Spring 2023 President’s Report
by Doug Whalley ‘63
The Luncheon Returns
The Golden Grads Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the Nile Golf and Country Club. It will be fun to meet with your classmates in person again, hear the latest news about the school, and enjoy some entertainment by the students. Please send in the registration form in this issue of the Grapevine.
Roosevelt’s 100th Anniversary and The Wall of Honor
The Roosevelt Foundation (a separate group from the Golden Grads) has announced the schedule for Roosevelt’s Centennial Celebration. The details are in this edition of the Grapevine. A highlight will be the unveiling of a Roosevelt “Wall of Honor” identifying outstanding Roosevelt graduates, teachers, or staff. I was on the selection committee, and it was a difficult process choosing among so many worthy candidates.
Kids Today
I spent a school day at Roosevelt recently as part of a career information program focusing on public service jobs. I met with seven different groups of about 15 students each and discussed working as a lawyer for the government. Although only a few seemed interested in a law career, they were all polite and attentive during our meeting and asked good questions. I also ate lunch with the students in the lunchroom. There is only one lunch period, so it was packed and noisy, but the students were obviously having a good time. I was impressed that there was no yelling, shoving, or bullying. There were several students with handicaps in the crowd, some in wheelchairs or walkers, and those who needed assistance were accompanied by a student volunteer aide to help them carry their lunch and find a seat.
College Scholarship Grant for Visual Arts Students
Roosevelt Golden Grads thank Don Strom ’64 and his wife, artist Jane LaFazio, for a generous donation of $5,000 to fund scholarships for graduating RHS seniors gifted in visual arts. The grant will fund one $1,000 scholarship annually for five years. An arts teacher or their designee will select one senior each year based upon their achievements in a visual arts field such as watercolor, mixed media, art quilts and similar fields. Winners will be going on to university, college, or art school, and ideally, they would be pursuing a visual arts field. Thank you, Don and Jane.
Thank you to Katie Greve and Ben Stuart of the Roosevelt Theatre and Dance Department
Golden Grads are invited to a May 30th preview of the 100th Anniversary Spring Musical Celebration. Details are in this Grapevine. It is a free event, with no reservations needed. Prior to the pandemic, the Golden Grads and their guests were invited every year to the Spring Musical preview. It is a great opportunity to see the school, especially its beautiful theatre, and enjoy one the finest high school musical programs in the country.
Be True to Your School
Our current group of officers and committee members has been largely unchanged for several years. I am pleased they have served so long, but we always need younger grads from the late 60s and early 70s on our committees as members retire. There are very few in-person committee meetings each year. Beginning next fall, we will resume two Board meetings a year at the school for committee chairs and class representatives, but attendance is not mandatory. Please contact me to volunteer.