In some of his last breathing moments in Hamilton, the Broadway musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton, the main character grapples with the idea of a legacy. Hamilton says:
“What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden that you never get to see.”
The year 2025 marks the first quarter of the 21st century being completed. It’s also a year where our Pitman community will watch another senior class graduate, as well as see Principal Freeman conclude her extraordinary seven-year tenure in Pitman’s admin team and Dean Moreno punctuate a renaissance-like three-year stint as Dean.
So for all of the changemakers and groups who’ve flown under the radar while making all the good trouble that we need on campus, this is your round of applause.
UNDER THE RADAR: Pitman SAVE Club, Advised by Mr. Reimers
Ever wonder who picks up the recycling in all of our classrooms and sorts through it to make sure that our campus is both cleaner and more efficient for a greener planet? It’s none other than the dedicated members of Pitman’s SAVE Club!
In the middle of the day every Thursday, a handful of students from SAVE split up into a few different groups and tackle our entire campus – picking up the recycling from all seven classroom wings and buildings, all without really being noticed or disturbing students and staff in class.
In addition to helping our custodial staff – who deserve shout-outs of their own for showing up during breaks and staying long after students and faculty have left maintaining our school – keep campus clean, the SAVE Club goes out into our Turlock community and volunteers to pick up trash and refresh our local parks.
In really upping the presence of their club on campus and in the city, this year’s members of SAVE Club have left a mark on our environment and impact on our surroundings.
SPOTLIGHT: Dean Marya Moreno
Seniors might remember the time before we had Ms. Moreno as our Dean and can probably attest that Pitman has changed both culturally and disciplinarily under her leadership.
In three short years, Dean Moreno has worked with both students and staff – both at Pitman and on the District level – to develop a more holistic approach to the issues that face us students.
Whether it be working with the District to found student equity initiatives to better hear from our student body on the problems that face us or going the extra mile to investigate student discipline in a fair and just manner.
Students and staff describe Moreno as warm, reliable, and personable. She’s known to be extremely hard working and somehow stretches her time between carrying out more serious Dean duties (like meeting with parents, keeping our campus safe) and actually being out on campus to get to know the students that she works with.
Dean Moreno will surely be missed here on campus and we wish her all the best as she takes on her newest journey as Crowell Elementary’s next principal.
CHANGEMAKERS: Pitman’s Culture Clubs
For two years now, Pitman’s culture clubs – Hispanic Youth Leadership Council (HYLC), Assyrian-American Club, Pitman International Student Association (PISA), Pan-Asian Heritage Society (PAHS), Black Student Union (BSU), Cultural Diversity Club, Sikh Honors and Service Society (SHSS), Portuguese Club – have been making real change at Pitman.
From organizing and participating in huge events benefiting their communities (like Assyrian-American Club’s annual Assyrian New Year celebration, HYLC’s regional conferences, or PAHS’ work with the Stanislaus Coalition of Pan-Asian Organizations) to working together to organize Pitman’s Culture Week and Rally with administrators and ASB, the culture clubs work extremely hard to make Pitman a more vibrant community.
Additionally, clubs like HYLC, BSU, PISA, and PAHS have worked hard to increase inclusivity, representation, activism, and services for their respective communities – especially in our current trying times.
The current officers for these clubs have surely left behind a legacy here at Pitman that will be felt by students of all cultures. The change they’ve made with Culture Week is exactly what our communities need to remember that we’re all unique and that uniqueness should be celebrated.
PRIDE IN BEING THE PRIDE: Pitman Barstool, Run by Mia Peterson and Grant Day (12th)
Everyone loves seeing themselves in their element and having fun. An account founded in 2024 has been making sure we all see the fun in being involved and proud of our Pride.
Seniors and Green Team members, Mia Peterson and Grant Day, started Pitman Barstool – inspired by the college athletics and student life Barstool Sports accounts found nationwide – and the Instagram account has really helped provide a real and unique look at how we celebrate our athletics and take pride in the Pitman Pride life.
Both being athletes and incredibly involved students themselves, Pitman Barstool is just one of many ways that Peterson and Day have made a difference and positively impacted our Pride family. These Seniors will for sure be remembered (especially as they make sure that we all remember our high school experience).
UNDER THE RADAR: Pitman Yearbook, Advised by Mr. Rosales
You’d be wrong if you thought an important Pitman moment won’t be professionally photographed. At least, not if Yearbook can help it.
Mr. Rosales’ Yearbook team spreads themselves out throughout every week to make sure our sporting events and student life gets properly captured and highlighted in the yearbook or on social media. Whether you notice their cameras or not, they work hard.
This year’s Yearbook leadership team chose “Out of Focus” as the theme for our yearbook, choosing to shine spotlights on groups and events on campus that don’t normally get such focus from other students and staff.
The impact of Yearbook, though mostly unseen until Distribution Day, is profound and will always be around. Be sure to stay on the lookout for your friendly neighborhood Yearbook staff, especially at the last couple games of our 2025 season and at our end of the year activities.
SPOTLIGHT: Principal Angela Freeman
Every staff member that I talk to has something different but equally positive and impressive to say about Mrs. Freeman’s seven years as Pitman’s principal.
Leading Pitman throughout the COVID era and showing her care and support for both students and staff, Mrs. Freeman has been described as tenacious, proactive, and hands-on.
Students describe her as much the same; she’s incredibly present on campus and assures all that we belong here on campus. Whether it be her consistent vocalization of support for student initiatives and clubs – like the aforementioned Culture Week – or tackling challenges like chronic absenteeism, it’s hard to say Mrs. Freeman is not an admirable leader.
Her impact at Pitman goes beyond just being our principal, but genuinely being a figure that teachers say is in their corner and pupils state is someone they feel open to talking to. The District is lucky to have her and she will definitely not be forgotten.
ON THE RISE: Oscar Alvarez (10th)
Sophomore Oscar Alvarez’s name was one that floated around a lot during our discussions about who’s been working a lot behind the scenes to make a difference at Pitman and Turlock Unified School District as a whole.
Between AP and honors classes, playing sports, and being on a team analyzing LPAC funding for our schools, Oscar has already used his short time as a high school student to make an impact while maintaining a strong academic performance.
Oscar has also been a part of TUSD’s Student Equity Advisory, a group of secondary school students that meets monthly with District and community leadership to provide student input on District policies that will affect us all. He’s been outspoken for the experiences of him and his fellow sophomores and always provides an authentic voice.
With two more years here at Pitman, Oscar is surely on the rise and will be part of positive changes that will affect us for classes to come.