Report by Golden Grads President Doug Whalley

The 35th Annual Golden Grad Luncheon was held June 7, 2017 at Sand Point Country Club and it was very successful despite a parking conflict with a golf tournament scheduled at the same time. (Extra golf carts were pressed into service to transport grads.)

Roosevelt orchestra members performed as guests arrived.

Master of Ceremonies Rick Keating (’64) introduced the classes of 1947 (70th anniversary), 1957 (60th), and 1967 (50th). Ten students received college scholarships for academic excellence from our endowment funds, including a $1,000 RHS Spirit Award supplementing the GG scholarship award for the student who contributed the most to Roosevelt. The Class of 1963 sponsored this year’s Spirit Award, and the Classes of 1951 and 1953 will sponsor it in 2018.

The Class of 1962 again raised $1,000 in scholarship funds to honor a former teacher, this year Dr. Earl Prebezac.

In a special presentation, three Roosevelt Robotics Team members (all female) showed us their award-winning robot. They did not actually turn it on, since they were worried it would rip up the carpet. Luckily, we did not have to face that problem when we were in school.

We were excited to welcome new principal Kristina Anderson Rodgers, who is not only a Roosevelt alum but also the daughter of alums Bill (’65) and Nancy Ford Anderson (’66). Kristina was formerly an assistant principal at Roosevelt. Brian Vance, who has been an outstanding principal for over ten years, is moving to West Seattle High School.

At the luncheon he thanked the Golden Grads for their support, and told Rick Keating he would not surrender his honorary Roosevelt diploma. The former West Seattle principal is moving to Lincoln High School. Yes, that Lincoln High School. They’re back!

Congratulations to Jazz Band 2! for their performances at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival! Jazz Band 2, Jazz Band 3 and Vocal Jazz attended.

Get ready for the Golden Grads Annual Luncheon coming up Wednesday, June 7 at 11:00 am. The festive event will again be at the Sand Point Country Club. Stay tuned for more information and watch for the registration form in the Spring Grapevine.

Golden Grads Night at the Spring Musical is free for Golden Grads at the dress rehearsal May 23 at 7:30 pm. Nice Work if You Can Get It, written by George and Ira Gershwin and presented by RHS drama with the RHS Jazz Band live on stage, will put a spring in your step! All following performances (May 25-June 4) will be available at regular prices. Contact the school to purchase tickets.

Golden Grads is always grateful for a Memorial Donation honoring one of our loyal members who have passed on. Memorial Donations can be made payable to RHS Golden Grads and mailed to P.O. Box 281, Edmonds WA 98020-0281. You may make the donation to be used for: Student Scholarships, Teacher’s Wish List or the General Fund. You will be sent a thank you from the Golden Grads.

Congratulations to Jazz Band 2 on qualifying as a finalist (High School Big Band Division) for the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival! The festival takes place from March 31-April 2, 2017 in Monterey, California. Roosevelt will be well represented at this festival with three ensembles attending and performing: Jazz Band 2, Jazz Band 3 and Vocal Jazz.

Swing into the holiday season with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s festive Jazz Nutcracker, a fanciful take on the Tchaikovsky suite. The award-winning Roosevelt Jazz Band is fortunate to have the rights to perform this arrangement. Join us for a Seattle tradition. Check out this video for a preview of what you will enjoy at the show.

Report by Golden Grads President Doug Whalley

Thanks to Luncheon Chair Cindy Dack and her team of volunteers, 175 Golden Grads and guests gathered for our annual luncheon at Sand Point Country Club. Twenty-six classes were represented, from 1937 to 1966. The Class of 1963 had the most participants, with a world’s record 37 members present.

Other classes with significant turn-outs were 1952, 1953, 1960, and 1965. Special acknowledgement to our oldest attendees: Ralph Jenkins ’37, Anna Louise Hicks Wickland ’38, and Thomas Allen ’39.

MC Rick Keating ’64 did a great job again this year keeping the program moving. He insulted me only three or four times, down from last year 😉… Principal Brian Vance and Vice-Principal/RHS alumna Kristina Anderson Rogers spoke about activities at Roosevelt. Brian mentioned, as he always does, that he was not a Roosevelt grad and we surprised him with an impressive-looking honorary diploma, thanks to the efforts of Bob Reddick ’53 and Dave Watts ‘63. We recognized retiring school counselor, Dr. Littlebrave Beaston, who helped us select scholarship recipients. A new counselor, Roosevelt grad Nikki Sortum Duncan was also introdued.

Scott Brown, award winning RHS jazz director since 1984, led a performance by several of his students including B. Porter Jones who also received our Jeanne De Friel Gardiner Scholars Certificate. Kierra Nguyen was awarded the Music and Dramatic Arts Honor Certificate and Yi Ren received the $1,000 Spirit Award, this year sponsored by the Class of 1964 (and next year by the Class of 1963).

With Norma Hanberg present, the Class of 1962 presented a $1,000 scholarship to student Helen Schuda in honor of Dale Hanberg, long-time RHS teacher and advisor.

Mention should be made of the Cauliflower Steak incident. It was listed on the menu provided by the Country Club and several members assumed, wrongly, that it was real steak, not a fancy name for a vegetable with attitude. Fortunately, the kitchen had extra salmon, avoiding a riot!

The thirty-fourth Anniversary of the RHS Golden Grads Luncheon will be held on Wednesday June 1st, 2016 at the beautiful Sand Point Country Club. Come and have a ball! There’s always good food, a great program, and just plain fun with the RHS Grads of your class and others. We had a fine time last year when two of retiring Ruben Van Kampen’s students performed a Cabaret number that brought down the house: “Money, money makes the world go round” got a standing ovation. After lunch, there will be a short Annual Business Meeting and Election of Officers, and you’ll meet this year’s scholarship winners.

Time: Doors open at 11:00 AM – 11:00 to 12:00 Social Hour & sign in at the Registration Table and pick up your envelope. At 12:15 PM, will start serving lunch

Seating: Each GG member attending the luncheon has a place reserved with his or her class.

Parking: ( You can enter from south side or west side.)

Deadline: Luncheon reservations are required and must be in our hands by Friday, May 20th, 2016 with your check for $32 per person, made out to RHS Golden Grads. Send check to: RHS Golden Grads, P.O. Box 281, Edmonds, WA 98020-0281. Click here for the Luncheon Reservation Form in .pdf format. If you have questions, contact Luncheon Chair Cindy Dack, or Anne Chichester Temple, Membership Secretary.

Golden Grads officers, class secretaries, and committee chairs meet once a year.