Annie Woods is shown here with the sign she built for the GHS Boneyard. Photo courtesy of Stacey Gramps

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – A very resourceful young lady, 2025 graduate Annie Woods, has created a beautiful new sign for the Bulldog Boneyard at Gridley High School.

Due to Woods past experience as a four-year welding student and member of the Agricultural Mechanics Team for Future Farmers of America (FFA), Principal Rikki-Lee Burresch approached Woods with the idea of replacing the existing old sign with a new one equipped with electric lighting. Burresch explained what she envisioned, and Woods went to work.

“She gave me some ideas, communicating for a couple of weeks, and I drew up plans,” said Woods, “During the building process I would check back with her for approval of each step. I had to make the posts as well as the sign, in addition to doing the electrical wiring, sand blasting and power coating. It took about 6 months to finish. I was really proud to leave a legacy at the school.”

Woods said she did about 90% of the work, and delegated others as needed to help with tasks such as moving the sheet metal. For that reason, it was a good leadership experience for her.

“It was almost a calling,” Woods said.           

The back side of the new GHS sign, “Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog,” is shown here. Photo courtesy of Stacey Gramps

Although the sign was completed last winter, it was installed by the Gridley High School maintenance crew just last week in time for football season.

“I have been so proud of this girl for so many things, but this leaves me speechless!” said Woods’ mother, Stacey Gramps in a Facebook post.

Just one of her many other accomplishments, Woods was chosen by Gridley Rotary Club to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening (RYLA) last year. Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening is a five-day camp held at Grizzly Creek Ranch near Portola, California. Woods joined dozens of other north state delegates to learn leadership and the value of ‘Service Above Self, the Rotary motto.   

Woods has shown her commitment to service with the Gridley High School sign project. This endeavor leads to her future plans to study Construction Management at Boise State University, at least tentatively.