Before he ever stepped into the world of professional sports and global business, Andy Weitz was discovering his passion for communication at Westside High School, where journalism and debate gave him the tools to think critically and tell compelling stories. Looking back, he says those early experiences were nothing short of exceptional. 

“I had an incredible experience at Westside District 66 in general, all the way through elementary school, middle school and high school,” Weitz said. “It was an exceptional experience. I was lucky enough to be part of the journalism program and write for the school paper, particularly the sports page, which really reinforced a lifelong interest in sports that you see today in the job that I have.” 

Alongside journalism, Weitz was a member of the debate team. It helped him prepare for lifelong challenges that might appear down the road. 

“I was also a part of the debate team, which was an incredible experience and really formed the way I think about preparing for and arguing and navigating a lot of what I run into on a day-to-day basis in my job,” Weitz said. 

Two instructors really stuck out to Weitz in his time at Westside. With such exceptional educators Weitz was able to grow and learn beneficial skills. 

“David Richardson, who was the director of the debate team while I was there, and Rod Howe, who was the head of the journalism program, were formative in my life,” Weitz said.  “They helped me develop a set of skills that have served me in so many different ways over the years.”

Some of these skills that Weitz picked up in high school consisted of practicing the keys of journalistic writing. 

“I do think that the  most important things that I took away from journalism were, writing on deadline, writing clearly and concisely,” Weitz said. “Those are things that when you get out into your career, you don’t realize how valuable they are until you find how many people don’t have them. Rod Howe and the editors on the paper did a great job of really instilling in me the value of these.”

During his time writing for the sports section Weitz most notably remembers writing about intramural basketball and how it was a great way to share the news from the league. 

“I wrote the column for intramural basketball, which was kind of like you got to write a feature column where you got to make fun of your buddies who were playing,” Weitz said. “You got to make fun of the administrators who ran the league. I definitely maybe went too far on a few occasions and got a little static back from the folks who ran the program. But it was fun. Having that platform as a young person, getting to express yourself and being responsible for delivering a column pretty much every week was just an awesome responsibility.”

At Westside journalism is an elective, but Weitz has great memories from other classes that also helped him reach his current position.  

“I remember really enjoying the social studies classes I took. They were great civics and American history teachers that kind of challenged us and ran a really interactive classroom,” Weitz said. “I remember great English teachers as well that really instilled in me a love of reading and critical thinking that has benefited me in many ways throughout my career.”

After graduating from Westside in 1995, Weitz attended the University of Southern California where he majored in communications and political science, and was a member of the debate team. 

“I was lucky enough to attend the University of Southern California, and part of my interest in heading out there for college was that I received a scholarship for debate, which was a direct result of the incredible resources and opportunities and coaching at Westside High School,” Weitz said. “That really started me down a path, from an where I majored in communications and political science and further refined my interest in the space that I’ve ended up spending most of my career in.” 

After some time working, Weitz decided to get a business degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. 

“Later in my career, after I had been out in the workforce for a few years, I figured I would benefit from a business degree, so I went back and actually attended Northwestern University and got my MBA,” Weitz said. 

Weitz says he is grateful for the opportunities he had at Westside High School. He credits the school’s resources, committed teachers, and supportive curriculum for helping him discover his passions and thrive.

“I’m just really grateful to have gone to school at a place that created opportunities that had the funding, the committed teachers, the curriculum that allowed you to find the things you love and flourish,” Weitz said. 

Weitz reflects on how his experiences at Westside High School created lasting opportunities throughout his career. He says being part of the debate program taught him teamwork, goal-setting, and critical thinking skills that continue to make him more effective on the job.

“Throughout my career, I’ve looked back on things I learned and moments that defined me at Westside have definitely created opportunities for me,” Weitz said. “I think the opportunity to be a part of the debate program and to be responsible as part of a team  building arguments, organizing your thinking, setting goals and achieving them. There are so many things you take from that that make you better every day in your job.”

Weitz says the skills he developed early in life have given him the confidence to navigate a career across multiple industries. He credits effective writing and communication as the foundational tools that have guided him while pursuing work he loves.

“I’ve been lucky, and along the way I’ve been able to draw on those skills, and they’ve given me the confidence to bet on myself and move around in my career from industry to industry,” Weitz said. “The common thread has been that combination of learning how to be an effective writer, learning how to be an effective communicator, and then taking those foundational skills and following things that you love.”

Weitz credits his time at Westside for laying the foundation for his career. Today, he works at the PGA Tour, dealing regularly with some of the world’s biggest sports stars at a pivotal moment for professional golf.

“So in my case, to find myself at this point in my career, working at the PGA Tour, getting to deal on a regular basis with some of the biggest sports stars in the world at a moment when the Tour is at an inflection point, evolving and innovating and changing the way things are done in the game, it’s just incredibly exciting,” Weitz said. “But I know I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had some of the foundational experiences I had as far back as Westside High.”

Weitz has one piece of advice for all Westside students. 

“I’d say be confident in yourself,” Weitz said. “Be willing to take risks and create opportunities.”