Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat

Staff Writer Elleanna Vannarath interviews six BOHS graduates who now teach at their alma mater.

Elleanna Vannarath, Staff Writer • October 6, 2025

Amanda Huson (’09), Summer Teal (’92), Kara Dietz (’93), Johnpaul Wilson (’07), Marcy Hail (’01), and Kate Caprine (’02) in the BOHS quad.

By definition, a homecoming is a “returning home,” but for some members of Brea Olinda High School’s faculty, they are home, as both alumnus and current teachers on the very campus they once, well, celebrated Homecoming.

One thing each of the alums agree on is how nostalgia-triggering it is to teach on the same campus they once roamed as students.

History teacher Kate Caprine, BOHS Class of 2002, has fond memories of varsity soccer and spending time with friends at school events.

Kara Dietz, Class of 1993, participated in Advanced Dance and Color Guard, but it’s the memories she made with friends at Mr. Brea, dances, and Grad Night she enjoys the most, and experiences she hopes to replicate for the students in her Link Crew and Skills for Living classes.

Member of the Class of 2001, Marcy (Walter) Hail, Culinary Arts teacher, could be found most afternoons at the Wildcat pool as a member of varsity water polo and swim. (And possibly flirting with the boys: The senior class voted Hail “Most Flirtatious” in 2001.)

The youngest of the alums, Amanda (Hefner) Huson, Class of 2009, has come full-circle: Once a California Scholarship Federation (CSF) Sealbearer, Huson now the adviser of the club that celebrates academic excellence.

Summer (Hurst) Teal, Class of 1992, has a favorite memory: “Blackout Day,” an occasion when students wore suits and funeral veils while carrying a coffin in the quad to honor BOHS’s historic rivalry with Sonora High School. But larger than that singular memory is Teal’s mission to create safe spaces for students experiencing similar struggles she once faced in high school.

Johnpaul Wilson, Class of 2007, is also experiencing a full-circle moment: A former forward and winger on the boys’ CIF semi-finalist varsity soccer team, Wilson is now coaching on the same Wildcat Stadium field he once scored goals on as BOHS’s varsity boys’ soccer head soccer coach.

Click each of the rows below to learn more about BOHS’s teacher alums, and about their favorite Homecoming Week memories.

The BOHS Alumni Faculty Q&A

Kate Caprine, Class of 2002

History teacher Kate Caprine, BOHS Class of 2002 (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

My favorite memories were just hanging out with my friends, playing soccer, going to my friend's games and performances, and school dances.

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

I don't think it has changed too much. The big difference would be how cell phones have changed our society overall; less talking and interacting with people that might not be in your typical friend group.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

I think society puts a lot of pressure on teens today to be overly committed and competitive. While that is not new, I think it has definitely gotten worse over the years. I definitely think it is important for teens to be involved, but we all need some down time too.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

Any day where I got to play soccer with my friends or maybe the last few weeks of senior year because that is the time of high school when you really feel that change is coming and you tend to appreciate the past four years and your friends more.

What did Homecoming mean to you when you were a student here?

To me, "homecoming" just meant going to the football game and dance, nothing too unique. To be honest, I don't think much of that has changed and I don't think it carries the weight that it did with prior generations.

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Travel as much as possible, don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, and remember that everyday is a new opportunity to be kind and be the best version of yourself.

Kara Dietz, Class of 1993

Link Crew Adviser Kara Dietz, BOHS Class of 1993. (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

My favorite times were being with my friends, especially my senior year. I remember going to Mr. Brea, the senior activities, prom…it was all so much fun.

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

Our campus is more diverse.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

It is definitely different now than it was then to be a teenager. Social media plays a big roll in that, in my opinion. The struggles of being a teenager are always there and we just dealt with it differently than teens do now because of social media and the influence it plays in so many things.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

I would go back to my Grad Night. It was on campus and I truly had the best time being with my friends. It was the last night of being a "kid" before we were sent off into the real world. I vividly remember a few things about that night that will always stick with me as being a great time.

What did Homecoming mean to you when you were a student here?

Homecoming was a tradition that included float-building the week of, and you would go to either a warehouse or someone's house or backyard to build it. I remember the float competition being a big thing the week of Homecoming. Our dance was not semi-formal like it is now; it was just dressier than a school day.

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Enjoy your time here! BOHS and Brea are such special communities that we are blessed to be a part of. I know I am blessed to be back here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!

Marcy Hail, Class of 2001

Culinary Arts teacher Marcy Hail, BOHS Class of 2001, and and her varsity letters for water polo and swim. (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

So many! I loved all of the fun dress-up days the school had, our group of friends really got into it! I loved playing water polo and doing swim team. I loved the formals and dances. I loved the clubs I went to at lunch [like] Club Truth and Swing Club/Swing Dancing.

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

Seems like BOHS has amazing school culture, just like we used to when I went here. The students are really engaged and friendly.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

Absolutely. We didn't have phones until around junior year of high school, and even then they were flip phones and only used to call people. I think the advancement of the phones, sadly, has created a culture where students don't talk any more like we used to. I am still best friends with my friends from preschool and talk to many of my friends from high school every week. I am afraid that will change with the advancement of phones and how students are using them now as a replacement for talking to each other face-to-face.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

I'd say Grad Night. The best! Both of my parents worked that night, and the parents all put on such an amazing experience for us. We had it in our gym and around the outdoor cafeteria area. So awesome!

What did Homecoming mean to you when you were a student here?

When I was in high school, I went to every single dance/formal except prom freshman year. I absolutely loved going to the dances.

Do you have any memorable Homecoming stories as a student?

I honestly don't have too many memories about Homecoming, just going to the dances. I think one of my favorites was always Sadie Hawkins. I loved all of the fun themes they had. I would always invite the boys to the dances in a fun way. One time, I popped popcorn for about a week straight, then filled up the back of a truck with popcorn and put a huge neon posterboard in the back of his truck saying, "I thought I'd POP the question and ask you to Sadies, Wanna go?"

Another time, I ordered a huge pizza and had it delivered to a boy's class and wrote out in pepperoni, "Will you go to Sadies with me?"

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Avoid the drama! I think one of the things I did well in high school was avoid drama and I was friends with everyone. High school is a time to experience new things, decide about your future, make friends, build lifelong relationships and enjoy all of the little things.

Amanda Huson, Class of 2009

English teacher and Gusher yearbook adviser Amanda Huson, BOHS Class of 2009. (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

Taking AP Euro with Mr. Rotblum the first year it was offered at BOHS was definitely a highlight. I got so close with the rest of my class and we rotated going to each other’s houses to study together for each unit test and the AP Exam.

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

A lot of what I remember about being at [BOHS] has remained the same: Tight-knit community, strong friendships, exciting programs and teams to be a part of, inspiring teachers. I think the biggest change I see is that graduating classes are smaller; my class of ’09 was around 500 people, for example. But at its core, Brea remains a one high school town, allowing the traditions and school spirit to thrive.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

Yes, I think the challenges that come with social media (less privacy, more [fear of missing out], less face-to-face interactions with friends, more time taken over by screens) are extremely different from the kinds of challenges I faced when I was navigating high school and no one had an Instagram account. Ultimately, I believe that trying to fit in and finding a sense of belonging are fundamental challenges everyone goes through in high school, but the added digital component brings its own difficulties.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

I think I would go back and relive the day that my AP Language teacher, Ms. Luce, took my class into the PAC to sit on the stage in a circle by the light of a jack o’lantern and tell ghost stories to each other for Halloween. It was special and spooky and so much fun to scare each other and laugh about it together. Those are the kind of campus memories that stick with me.

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Ask for help early and often, offer assistance to others, and find ways to make what you’re learning interesting to you.

What did Homecoming mean to you when you were a student here?

I remember Homecoming being a big deal, but most people didn't go unless you had a date. Also back then, Homecoming was after the Sadie Hawkins dance on campus so it wasn't the first dance of the year like it is now. I think Homecoming has evolved today into more of a "friends group" dance, which is cool.

Do you have any memorable Homecoming stories as a student?

My most memorable Homecoming experience was my senior year. I went with a huge group of my friends and our dates and we all took pictures and went out to dinner in Long Beach before the dance at the Queen Mary. We were so excited because the Queen Mary was supposed to be haunted and I think that added an extra spooky layer to our fun.

Summer Teal, Class of 1992

Summer Teal, BOHS Class of 1992. (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

I had a crazy injury heading into the dance room [when] the door went over the top of my foot and ripped off my entire big toenail. #bloodtrail

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

The school was much stricter when I attended. Also, because I was here when the school opened, it was in pristine shape.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

Yes, with social media and AI, there is a loss of "wonder"; there were some things we could not learn or know. The [World Wide Web] was brand new and many of us didn't have the internet at home. We used encyclopedias to learn information. Also, and I think this is huge, because we didn't have things like YouTube videos, if you wanted to learn how a new skill or how to do something, like change a tire or prepare a certain kind of food, you had to ask someone and they had to work with you. It was a slower process, but it required human interaction and supported respect and patience, things we could all use more of.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

None, thanks. High school was one of the hardest seasons of my life. College was so much better.

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Build relationships with people -- real relationships, with real people. Learn how to cook healthy meals, plan being active, and remember that your time is one of your most valuable commodities. Pursue truth when you're looking for something bigger than yourself to believe in. When everything gets shaken, what can be the firm foundation that you hold onto?

Johnpaul Wilson, Class of 2007

Johnpaul Wilson, BOHS Class of 2007. (Alexa Tam)

Can you describe a memorable moment from your time as a student at BOHS?

I had several at [BOHS]. The day we showed up to the trees cut down. The bomb threat called in. The year after I graduated Brea burned in the fires (not the high school but all around it). Soccer league title and CIF semi-finalists. Dances, friendships, relationships, all of it

How do you think the school culture or community has changed since you were a student?

I believe the school has a much stronger "school community" about it. Kids get pumped for certain items. We didn't really have that when I was here.

Do you think students today face different challenges than you did when you were in school? If so, in what way?

Society has changed a lot with the development of technology and social media. The new generation has a much different bullying problem with that. It also affects students' mentality in school with phone addiction and attention needs.

If you could go back and relive one day as a student at BOHS, which day would it be and why?

I wish I wasn't so scared in high school of what people thought. It took me a long time to know that and believe it. There are not days, just things I regret not doing. Lot's of small moments that I would go back and change.

What did Homecoming mean to you when you were a student here?

Honestly, dances were really stressful for a lot of young boys in high school. I believe that has gotten better for a lot of young men here at BOHS, but for others it could still be a stressful night trying to make sure everything goes just right instead of just going with the flow a little.

Do you have any memorable Homecoming stories as a student?

Of course I do, but I cannot tell them. It was always a lot of fun with my friends.

Any advice you would like to give for the students at BOHS?

Stop caring what other people think so much. You can do that and be a nice person. Be free to chase your dreams, and know it's okay to have dreams and chase them. Don't get carried away with your "image in the quad."

BOHS’s faculty alums — Marcy Hail (’01), Kate Caprine (’02), Amanda Huson (’09), Kara Dietz (’93), Summer Teal (’92), and Johnpaul Wilson (’07) — in front of the Wildcat statue. (Alexa Tam)

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About the Contributors

Elleanna Vannarath, Staff Writer

Elléanna Vannarath (‘26) is eager to join the Wildcat for her first and final year as a staff writer. She is passionate about expanding other people’s voices and writing their story. Elléanna thrives in environments where creativity and ambition collide. Outside of the Wildcat, she is involved with BOHS’s arts program as a member and band president while also being a part of the swim team. When she is not at school, you can catch her running errands around Brea and splurging into a shopping spree, indulging in arts and crafts, or speedrunning 99 nights in the forest on Roblox. She loves to jam to “TV Girl” in the car or vibe to vocal jazz and traditional pop like Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka. With dedication and a mind full of ideas, Elléanna hopes to leave her mark on the Wildcat.

Alexa Tam, Photographer

Alexa Tam (’28) is excited to join the ranks of the Wildcat as a photographer and writer. Her aim is to capture the moments that show how unique the BOHS school community is through her camera and words. Whether it be through figure skating, hanging out with friends, or snapping pictures, Alexa never hesitates to let her creative side show. When winding down, she can be found shopping, drinking boba, or listening to music. In the future, Alexa hopes to pursue a career in the medical field and attend USC. For now, she wants to continue learning more about journalism and growing her photography skills.