The Hume-Fogg Association Board has started a new tradition. Each year it will honor senior parents who made outstanding contributions during their student’s four years at the Castle — and the first group, from the Class of 2026, was announced in May.
“Everything a parent does — whether for a sports team, for Fine Arts programs, for student clubs, for the Board, or for the students, teachers, staff, and administration — contributes to who we are,” the Board wrote. “We wanted to begin documenting and formally thanking these parents.”
The honorees
- Jenni Derryberry Mann — parent of Alia Mann, President of the Cheer Boosters and the driving force behind getting the Booster Club started.
- Chris Kovalcik — parent of Izzy Kovalcik, Treasurer of the Cheer Boosters and a founding member. With Jenni, built the financial and logistical infrastructure that lets the cheer program run at a high level, freeing coaches to focus on athlete development rather than budgets.
- Chad and Laura Beth High — parents of Carolina High and Theatre Booster stalwarts. Laura Beth, currently co-president of the Theatre Booster Board, is the go-to for costume alterations, impossible props, ticket sales, and set painting. Chad has been at every set build, hauling lumber and doing the heavy lifting.
- Jody Stepakoff — parent of Griffin Stepakoff, HFA Board secretary for two years and EVRITS data manager for four, handling family data and PTO email with patience and precision.
- Irma Paz-Bernstein — parent of Alex Bernstein, Board Assistant Treasurer and a four-year member of the Blue Knights Speaker Series committee. Called “the heart voice of the board.”
- Bob Bernstein — parent of Alex Bernstein and Board President. The idea behind pursuing the back parking lot as a revenue source for the school, a two-year sponsor of the Blue Knights Speaker Series, creator of a Hume-Fogg coffee blend sold to benefit HFA, and a founder of the annual Magnet School Trivia Night against MLK, now in its third year.
- Manuel Delgado — parent of Ava Delgado, HFA Board member. Built the sponsorship pitch deck that will let the Association pursue corporate sponsors, offered his venue to kick off the alumni project this fall, and worked for four years with the girls’ soccer team.
“There is an adage that states you should leave a place better than you found it,” the Board wrote. “You have done that and so much more.”