Paloma Valley High Math Building Renamed After Fred Twyman

Paloma Valley High math teacher Cipriano Armijo speaks to guests during the dedication of the Fred Twyman Memorial Mathematics Building on Thursday.

It was only fitting that members of the Paloma Valley High School mathematics department chose Thursday -- international Pi Day -- to rename the department's class building in memory of the late Fred Twyman.

In the spirit of a teacher who always found a way to make math fun, faculty and administrators wore T-shirts with messages such as "Math Nerd" and "Weapon of Math Destruction" to a ceremony dedicating the building in honor Twyman, a teacher who died in June of 2011 at age 46.

Speaking from a podium set up in front of the former Building R on campus, math teacher Cipriano Armijo explained the significance of the day recognizing the significance of Pi -- a Greek letter used to represent a constant in math that roughly equals 3.14. Afterward, he invited guests inside to enjoy a piece of pie in honor of their departed faculty member.

While Thursday's ceremony was a tribute to a man whose commitment to the school and the community of Menifee definitely was serious, speakers were quick to point out the outgoing personality that enabled Twyman to make math interesting and fun for his students.

"He would play Star Wars movies over and over on a TV in his classroom at lunchtime," recalled Ryan Lundstrom, a former student of Twyman's who returned a few years ago as a math teacher at his alma mater. "He would do handstands during class. He definitely took your mind off the challenges of learning math. You liked the guy, so you wanted to perform well for him."

Perris Union High School District Dr. Jonathan Greenberg joined members of the school board and city council in attending the ceremony. Much was said about the impact on the community by Twyman, who served on the

Ryan Lundstrom, a math teacher and former
student of Fred Twyman, addresses the audience.

school board, Trails Commission and Menifee
City Council in helping to bring about cityhood
and improvements in the school district.

The real emphasis on Thursday, however, was the direct impact Twyman had on his students and colleagues at the school, where he taught since its opening in 1995.

"Fred had a unique skill set," recalled Tom Vangeison, a math teacher who shared a classroom with Twyman when he first started at the school. "He could see a need and he would decide how he would help change and facilitate the process. He was chairman of the math department and he made it a fun place."

Twyman's brother, Jim, attended a ceremony last spring when the school dedicated a plaque in Fred's honor at the base of a magnolia tree in front of the math building. Jim said he was honored to return Thursday for the building dedication.

"Our family was talking about this and how we thought it's amazing that even after we're all gone, this building will still be here with Fred's name on it," he said. "This shows the immensity of the impact he had here. We're very honored to have the same last name as Fred."

Math teacher Tom Vangeison shares his
memories of Fred Twyman.