Palma High School
Encyclopedia
Palma High School is a grade 7-12 Catholic
boys
school located in Salinas
, California
. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey, its motto is "Palma Merenti," which translates in English as "Palms to the Victor."
. The Christian Brothers, known internationally as Catholic educators, were founded in 1802 by Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice who was beatified in Rome on October 6, 1996; his feast day has been set as May 5. This great man's goal was to give the youth of his time a unique Christian education. Palma continued to be operated as a co-institutional school for thirteen years when, in 1964, a separate facility for girls was opened a few blocks away. At that time, Palma became an all boys' school and the Christian Brothers assumed administration of the entire facility.
A chapel was built in the front of the school in 2003. It has been named the Brother Edmund Rice Chapel. It is used by the students and staff to enhance the religious education program at Palma High School.
Palma is located one block away from a Catholic all-girls school, Notre Dame High School
.
, Sean Etow, Matt Ogden, Matt Pinizzotto, and Bruce Taylor
.
Football Championships
Basketball Championships
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
boys
Single-sex education
Single-sex education, also known as single-gender education, is the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or in separate buildings or schools. The practice was predominant before the mid-twentieth century, particularly in secondary education and...
school located in Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey, its motto is "Palma Merenti," which translates in English as "Palms to the Victor."
History
Palma High School was founded in 1951 through the efforts of Monsignor Thomas J. Earley and dedicated laymen, among them the late Joseph Piini and the late Lloyd Stolich. Their collective dream of Catholic secondary education was realized in September, 1951 when Palma opened its doors to boys and girls as a co-institutional school. The boys were instructed and have continued to be instructed by the Congregation of Christian BrothersCongregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. The Christian Brothers, known internationally as Catholic educators, were founded in 1802 by Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice who was beatified in Rome on October 6, 1996; his feast day has been set as May 5. This great man's goal was to give the youth of his time a unique Christian education. Palma continued to be operated as a co-institutional school for thirteen years when, in 1964, a separate facility for girls was opened a few blocks away. At that time, Palma became an all boys' school and the Christian Brothers assumed administration of the entire facility.
A chapel was built in the front of the school in 2003. It has been named the Brother Edmund Rice Chapel. It is used by the students and staff to enhance the religious education program at Palma High School.
Palma is located one block away from a Catholic all-girls school, Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School (Salinas, California)
Notre Dame High School is a private, All-Female, Roman Catholic high school in Salinas, California. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey.-Background:...
.
Sports
The school is also noted for its excellence in sports. The football, cross country, and basketball programs have won several section titles. But recently has been noted for their golf program which has been on the rise for the last 4 years. With a 4th place finish in the CIF State Championship in 2008. Member of the 4th best team in California were Joe Azzopardi, Greg ClassenGreg Classen
Greg Classen is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently under contract to Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .-Playing career :...
, Sean Etow, Matt Ogden, Matt Pinizzotto, and Bruce Taylor
Bruce Taylor
Bruce Taylor is a Canadian poet. A graduate of McGill University and the University of Toronto, he lives in Wakefield, Quebec with his family.-Published works:* Getting on with the Era...
.
Football Championships
- CAA: 1959, 1961,1962, 1963, 1965
- MTAL: 1970, 1984 through 1997
- MBL: 1998 through 2001
- T-CAL: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Central Coast Section: 1989 through 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003
- State: 1992 (D-III)
Basketball Championships
- CAA: 1964, 1967
- MTAL: 1968, 1970 through 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998
- MBL: 1986, 1987, 2000
- T-CAL: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Central Coast Section: 1988, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007
- Nor Cal: 1992, 1993
- State: 1992
Notable alumni
- David EsquerDavid EsquerDavid Charles Esquer is the head coach of the California Golden Bears baseball team.-Early life:Esquer attended Palma High School in Salinas, California where he played basketball, football, and baseball. Esquer was team captain and MVP of the baseball team and was named his high school's athlete...
-- class of 1983, head coach of the California Golden Bears baseballCalifornia Golden Bears baseballThe California Golden Bears baseball team represents the University of California in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other California athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Pacific-12 Conference...
team. - Tom FanoeTom FanoeTom Fanoe was the President and COO of Joe Boxer.Prior to Joe Boxer, Tom served as the President of Levi Strauss's US Division. Tom holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He attended Palma High School and was elected to the Palma Sports Hall of...
-- class of 1964, past president Joe BoxerJoe BoxerJoe Boxer is a brand of underwear and related apparel founded by Nicholas Graham. The brand pioneered the concept of novelty hanging underwear. Joe Boxer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iconix Brand Group...
, noted alum Haas School of BusinessHaas School of BusinessThe Walter A. Haas School of Business, also known as the Haas School of Business or simply Haas, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley....
. - Rob SmetsRob SmetsRobert Edward "Rob" Smets , known professionally as The Kamikaze Kid, is a color commentator for the Professional Bull Riders tour and a former five-time Wrangler World Champion bullfighter.-Biography:...
class of 1977, five-time World Champion Bullfighter and rodeo legend. Member of Pro RodeoRodeoRodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
Hall of Fame. - Chris DalmanChris DalmanChris Dalman is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for seven seasons for the San Francisco 49ers . He was an offensive/defensive tackle for Palma High School in Salinas, and was a four-year football letter-winner at Stanford University...
-- class of 1988, moved onto Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and was a guard and center for the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Coach with the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2006 and Stanford. In 2009, returned to working and coaching football at Palma High School - Elliot VallejoElliot VallejoElliot Louis Vallejo [vuh-LAY-ho] is an American football offensive tackle who is currently Elliot Louis Vallejo [vuh-LAY-ho] (born May 17, 1984 in Monterey, California) is an American football offensive tackle who is currently Elliot Louis Vallejo [vuh-LAY-ho] (born May 17, 1984 in Monterey,...
-- class of 2002, signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona CardinalsArizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
after starting 32 straight games at OT for UC Davis. Signed to Raiders practice squad December 2009. - E.J. RowlandE.J. RowlandEarl Jerrod "E.J." Rowland is an American basketball player for Unicaja Málaga.-College career:Rowland began his college career with CSU Dominguez Hills. As a freshman with the Toros, he averaged 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while starting 24 of 27 games...
pro basketball player, Bulgarian National team. - Michael GaspersonMichael GaspersonMichael Gasperson is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles for one season in 2007. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
, American football wide receiver - Peter LauritsonPeter LauritsonPeter Lauritson is a long-time film producer and director and television producer and director involved with Star Trek since Star Trek: The Next Generation.- Producer :* Star Trek Nemesis...
TV Producer/director, Star Trek. - Jonathan BomaritoJonathan BomaritoJonathan Bomarito is an American racing driver from Monterey, California.After much success in karting and two years driving in Grand-Am Cup, Jonathan Bomarito moved to Formula Ford 2000 USA in 2003 and won the championship. The next year he moved to the Atlantic Championship and finished 9th in...
Auto racing.