Phil Casillas

Wow, 30 years already? Time sure has flown by, but it has been heartwarming to reconnect with old high school chums and get to
see what they have been up to these past 30 years.

After Hilltop I wanted to join the Marines or Navy but attended Southwestern College, majored in photography but graduated w/ a degree in computer science. While at school I worked part-time at JC Penney at the Chula Vista mall. Soon after graduating from Southwestern I got my first real job at the Naval Oceans Systems Center (Now SPAWAR) in Point Loma as a computer operations trainee. Spent 12 years there at NOSC, NRAD, NCCOSC, SPAWAR. Too many acronyms. Was an Operations Supervisor/Security Analyst when I left to accept a nice job offer from Sun Microsystems to become their engineering labs manager. I'm an Engineering Program Manager at Sun and have been here 11 1/2 years. Lord willing I'll still be here once Oracle buys Sun. Pray for me!!

For fun, I'm on the Crisis Intervention Team with the San Diego Police Department as an interventionist and trainer. And in a similar role, on the Citizens Adversity Support Team with the Chula Vista Police and Fire Departments as trauma/crisis counselor. When I need my cop fix, I'll go on a ride-along.

Have stayed in touch with some of my best friends from Hilltop and reconnected with more through Facebook. Look me up if you'd like to catch up.

I still love photography, baseball and the beach.

I have been married to my beautiful wife, Adriana, for almost 12 years and we have a 9 year old son, Diego and a 7 year old daughter, Dariana. They are the love of my life and they keep me young at heart. At my age, physically, a lot of my bones hurt! We live in Bonita, Ca. and have two roosters and two hens.

Life is wonderful.

Looking forward to seeing and reconnecting with all my fellow Lancers. It's been a fun ride so far. Sad to see those that have
passed on. God bless them.

Great times at Hilltop. It was more like "Fast Times At Hilltop High"

I remember our teachers, Jigger Jones and mythology. Ms. Oury/Ormsby, Mr. Chapman, who used to call me Funky Winkerbean, no
idea why. Mr. Eubanks' drama class and Laurie, Paige and Debbie causing gold ol' fashioned trouble. Mrs' Chirstensen's
English class. Man, I dreaded that class. Got so many detentions along with Sam Cordova. She used to call us "the instigators". But I must admit, she was the best teacher I ever had. She made you learn.

Mr. Gritts' science class and one of the kids there always used to sing "You're a mean one, Mr. Gritts" (to the tune of Mr. Grinch) when he gave us a quiz. That was hilarious.

Getting my first speeding tickets after school.

All the Punk Rocker girls.

Changing the "Hilltop" letters in the gym to "Hillpot". Well, I remember them being changed. ; )

Going to La Bella's and Lolitas after football or girl's volleyball games.

Dee Dee always sticking her tongue out at me. The "Hoser Club", graphic arts class, photography class, "submarine races" at Gunpowder Point, driving at night to go look for the Proctor Valley Monster then being scared off by coyotes.

Loved all the summers spent in Coronado, boogie boarding, body surfing, all the keggers at the fire pits in the north end. Some of those parties I don't remember, but I knew I was there with Arnel, Linus, Joe, John, Frank, et al., the whole crew. Those were fun times. Blasting Van Halen's "Beautiful Girls" on Frank Jensen's "ghetto blaster", Sky Shows at the stadium w/ Cheap Trick, UFO, Blue Oyster Cult, Pat Travers Band "Boom Boom, Out Go The Lights".

All great memories. You 'member!