Serra High will host a “Dedication to Excellence and Celebration of the Arts” event to honor the accomplished poet and writer and Serra High alumni, Dana Gioia, at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30. Gioia launched his writing career after working for General Foods corporation for 15 years. In 1991, he published an essay titled, “Can Poetry Matter?” in the Atlantic Monthly which sparked international attention with the essay receiving more attention than any other piece that the magazine had published.
The event will be filled with music and poetry, with high school seniors Jonah Copeland and Jordan Sanez contributing original pieces and sophomore Jeffrey Johnson performing the viola. An art show will also be present with sculptures on display. Timothy Philen, president of the Los Angeles Philanthropic Foundation, will be the master of ceremonies and introduce Gioia. Philen will present an ode to Gioia, in which he will be awarded a plaque and be the final speaker of the night.
Serra High is a co-ed catholic private and college preparatory school that was founded in 1950 and is located on 14830 South Van Ness Ave., Gardena. The event is open to the public.
To request an invitation, contact Vince Kates, the alumni contact for Serra High, at 310-324-6675 ext. 1012 or vbkates@la-serrahs.org. Dinner will be provided for guests in attendance. The proceeds will go toward benefitting the students of Serra High.
