Bosco golf coach to receive 'Champion for Character' Award

BELLFLOWER – Jack Hastert, a golf coach at St. John Bosco High School, will be among the honorees at the 12th annual Dr. Jim Staunton Champions for Character awards dinner taking place Sept. 28 at The Grand in Long Beach. 

Hastert was selected to receive the Champion for Character Award. He will join previous St. John Bosco award recipients Monty McDermott (2006), Phillip Mullan (2008), Patrick Lee (2008), Auburn Jimenez (2009), Omar Delgado (2010), Martin Brown (2010), Wedge Molthen (2012) and Matt Katnik (2014). 

The ceremony is sponsored by CIF-SS and was started 16 years ago to promote the 16 principals of coaching, competing and teaching called "Pursuing Victory with Honor." 

Athletes, coaches, administrators, school officials and media members who demonstrate the Six Pillars of Character – trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship – are honored at the ceremony and highlighted for their achievements. Student winners also receive scholarship money. 

“It is inspiring to read the incredible accomplishments of our honorees,” said CIF-SS Commissioner of Athletics Rob Wigod. “We are proud and honored to highlight these outstanding individuals and institutions. They personify our commitment to Victory with Honor.”

Hastert been working at Bosco for 35 years and is an alumnus of the school (Class of 1970). He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount in 1974 and his master’s degree in Religious Studies from Mt. St. Mary’s in 1992. 

He began his employment at St. John Bosco High School in the campus bookstore, and began teaching Religious Studies in 1981. He also worked as an academic counselor, campus minister and department chair in his long tenure at Bosco.

He lives in Bellflower with his wife, Kerry, and their three children.

Below is a complete list of award winners: 

Students 
Marie Abe – North Torrance High School 
Cristian Ayala – Pacifica/Oxnard High School 
Emily Bacon – Newport Harbor High School 
Tayler Bennett – St. Anthony High School 
Madeleine Coppersmith – Mayfield Senior High School 
Logan Dreese – Heritage High School 
Tyler Garrard – Lakeside High School 
Emma Hovanec – Westridge High School 
Lucky Jordan – Barstow High School 
Jack Koulos – Wilson/Long Beach High School 
Elisa Pierre – Golden Valley High School 
Emma Reed – Aliso Niguel High School 
Seve Rodriguez – La Canada High School 
Allison K Samp – Academy of Academic Excellence 
Destiny Tellez – Azusa High School

Coaches
Kelle Bond – Volleyball, Capistrano Valley Christian HS 
Aaron Flowers – Football, San Juan Hills High School 
Andrew Gates – Swimming and Water Polo, Damien HS 
Colin Gilliland – Soccer, Lakeside High School 
Jack Hastert – Golf, St. John Bosco High School 
Gary Jackson – Basketball, San Dimas High School 
Scott Larsen – Soccer, Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana HS 
Jon McFarland – Swimming, Pacifica/Oxnard High School 
Ed Prange – Basketball, Loara High School 
Adam Schulhofer – Baseball, Canyon/Canyon Country HS 
Erik Starkey – Cross Country, Covina High School

Media
Cary Osborne – Assistant Managing Editor/ Sports Editor, Santa Clarita Signal

Administrators 
Kristen Braun – Athletic Dir., Jurupa Hills High School 
Michael Gerakos – Activities Dir., University High School 
Kitt Holk – Athletic Dir. Bonita High School 
Kirk Kennedy – Principal, Fountain Valley High School 
Matt Maeda – Athletic Dir. San Gorgonio High School 
David Martinez – Assist. Principal, Estancia High School 
Craig Miller – Athletic Dir., Hamilton High School 
Ramiro Rubalcaba – Principal, Azusa High School

Schools
Elsinore High School 
Hemet High School 
Lakeside High School 
Sherman Indian High School

Commissioners
Kimberley Fricker – Principal, Canyon/Anaheim HS 
John Hansen – Athletic Trainer, Los Alamitos High School 
Holli Jackson – Athletic Trainer, Edison High School