NO BRICKBATS VIKINGS FANS PAY $100 OR MORE FOR PAVEMENT MESSAGES.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Valencia High's student government is planning to outfit the new campus football stadium one brick at a time.

The Associated Student Body is selling engraved bricks to raise money for amenities such as a public-address system and concession stand at the planned 4,800-seat stadium, scheduled to open this fall.

Vince Ferry, student government director, said Viking fans can spend $100 to $1,000 to leave their names, remarks or even corporate logos on bricks that will adorn a Walk of Fans at the stadium's entrance.

``It's just a way to recognize some of the students, for students to have their name as part of the stadium, especially the ones who graduated from Valencia,'' he said. ``We've wanted it for a long time.''

Valencia High athletics boosters have pressed the William S. Hart Union High School District board to break ground on a stadium for several years. But officials could not act until planners completed the districtwide master athletic facilities plan last November.

Doug Broers, a Valencia High graduate, borrowed the idea from Hart High School, whose Walk of Friends was built from engraved bricks sold to raise money for gym and auditorium repairs after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

``We've always thought it was a very good fund-raiser since we'll be having so many expenses next year,'' said Broers, who made the suggestion before he was graduated last year. ``We like to cover all the costs of the stadium. If we have some money left over, we can do some campus beautification projects.''

For the initial push, the student body recruited school athletes to go door-to-door. But the fund-raiser is intended to be an ongoing project so successive classes can leave their bricks and mortar.

``A lot of people who like to go back to the football games can see their names,'' Broers said. ``It'll be a part of Valencia history.''

Hart's walk is shaped like an H circled in red. While Valencia student leaders have not settled on a design for their walk, Ferry said a giant V might be appropriate - and not just to stand for ``Valencia'' or ``Vikings.''

``It stands for `victory,''' Ferry quipped.

Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Valencia High students and graduates are letting stadium-fund donors get names engraved on bricks for a Walk of Fans. From left are Heather Albin, Doug Broers and Kaitlyn Weiss.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer