Agenda Item
b. Recommendation to Name the Future Additional Seating and Press Box at Dunwoody High School as Seacrest Stadium
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member, District 1
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the recommendation to name the future Additional Seating and Press Box at Dunwoody High School as "Seacrest Stadium" effective upon opening.
Details: In accordance with Board Policy FDC and Regulation FDC-R(1) Section II: Naming or Renaming a Portion of a School or Facility, a naming committee comprised of the primary board member, the school principal, four staff members, and four community members, met on November 17, 2025, to review the proposal and vote on the naming recommendation. The naming committee also met on November 24, 2025, to incorporate feedback received and to update the naming recommendation.
Financial impact: No Financial Impact
Contact: Mr. Andrew B. Ziffer, Board Member, District 1, 678.676.0722
Mr. Tom Bass, Principal, Dunwoody High School, Division of Schools & Leadership, 678.874.8502
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Legal Approval Not Required
Naming Committee
Background of Naming Committee:
Date: November 17th, 2025 7:30 p.m
Background:
Ryan Seacrest’s story began right here in the DeKalb County School System. As a student at
Dunwoody High School, Ryan auditioned for — and earned — the opportunity to host the
school’s morning announcements. At just 16 years old, he transformed the daily
announcements into a full morning broadcast show, beginning each day with an enthusiastic,
“Good morning, Dunwoody!” Ryan’s creativity and vision quickly earned him the reputation as
“The Voice of Dunwoody.” During his broadcasts, he regularly recognized students, teachers,
and parents, celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to the school.
Ryan also represented DeKalb County as a member of the Dunwoody High School football
team, which won the 1992 AAAA Regional Championship. The Voice of Dunwoody not only
starred on the field — he also highlighted the team’s achievements on the morning show. It is
no surprise that Ryan used the foundation of success built in the DeKalb County School
System to launch a remarkable and influential career.
Since graduating from Dunwoody High School, Ryan has become an Emmy-winning television
host, radio personality, mega producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Today, he is one of
the most recognizable and trusted voices in media. Seacrest hosts and produces the #1 Los
Angeles morning drive-time show for iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS-FM, as well as the internationally
syndicated “On Air with Ryan Seacrest” and “American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest.” In Fall 2024,
he took the reins of “Wheel of Fortune,” ushering in a new era of the beloved syndicated game
show — now ranked as the #2 syndicated show in the United States. This year, Seacrest also
began hosting season 6 of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.”
Long before reaching national prominence, Ryan Seacrest was a DeKalb County student — a
Dunwoody Wildcat on the football field and a proud representative of this community. Just as
Ryan once used his platform to recognize the students, educators, and families of this school
system, it is now time for us to recognize him for his extraordinary accomplishments and for
the immeasurable impact he continues to have on this community.
This committee recommends naming the future Additional Seating and Press Box at Dunwoody
High School the “Seacrest Stadium” in his honor. The naming of this facility will serve as a
lasting reminder and inspiration that students of the DeKalb County School System can go out
into the world and achieve outstanding accomplishments.