Wilhelmina G. Van Hunnick – July 27, 1936 – April 29, 2009

One of Anaheim High’s exemplary graduates was Wilhelmina Grace Van Hunnick from Class of 1954.

After graduating 15th in her class at Anaheim High, Willi (as she was known by her friends and family), she attended USC, where she was a business major and member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She also served as a USC Associate and on the Humanities Committee for Letters, Arts, and Science.

Anaheim was to continue benefitting from this pioneer daughter who returned to her hometown to teach for 32 years in the Anaheim Union High School District. She became a renowned business teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, earning Teacher of the Year three times and Orange County Teacher of the Year.

She served as chairman of Kennedy High Business Department and as an advisor for Future Business Leaders of America, a program with Wilhelmina G. Van Hunnick_NEW_0001which she was involved throughout her high school years. Her service as a student adviser, as well as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors at the state and national level, earned her a place in the FBLA Wall of Fame and the title of California Business Person of the Year.

Along with her passion for teaching, Ms. Van Hunnick loved the performing arts and chaired the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, helping establish a state-of-the-art auditorium at high school.

Wilhelmina and Elizabeth Van HunnickHer sister, Elizabeth Van Hunnick from Class of 1956, taught at Fremont Junior High School and is a Lifetime Member of the Anaheim High School Alumni Association and has donated many of her and her sister’s AUHS memorabilia items to the Alumni Association’s for preservation.

More about Wilhelmina’s life can be read at:

http://www.kpacfoundation.org/wilhelmina_vanhunnick.html