Gallery • 6 Photos

Nikola Zivkovic

Sam Van Zandt, morning host of 94.5 KBAY-FM, and Lincoln math teacher Mrs. Reid pose in front of Room 1's new 3D printer. Van Zandt donated some of the funds for the printer.

Lincoln alumnus Sam Van Zandt talked to students about his past, and his career after graduating in 1963 from Lincoln High School. He visited Geometry teacher Ms. Reid’s class during advisory on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

First, Van Zandt told students about his high school experience. While Van Zandt was attending Lincoln, he read the daily announcements. One day, John Quinn, who is now a millionaire, “decided to be a little goofy before [Van Zandt] made [his] bulletin to crack [him] up.”

Van Zandt could not stop laughing as he delivered the announcements that morning. After Van Zandt finished stumbling through the announcements, the principal, Dr. Kennedy, came in and told him that he was very unprofessional. Van Zandt was told that he would never be successful in public speaking if he did not learn to control himself.

After high school, Van Zandt maintained his fondness for public speaking and sought to pursue a career in it. He found a radio station in Gilroy that was hiring, showed up for the interview, did a three minute skit on the air, and was hired on the spot. Van Zandt started working four hour shifts as a host at the radio station while he attended college at San Jose State University.

Today, Van Zandt continues to work for the same radio station, 94.5 KBAY-FM, in his hometown of San Jose. In addition to his role at the radio station, Van Zandt is involved in a variety of community outreach programs.

Van Zandt, along with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation and Wells Fargo, help fundraise for technology, equipment, and field trips for teachers across the Bay Area. In fact, Van Zandt helped Lincoln’s own Mrs. Reid raise funds for the 3D printer.

Curious about what school was like back in the 60s? Click here to see.