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VHS/VUHS Alumni Reaches A Milestone Of 125 Years Of Service

photo by Photo Provided These members from the VUHS Class of 2015 received college scholarships from the VUHS Alumni Association and enjoyed the annual dinner.

photo by Photo Provided A part of the group's 125 year mission is to archive and record the history of the two buildings that have proudly served as Vergennes High and Vergennes Union High School.

Tuesday November 24, 2015

By Cookie Steponaitis

High school has been called the best of times, the worst of times, and the times that define a large part of our lives. While people may debate or disagree on the role of high school in our lives, there is no disagreement that the years spent in school develop us as people and often set in motion friendships that last a lifetime. Founded in 1890, the VHS/VUHS Alumni Organization is celebrating a milestone of being a part of the lives of over twelve thousand graduates from the region. For over a century the group has provided scholarships, events, gatherings and collected memorabilia dedicated to recording the high school careers of each class.  The Alumni has also provided tours of the buildings, visited with former teachers, graduates and administrators, created displays of memorabilia and worked on projects like school floats, school spirit and additional scholarship funds for graduating seniors.
    Started in 1889-1890 by Vergennes High Principal Mr. Alfred Morrill, the organization began with hosting an annual banquet and celebration each year, bringing together past graduates to celebrate with the senior class. The dues were small, the agenda one of fun, and the times have not changed in many respects.  The current officers of the Alumni Association; Jim Tatro- President, Lissa Gebo- Vice President, Tina Cassidy- Treasurer, and Kate Quinn- Secretary, along with committee members Nancy Ambrose, Sheila Burlock, Larry & Elisse Gebo are on a mission to not only help solidify the organization both financially, but to use the new social media venues to reach out to the thousands of past graduates to help in the process.
    In addition to overseeing the scholarship funds donated from former Alumni Eva Meigs and Stuart Cotey, the group uses an annual Alumni/Seniors basketball game to help fund projects benefitting the school and alumni.The group also possesses a data base of the entire Alumni and tries very hard to keep up with moves and shifts in location. Today the group faces the challenge of people not attending the Annual Banquet/meeting and remembering to pay their $ 5.00 dues. It is the goal of the Alumni and the committee to reach out to past graduates and to link people not only to remember high school, but to create bonds around service in the community today. Every year the group purchases a school yearbook and adds it to a collection at the Bixby Library that takes up bookcases and contains other ephemeral from the early years of VHS.
Vergennes Union High School graduates interested in working on projects with the Alumni are encouraged to reach out through Facebook at Vergennes Union High School Alumni Association and be prepared for more than a nostalgic tour down memory lane. Be prepared to hook up, join up, and help return the Alumni to the size and scope it was during the most active years. The officers are dedicated and the committee motivated, but they need assistance. So celebrate the past, honor the 125 year commitment and be a part of the Vergennes Union High School Alumni Association of the future!

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