Our WHS Alumni Spotlight is a posthumous one today for an alum that is very dear to us at WCS and in this community - Steven Haines, Class of 1968.  While Steven was in high school he participated in theatre, choirs, and debate, and he was an announcer for band halftime shows. 

His wife Becky, shared that Steven’s favorite teachers were Randy Bolton (Theatre), George Wilson (Choir), and Ann Wolford (English). She said he had too many favorite memories to mention! 

After graduation from WHS in 1968, Steven attended Wilmington College, graduating with a degree in Education. He married Becky Heiland (WHS Class of 1968) and went on to teach at Wilmington City Schools for 33 years! Throughout his career at WCS Steven taught elementary and middle school music, gifted and talented, and ran the high school theatre program. A 2004 Alumni, Bryan Olinger, recently said of Steven, “He helped so many of us learn how to think about ourselves and the young adults we wanted to be, as we learned how to temporarily act like someone else for the show.”  His positive impact on the students at WCS is a tremendous legacy.

In addition to his work at WCS, Steven was very involved in the Wilmington Community. He founded and directed shows for the Wilmington College Community Summer Theatre program for 40 years, was part of the first management group for the Murphy Theatre when it was taken over by the community, served as Choir Director at the Wilmington United Methodist Church for 30 plus years, and was a Board Member for the Wilmington Schools Foundation for several years. He was a talented performer, an extraordinary teacher, and a champion for the performing arts in our community and in our schools.. 

Becky gave us the following advice that Steven often shared:

• Think outside the box

• Believe in yourself, have confidence in yourself

• Get outside your comfort zone

• Don't be afraid to fail, learn from your mistakes

• Make it your business to know your business

Steven Haines passed away on October 21, 2020. He left behind his loving wife Becky and a community that was so incredibly impacted by his talent, his life, and his work. Becky, thank you for sharing him with Wilmington City Schools and the community, and for your own involvement with our theatre program over the years. #CanePride  #CaneConnectedCommunity