Alumnus Soared for Goodyear

“You never know what you'll discover.” –Goodyear blimp slogan

Flying over the World Series, Olympic Games, and NFL Monday Night Football events and traversing the U.S. from 1,000 feet above the ground offers a unique perspective of our country and of life.

Tech alumnus John R. Crayton’s (ME ’63) 37-year career as Goodyear’s Pilot in Charge of California Airship Operations gave him a remarkable vantage point few have shared. Officially called an airship or dirigible, most of us recognize his vehicle of choice as the Goodyear blimp.

Life was never boring for this Techman. He was in the air when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred in the San Francisco Bay Area and when the Redondo Beach pier caught fire the year prior. On the lighter side, Harrison Ford, B.B. King, and NBA legend Elan Baylor were among the memorable passengers John has had the privilege of flying. He worked with the American Cetacean Society, conducting whale watching tours from the air.

Originally hired by Northrop Aircraft Company as a material research technician after graduating from the Tech’s Metallurgy program in 1963, John earned a degree in Business and Management from the University of the Redlands. While completing his flight instructor rating, he worked at Torrance Airport and was a flight instructor at Palos Verdes Aviation flight school.

One of his students, seeking advanced flight training, was a Goodyear blimp pilot. He offered John a position flying the dirigible based at Goodyear’s Airship Operations in Carson, California. Extensively trained by four experienced Goodyear pilots, John passed the FAA airship exams to become a Junior Airship Pilot, then Senior Pilot, and ultimately, Pilot in Charge, where he remained at the helm until 2008.

Now retired, the Torrance resident mostly stays planted on solid ground, except when he’s sailing out of Redondo Beach’s King Harbor. On shore, John and his wife, Nancy, a retired school teacher, enjoy trying out new recipes and completing home projects.

“I’ve had an amazing life,” he said. “I’ve been behind the scenes of so many things I would not otherwise have been able to do and saw things from a wholly different perspective.” *

“Something that has stayed with me from my Tech days is the use of the scientific method to approach problems I encounter in life,” John said. “Eliminate variables and focus on the problem. Test each approach and figure out which one works the best.”

Advising today’s students, he proffered, “Use your skills that you learn at Bosco Tech to seek a fulfilling career and keep an open mind about things you encounter in life. Don't be afraid to make changes and take chances.”

Junior to Intern at Keck Graduate Institute Program

Congratulations to Tech junior Andrei De La Cruz who will intern this summer at the Keck Graduate Institute - KGI, the newest member of the Claremont Colleges.

The internship, offered to exceptionally motivated, high-achieving high school students, provides hands-on research experience and exploration of careers available in the field of biotechnology, pharmacy, medical equipment, and healthcare IT industries.

Andrei will receive one-on-one mentoring from industry professionals and faculty who will help him identify the most promising career options suited to his interests. He’ll also be able to participate in workshops and seminars offered to Keck’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).

Currently studying Biological, Medical & Environmental Technology at Bosco Tech, Andrei is looking forward to the rare opportunity. “This internship aligns with my future goals because I want to major in biotechnology,” he explained. “I’ll gain exposure to multiple careers in the field and narrow down the options to ones I really enjoy.”

Andrei was introduced to the Keck Graduate Institute by the Tech’s internship program that places rising seniors in STEM internships throughout the Los Angeles area. For more information about the Tech’s internship program, email Mrs. Anne Sigoloff at asigoloff@boscotech.edu.

Summer Interns Embark on Professional Experiences

As Bosco Tech’s class of 2023 graduates, Tech juniors are gearing up for prestigious summer internships at well-known organizations throughout Los Angeles. The eager students will work under the mentorship of engineers, architects, managers and scientists to gain practical experience in STEM fields.

Additionally, several seniors who interned last summer have been invited to return to the companies for whom they worked last year. More internships are in the works. The 2023 participating internship organizations and their interns are listed below:

(First Row: Bishop Avila, Andrei De La Cruz, Juan Pablo Rodriguez. Second Row: Matthew Castaneda, Ryan Garcia, Gabriel Morales, Caleb Glassow, Donivan Schwieger.

Giron, Anthony Ramirez. Not pictured: Matthew Lopez,

Peck, Serian Demata, Eric Zhang)

Boeing

Bishop Avila (CSEE)

Wesley Bulhuis (CSEE)

Caleb Glassow (IDEA)

Joseph Lee (IDEA)

JMDiaz, Inc

Matthew Lopez (IDEA)

Juan Pablo Rodriguez (ACE)

SoZango Solutions

Donivan Schwieger(CSEE)

The Griffith Company

Diego Munoz (IDEA)

Santiago Vargas (ACE)

Keck Graduate Institute Andrei De La Cruz (BMET)

The Complete Athlete Eduardo Giron (MAT)

Interior Removal Specialist, Inc.

Ryan Garcia (IDEA)

Anthony Ramireez ( ACE)

Bosco Tech College Counseling

Dept.- Graphic Design

Serian Demata (MAT)

Trever Clifton (MAT)

California Democratic Party

Christian Figueroa (CSEE)

Pasadena Biotech Collaborative Incubator

Gabriel Gonzelez (BMET)

Donivan Schweiger (CSEE)

Alexander Peck (MAT)

Eric Zhang (MSET)

Andre De La Cruz (BMET)

Saif Halari (MAT)

Matthew Castaneda (BMET)

Biology Classes Dissect Life

Students in Mr. Sammy Sedky’s College Prep and AP Biology classes recently dissected fetal pigs. The relatively large size of the pig organs, and the similarity to the internal anatomy to humans, make them easy to find and identify. Studies show that hands-on lab experiences encourage students to pursue careers in science.

In Gratitude Charitable Grant Updates

The Bosco Tech community is extremely grateful for all recent donations made by generous foundations, organizations and alumni. Among those gifts:

Name

The Bill Hannon Foundation

May

Amount

Purpose

$150,000 $100,000 for scholarships, $ 50,000 for Media Arts & Technology

The Cranston Family/Philip Rinaldi Trust $ 22,500 Scholarships

Bosco Tech truly appreciates our benefactors who share our mission to educate young people. Please let us know if you have connections to a charitable foundation, or if your employer has a grant-making program. Contact Manager of Foundation Relations Anne Sigoloff at asigoloff@boscotech.eduor (626) 940-2027.