Rowland High inducts Patrick Hosterman and John Molla into Alumni Hall of Fame
One has traveled around the world serving his country, while the other has never ventured far from home while serving his community. But both were honored Oct. 5 when they were inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at Rowland High School.
Patrick Hosterman
Patrick Hosterman joined the Navy when he graduated in 1988. And he's been there ever since, serving many deployments overseas, including Operation Desert Shield, then Desert Storm.
After training as a recruit in San Diego, Hosterman took avionics training at the Naval Air Technical Center in Tennessee. In 1992, he was assigned to the USS Ranger, an aircraft supercarrier.
"I worked on the radar and sonar systems flown on the helicopters
Later, the naval technician served in Iraq, then Somalia, where he helped with the massive relief effort to help starving Somalis.
"Basically, my job was to keep the helicopters flying, so we could support Operation Restore Hope," Hosterman recalled.
Over the years, the local sailor has steadily risen in rank to Chief Petty Officer and Senior Chief Petty Officer. Recently, he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer.
"I've continued my higher education, earning a bachelor's degree in business management from Columbia Southern University and a master's degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas," Hosterman said.
In 2010, the petty officer joined the vaunted Blue Angels as the maintenance senior chief. His job is to keep the planes in the Navy and Marine flight demonstration team in the air.
Last weekend, the Blue Angels performed during Fleet Week in San Francisco. This weekend, they are scheduled to appear at the Marine airshow in Miramar outside San Diego.
"We have several teams who take turns working the different air shows," the avionics specialist explained.
The Raider alumnus has received many commendations and medals during his Naval career. He has also been honored for his volunteer work with his family.
Hosterman is married to his wife, Sherry, a 1992 graduate of Rowland High. They have three children.
"We like to volunteer as a family," he said. "We've worked at many organizations such as the USS Hornet Museum."
The master chief credits Rowland High with much of his success.
"The educational foundations helped me to excel in electronics and eventually lead me to completion of my college degrees," Hosterman explained.
John Molla
John Molla grew up in a Rowland family. His dad, John Sr., actually graduated with Rowland High's first graduating
class in 1966. An aunt and uncle are also Rowland grads.
"I've been a Raider my whole life, the high school is home to me," Molla said.
In fact, the popular math teacher has been at the local high school for 26 years, four as a student and 22 as an instructor.
In 2008, Molla was named the district's teacher of the year.
"I took math in a classroom only six feet from here. Now I love teaching math to students here," Molla explained.
The Rowland alumnus originally planned another career. The varsity baseball player studied broadcast journalism at Cal State Fullerton.
"I wanted to be a sportscaster. When I graduated from Fullerton, I got two job offers in Butte, Mont., and Boise, Idaho."
The young man didn't want to move away, so he decided to get a teaching credential.
"My mother remembers me telling her that I wanted to become a teacher and coach baseball when I was a second-grader at Jellick Elementary. So I guess it was always in the back of my mind," Molla recalled.
Molla returned to school and received his teaching degree in social science and math. When offered a position at his old high school, he jumped at the chance.
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