For the next 48 years, valedictorians at Chino Hills High School will have their names proudly displayed on the administration wall, thanks to Mark Warner.
The self-proclaimed family man said he saw a need for a recognition plaque, and he took action.
"It's something we should all be doing," said Warner of Chino Hills. "I was just giving back to the community."
Warner's son, Justin Meza, graduated as the school's first valedictorian since its opening in 2001, and his daughter, Arianna Meza, is a junior.
Because the school is only 5 years old, Warner said he understood that there is still a need for supplies.
"With budget cuts and all, I wanted to make sure there would be something around 50 years from now," Warner said.
So he designed a 3-foot-by-2-foot wooden plaque with 50 nameplates attached. Engraved above the names are the words, "Chino Hills High School Valedictorian" and the school's emblem.
Warner, who is in the insurance business, said the plaque took a total of three months to design and construct.
"A friend put the wood pieces together and we had a professional do the engraving," he said.
But Warner said he was the one to create the plaque, including the decision to add the emblem and 50 nameplates. And with Principal Carl Hampton's permission, he completed his project.
"Carl just let me do it," he said.
Hampton said he appreciates it when a parent steps up and volunteers to make a specific way to recognize the students who were named top honor of their graduating class.
"We place such a high emphasis on academics. We wanted a plaque to recognize these students," said the Chino resident.
The school was officially presented the plaque at the annual awards ceremony on June 7.
"We are going to mount it in the main lobby next week," Hampton said.
Meza's name has the honor of being in the first plate, while Alvin David and David Umberg share the title of this year's position.
"We will honor from the year 2005 to 2055," Hampton said.
Although Warner said he designed the plaque to highlight the academic accomplishments of the Chino Hills High School students, there is a sense of pride he does possess after everything is finished.
"It will be nice to come back here 30 years from now and see it," he said.
Presenting the plaque to their children's high school is not the only thing the Warners have done to help. He is active in church and community functions, but said there is always more to be done.
"My wife (Janet) and I want to become even more active in giving back to the community when we retire," Warner said.