Class of 1964 donates trophy case

With Tusky Valley athletic teams breaking records and winning championships, the donation of a new trophy case for the middle-high school couldn’t have come at a better time.

Members of the Class of 1964 presented funds for the trophy case to Principal Jason Phillips on Saturday, May 18 as part of their 60th reunion weekend. The black walnut and cherry wood case is being built by Tusky Valley industrial arts students under the direction of teacher Paul Dunlap.

The idea to donate something toward the new school came from Nancy Gordon Wyatt and Tana Dillon Lake, members of the reunion committee.

“We wanted to do something, but we weren’t sure what to give them,” said Don Miller, head of the committee. “Tana called the school and spoke to Mr. Phillips and the athletic director, Mr. Franks, and this is what they said they needed.”

The alumni gathered in the cafeteria at the school for a 10 a.m. breakfast and presentation by Phillips, followed by a school tour. The alumni were able to see a portion of the case, which is finished and mounted on the wall directly across from the entry to the new gymnasium.

Those who came were invited by Phillips to sign their names on one end of the trophy case. “When the additional sections are added, no one will be able to see the names, but they’ll be there, and we’ll know,” Phillips said.

Harry Keifer came from Liburn, Georgia to attend his class reunion. After touring the brand-new middle-high school, Keifer said, “It’s amazing. When I first started school at the old high school, we didn’t even have a football team, and once we did have one, we had to play our games on Strasburg’s field.”

Others were equally amazed at the new facility, even though they were divided on whether they liked the carpeted “gathering stairs.”

“I’m so glad to hear that they have counseling and a place in the school for students to go if they need help,” Lake said. “That is so important right now.”

Marlene Carroll-Sims Setvin was one of many alumni who were impressed with the performing arts center. “It was just amazing,” she said. “We were just talking about the orchestra pit.”

Former Tusky Valley teacher Beverly Foraker McKinney also appreciated the new theater, but as one might expect from a teacher, she was most impressed by the chemistry lab and the fact it has a chemical suppressant system.

In addition to Miller, Wyatt and Lake, members of the reunion committee included Mike McHale, James Zaleski, Phyllis Decker Gauding, Mary Jean Baker Molnar, Dillon Hickman and Joanne Duerr Sater.

On Saturday the group gathered to share a meal and memories at the Wilkshire Banquet Center. This is the last time the class will hold a formal reunion.