2024 Hall of Fame

“For the Service of Humanity” was not just a motto that Anesa Buchanan, Class of 1999, lived by as a student at East High School. It has guided her life.

Healthcare in Des Moines is better because of Anesa. Eighteen years ago, she began her career at UnityPoint Health.

“Before diversity, equity and inclusion was a focus for many organizations, Anesa understood its significance and made it a priority to eliminate disparities for both her patients and staff,” said Courtney Maxwell Green, UnityPoint director of external partnerships and community engagement and a 2007 EHS Hall of Fame inductee.

Seven years into her career at UnityPoint Clinic, Anesa was leading UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine-East Des Moines/La Clinica de la Esperanza, the network’s most diverse health clinic. Not only has Anesa looked out for her patients, but she has committed to supporting underrepresented team members by setting them up for success. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anesa kept her clinic open for extended hours and on weekends to provide vaccines to at-risk patients. She was a trusted voice on vaccines for UnityPoint in Central Iowa.

Currently, Anesa is leading the Enterprise Health Equity Council established to address health inequalities and eliminate healthcare disparities. Her passion for serving others comes from her Eastside ties.

“East and the neighborhood surrounding East is very important to me. Everyone should have equal access to the ability to prosper, no matter what barriers are in their way. Being an alumna, I feel a responsibility to the East High neighborhood and to the students of East High to help them achieve their dreams and be in a place where they can thrive,” Anesa said.

As an East student, Anesa has fond memories that include state Jazz Band, basketball, running track and participating in choir and show choir. These activities brought not only lifelong friends, but lifelong lessons.

“I have made lifelong friends and associates that I never would have made had I not attended East. I also developed a passion of serving those around me and wanting to help make my community a wonderful and safe place,” Anesa said. “By having the experiences that I did in high school, I developed empathy for those around me who were struggling with things they had no control over. This has really shaped my life and career. The career path I have taken, of working on developing opportunities for those in the community to have equitable access to healthcare and healthcare-related services, was directly influenced by my time at EHS.”

Anesa is married to Korey and has two children, Allen and Alesha Henderson. Being a single mom for most her children’s childhood instilled in her the strength to persevere against all hardships. Anesa has an extremely supportive family that have been by her side through it all including her parents and sister.

From the hallways of East High School to the Blue Oval of the Drake Relays to the principal’s office at West Des Moines Valley High School, David Maxwell, Class of 1989, has been impacted by his experiences.

After considering other career paths, David followed his heart into education after being heavily influenced by East teacher Bill Ackerman.

“He created the fire that made me want to be a teacher,” David said.

At the University of Iowa, David studied to be a secondary English teacher. It wasn’t long until he found himself back in Des Moines, student-teaching at North High School before landing his first teaching job at Lincoln High School. In 2002 he became an administrator at Hoover High School after earning his master’s degree from Iowa State University.

David took the leap to Valley in 2005, serving as associate principal before taking on the role of principal.

As an educator, David’s career is decorated. He published a book, “The Soul of an Educator” in 2015. The book details how teachers can build relationships with students and the impact it has on education. David was also named the Mary McLeod Bethune Educator of the Year in 2011.

The Eastside adage “Lee Township against the world” resonates with David. He loves the underdog mentality. “I have so much pride being an Eastsider. I’m so thankful that I grew up on the Eastside,” he said.

Service leadership is part of David’s personal philosophy, tapping into East’s motto, “For the Service of Humanity.” He is currently an East High Alumni Board member. He is active on the Lutheran Church of Hope’s church council. He was West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce’s Co-Citizen of the Year for his efforts around equity and inclusion. David serves as the chief clerk of course for the Drake Relays.

If you can’t find David at Valley High School, Lutheran Church of Hope or the Drake Relays, you may be able to find him rocking out on stage as the bass player for Faculty Lounge, a local funk band of educators from the metro.

Despite his busy schedule, David most enjoys time spent with his family: wife Kelly, daughters Alanna and Natalie, and son Joe.

Scarlet ties run deep in David’s family. His three siblings also attended East. His sister Courtney Maxwell Greene, Class of 1987, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Another source of pride for the Maxwell family is their membership in the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head, Aquinnah, a federally recognized Native American Tribe located on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, where his mother was born and raised.

If you’ve heard of Miller the Driller, you’re probably from Des Moines. Kris Miller Young, Class of 1969, used her foundation from East High School to contribute to and further her family’s successful business. In 1948, her father, Gene Miller, also an East graduate, started Miller the Driller. Kris joined her dad in 1974, later becoming president in 1982, then CEO in 1990.

“I learned the business, brought my skills in,” Kris said.

This Eastside family business included her mom Martha (Peterson) Miller, class of 1946, and eventually her son and grandson.

“I was so blessed to be a part of what we did as a business,” she said.

An opportunity provided at East helped Kris realize her talent for accounting. Through business courses offered at East, she worked during her senior year and graduated already employed.

“I was able to continue both working and adding more accounting courses post-graduation. In running my business, I always had that to help me even after I didn’t do everything myself. Some of those skills I still use in retirement,” Kris said.

Aside from her important work with Miller the Driller, Kris has worked as an accountant for other companies, as well as volunteering as treasurer for Rising Sun Church of Christ. For 13 years. Kris was also involved in Gideons Auxiliary State of Iowa, serving as the state president from 2017 to 2021 and as treasurer for three years before that.

East High roots run deep in Kris’ family. Not only did her dad attend East, but her grandmother and aunts were East High students and grads.

Kris made the leap from a country school that included just 12 students in Pleasant Hill to Woodrow Wilson Middle School and then East. The move was big for her, but she appreciated how East help define her formative years.

“East was a defining time for me. I’ve always felt that being at East wasn’t so much about who I was, but rather who I would become as an adult,” Kris said.

One of Kris’ proudest accomplishments is being a part of the Alumni Foundation. “We have grown, faced the challenges of life and been able to give back. Proud to be an East High alum,” Kris said.

A leader, actor, Realtor, and philanthropist. Marcia Wanamaker will now take her place in the Alumni Hall of Fame. This outstanding woman is highly valued for her endless dedication toward East and her community.

Throughout life, Marcia has actively participated in various community services, often championing underrepresented groups in Des Moines. Even with years of committed service under her belt, Marcia modestly shies away from the limelight, driven by her innate desire to assist those facing challenges. She truly embodies the ethos of East High, as mirrored in its motto: “For the Service of Humanity.”

Reflecting on her time at East High School as part of the Class of 1968, Marcia recalls that neither the school motto nor the notion of giving back to the community deeply resonated with her initially. However, with maturity came a deep understanding of their significance.

Following her graduation, Marcia ventured into sales roles before establishing herself as a Realtor at Iowa Realty in 1988. Together with her husband, Rick, they have facilitated real estate transactions totaling $1.3 billion over 36 years. Marcia’s excellence in the field was recognized when she was named the 2002 Realtor of the Year by the Des Moines Association of Realtors. Moreover, Marcia and Rick’s outstanding achievements resulted in their recognition as the premier Realtor Team in Iowa for 2022, as voted by FastExpert.com.

In addition to her active professional life, Marcia is easily moved by those in need. Currently, she is actively mentoring an immigrant family from Uganda, comprising five orphaned children and their caregivers. Marcia’s efforts have helped unite the family under one roof in Waukee, fostering a sense of stability and belonging.

In her own words, Marcia articulates the profound satisfaction derived from both receiving and providing support. She acknowledges the impact of contributing to the well-being of others, a sentiment that fuels her sense of purpose.
Marcia’s artistic talents extend to the stage, where she has been in several productions at the Des Moines Community Playhouse. Among her favorite roles was in “Tony and Tina’s Wedding,” a show characterized by interactive engagement with the audience.

Later in life, she also uncovered her athletic talents and picked up basketball skills. Interestingly, her husband took on the role of her coach teaching her the art of the game. She played on three basketball teams; one was an All-Star traveling team composed of former women college basketball players. Her husband scheduled exhibition games with colleges around central Iowa.

A legacy of service runs deep in Marcia’s family, with her sister Pat Leader Schneider (Class of 1969), brother Bob Leader (Class of 1970), and mother Marcella (Class of 1940) all alumni of East High.

Marcia and Rick take pride in their family, which includes their son, Kip, his wife, Maria Thompson, and their grandchildren, Nico and Luca, who call St. Louis home.

Hanging on the walls in the main office at East High School, you will find portraits of those who have served as principal. While all have been impactful, few have left a legacy comparable to Mike Zelenovich, or as many lovingly call him “Mr. Z.”

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Z earned his bachelor’s in education from Drake University in 1974. This was the beginning of his journey as a teacher, assistant activities director and coach at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. As the head football coach, he was twice named Coach of the Year.

Destined for administration, Mr. Z earned his master’s degree in educational administration at Northern Illinois University.

In 1983, Mr. Z returned to Des Moines, where he remained for the rest of his career. Starting out as physical education teacher and varsity football coach at Roosevelt High School, he would be named Metro Coach of the Year in 1984. What made Mr. Z a successful coach also helped make him a better administrator.

“I believe that I tried my best to lead a building the same way I coached. Support your students and teachers, and have high expectations, and assist parents and community in any way you can,” he said. “I tried to use common sense in any scenario that arose. Sometimes coaches and principals can make things too hard by not using common sense. I learned that several times the hard way.”

In 1988, Mr. Z made his way to the Eastside, serving as vice principal at East until 1994, when he became principal at May Goodrell Middle School. He was appointed principal at East High School in 2005, where he would make his home for the next five years.

As East’s principal, Mr. Z was beloved by students and staff alike.

“As a former teacher and coach, he was able to relate to the staff at their level,” said Lowell Long, Class of 1975, retired East teacher and Alumni Hall of Famer.

In 2010, Mr. Z was promoted to district director of athletics and activities. He retired in 2012. Despite not working for Des Moines Public Schools anymore, Mr. Z is still a fixture at East events, including the annual alumni golf outing.

“I think that East High sort of sticks with you after you leave. I believe that is one of the things that make her such a special place,” he said. “I worked with a lot of great teachers over the years and served a lot of parents who remain friends today. Living on the Eastside and having all our children graduate from East certainly made it much easier to stay involved,” Mr. Z said.

Mr. Z’s wife, Vicki Carr, Class of 1970, and mother-in-law, Dorthea Norris, Class of 1950, also attended East.

It’s not often that non-alumni are inducted into the East High School Alumni Hall of Fame, a fact not lost on Mr. Z.

“I am humbled and grateful to be honored by such an outstanding alumni association and the rich tradition that makes East High what she is,” he said.