In The Press
US Postal Service Honors Jaime Escalante with Commemorative Stamp
On July 13, 2016, the Jaime Escalante postal stamp went on sale. Jaime Escalante (1930-2010) is the math teacher depicted in the 1988 film "Stand and Deliver". Escalante successfully took, supposedly "unteachable", students from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and helped them master calculus with many of them going on to take Advanced Placement (AP) calculus their senior year. During this time, Henry Gradillas worked as the Principal of Garfield High School and was instrumental in supporting the efforts of Escalante. The film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2011.
The stamp is described on the USPS website as follows:
"Digitally illustrated by Jason Seiler, the stamp art depicts Escalante in a style meant to resemble an oil painting. Escalante stands in front of a chalkboard on which calculus symbols are visible. He is wearing his signature flat cap, looking forward toward the viewer. The illustration is based on a photograph taken by Jaime Escalante II, on May 6, 2005, in the classroom at Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento, CA, where his father formerly taught. Art Director Greg Breeding designed the stamp with original art by Seiler."
On Wednesday, July 13, 2016, the United States Postal Service hosted a First-Day-Of-Issue Dedication Ceremony at Washington Hilton. Henry was invited to attend as an honored guest but was unable to attend due to a natural disaster which left his home flooded and he and his wife stranded.
The Press Release is available here. The stamp can be purchased from the USPS website or from your local post office.