design of the hype tunnel and also came up with the idea for a spirited Lancer medallion near its entrance. The SAAC plans to start the tradition of student-athletes touching the medallion for good luck before big games, thus encouraging Lancer spirit and in-game commitment.  

“It took us several meetings to decide on three large items: to implement gradient lighting in the hype tunnel, a wall of our achievements that we could walk by every day, and something we could touch before games,” said Evan, “But still, within the next meeting, we got to see the first versions of our ideas. After a few more meetings, we settled on the designs we have now, which can be seen all around our new facility.”

The time, effort, and creativity that SAAC students committed to designing these spaces led to a demonstrable growth in student body pride and a deeper sense of community and belonging. “It was amazing to be able to see our ideas come alive in the new space,” Sophie Hart, Class of 2026, said, “I love how the new building reflects the students’ vision of Parker athletics, creating a space that feels like home.”

The building is customized for current student sentiment and activities, leading Parker’s students to use the spaces intentionally, as a sense of school spirit permeates throughout. Olivia Teates, Class of 2025, said, “Walking through the hype tunnel and into our new locker rooms for the first time, I felt really grateful and honored that our voices were heard. There are so many small touches throughout the facility that are really exciting and unique, and it’s amazing that we student-athletes got to play a part in the process.”

An increase in Lancer pride was felt during fall events held in the Silberman Student Life Center, such as the All-School Opening, pep rallies, senior nights, and homecoming activities.

At our recent Spirit Week Pep Rally, Middle and Upper School students came together in the Vassiliadis Athletic Center. Monte Duval, Class of 2027, an Associated Student Body (ASB) member, hosted the pep rally and hyped up students over the loudspeaker on the floor of John Herman Court. 

"During the pep rally, I felt a bit nervous, curious, but mostly excited…I was joined by the entire Parker community: friends, classmates, and teachers, all standing, participating, and genuinely showing their school spirit,” Monte explained, “This building is the fantastic finale to the Parker Forward project, and I’m confident that this new space will support our school, our values, and the community we strive to be—a connected, spirited, and above all, unified community–as far as the mind can see.”

Olivia Brennan, Class of 2026, echoed Monte’s sentiments. “You could really feel how excited everyone was to finally be able to use the new gym. I think it was awesome and a great example of Lancer spirit when everyone was cheering for their grade during the competitions,” Olivia said. “Not only did it showcase the good sportsmanship that Parker students have, but it also made me excited and hopeful for our student sections at future home [games] in the new gym and pool.”

At Girls Volleyball senior night, senior student-athletes celebrated as they ran through the hype tunnel while “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC blasted over the loudspeakers, and their teammates and families cheered them on. 

“Running through the tunnel on senior night was such a fun experience,” Avery Meiselman, Class of 2025, said, “I was so grateful that my fellow seniors and I got to be the first ones to run through because we experienced the construction process first-hand throughout our high school careers and running through the tunnel marked its culmination.”

Afterward, they were gifted leis to commemorate their time on the team, another decision made by SAAC that ensures student voices and preferences are heard in Parker traditions. Bringing leis to the senior night experience was an initiative students sparked owing to the Native Hawaiian tradition of celebration. The lei is an expression of love, respect, and honor—aligning with keywords SAAC members identified in early focus groups and perpetuating the Lancer legacy of teamwork. 

Parker looks forward to future events in the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center, Douglas Aquatic Center, Vassiliadis Commons, and Vassiliadis Athletic Center. The completion of the Parker Forward project provides the community with facilities, programs, and faculty that support meaningful and developmentally appropriate activities for healthy minds and healthy bodies. Its shared spaces and student-influenced design nurture Parker’s inclusive community and allow students, faculty, and staff to come together more frequently as One Parker.