Pat Navolanic
Remembering Pat Navolanic
During his life at Glendale High, Pat brought honor and a sense of significant accomplishment. He was a unique individual - a scholar, a leader, an athlete, and a gentleman of integrity. Upon entering GHS, Pat was elected president of his sophomore class (Class of 1963). He continued to take an active part in all phases of school activities, holding many club offices, and lettering in football, basketball and track. He started the influential Key Club on the Glendale High School campus.
Pat Navolanic
In his senior year the influence of Pat was
strongly felt. He became Student Body President following his twin brother, Pete.
He was sent to Washington, D.C. as the winner of the Memorial Citizenship prize.
He also was a zone winner and finalist in the Bank of America competition. Pat was
given, for athletics and leadership combined, the Brick Beach Award. The Seymour
Memorial Award was presented to Pat in recognition of his outstanding abilities.
With hopes set upon a career in medicine, Pat had taken the most challenging classes
and maintained an "A" average throughout his high school career. He was
the valedictorian for the Class of 1963.
During the Christmas holiday of 1965 Patrick Michael Navolanic passed away in Montargis,
Loiret, France. Pat was on vacation from his studies at the University of Stanford.
His untimely death was blamed on a faulty gas heater.
A memorial award in his name honoring the student that most exemplifies Pat's leadership
traits, scholarship skills, and athletic prowess was first handed out in 1966. Click here to see a a complete list of PNMA winners.
Pat Navolanic was Student Body
President his senior year. His term began with second semester.
He replaced his twin brother, who had led the ASB the first semester.
"While Pat Navolanic achieved marked distinction
in every area of student involvement during his career at Glendale High School, it
was his awareness of others that made him such an outstanding personality to me.
He had that rare power found in few persons of making people feel they were important."
- Warren Johnson, GHS English Teacher
"As 1963 winner of the coveted Seymour Award, Pat brought great honor to Glendale
High School. The recipient of this award must not only exemplify excellence in scholarship,
but also demonstrate superior leadership and service to school, church and community,
this constituting the ideal of the California Scholarship Federation, a statewide
Honor Society. Pat won over 100,000 graduating seniors from 160 high schools."
- Bernice Placentine, GHS Social Studies Teacher
"It was his infectious enthusiasm,
tempered with an enviable ability to look with his heart instead of his eyes that
made Pat such an inspiration to me throughtout the years I knew him." - Prudy
Nater, 1963 GHS Girls' League President
"He made everyone's life seem worthwhile." - Bill Greco, 1963 Director
of Assemblies
"I had the good fortune of meeting Pat Navolanic on the playing fields, through academic discussions, in several Forums and in the social atmosphere. Each was a unique and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Pat's family and friends may find security in the sentiments expressed by Bailey in the Festus: 'It matters not how long we live, but how.' - and Pat Navolanic has left me with an inkling of how to live." - Rolf Rudestam, Hoover alumnus
Now in its 35th year, The Pat Navolanic Memorial Award is an annual scholarship bestowed on worthy students. Each winner receives a $1,000 scholarship, runners-up each receive $100. The PNMA is funded by generous donations from teachers, students, alumni and the community. If you would like to make a donation in any amount to fund the next Pat Navolanic Memorial Award, make your check payable to Glendale High School and mail it to:
Glendale High School
PNMA Fund
1440 E. Broadway
Glendale CA 91205
For more information about the PNMA, contact the Principal's Office at 818-242-3161
or email us here at www.nitros.org
