calendar & events : 2003 21st cf gala

November 15, 2003 was a "not so late night with Conan O'Brien" and the 1981 graduate packed the room when he was presented with the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Conan O'Brien did not get voted Class Clown when he was at BHS - he was, in fact, the class valedictorian - but those who "knew him when" were not surprised to watch his entertainment star rise, first as a comedy writer and later as the host of NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He has since been named to be Jay Leno's successor on The Tonight Show.

The $300 (and up) tickets for the award gala sold out quickly but Mr. O'Brien made a point of doing a second show - this one for free, but only for current BHS students. The school's auditorium was standing-room-only that afternoon as the former Brookline High kid told stories and answered questions with more than a thousand students.

The weekend of activity raised almost $400,000 for the 21st Century Fund.

Master of Ceremonies: Lew Schneider, Class of 1979, Executive Producer, Everyone Loves Raymond

Title Sponsor: Bay State Federal Charitable Foundation