Since it opened its doors in 1971, Oak Forest High School has been the cornerstone of the community. Within the walls of OFHS, generations of Bengals have been challenged and inspired to find their place in the world and make their mark. At the heart of our school is the pride in our students’ accomplishments, past and present, memorialized by photos displayed throughout the building on the Walls of Fame. 

     It has recently come to the community's attention that the administration is in the process of tearing down the faces that make up the Walls of Fame, literally “defacing” the hallways and obliterating much of the personality of our school. We have been told that the photos will eventually be replaced by a computer screen outside of the cafeteria. It will display a slideshow of the photos and give viewers the option to search names and activities in a database.

     While we are grateful that technology will further allow us to remember the great accomplishments of our alumni, a single computer screen and freshly painted walls should not replace the thousands of powerful images that inspire all who attend and visit OFHS.

     Although a nice addition to the Walls of Fame, a computer can only be accessed by one person at a time, viewing one individual or team at a time. In contrast, the Walls of Fame allow hundreds of people at a time to walk through the hallways, effortlessly admiring generations of Bengals who have earned their place on the walls and paved the way for future Oak Forest students.

     Our Bengal spirit is personified by the Walls of Fame. My peers and I, alongside countless alumni immortalized on the walls, believe that it is imperative that the faces of Bengal Nation remain in place so that they may continue to inspire future generations of Bengals. We believe that current students, alumni and community members should have a voice in the fate of the photos that comprise the Walls of Fame. OFHS is not about fresh paint and computer screens. The spirit of Bengal Nation lies in the legacy of its people.

     As the current Executive Board President of the OFHS Student Council, I am petitioning the Bremen High School District 228 Board of Education and OFHS administrators to allow me to form a committee comprised of students, alumni and community members to return and maintain the photos and continue the legacy embodied on these Walls of Fame. They are a daily reminder of past successes and inspire current and future Bengals to strive to continue Oak Forest's proud tradition: "Academics plus Activities equal Excellence".