Class of 1968
Alumni Liaison
Volume 9 | Number 5
Welcome to Rise, the voice of Grand Island Senior High alumni and friends. We show up every other month in over 9,000 in-boxes bringing you news, views, and memories of GISH. Rise is a publication of the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.
This is Issue #5 of our ninth year of publishing the only consistent connection for alumni and friends of Grand Island Senior High. That makes this iteration 53 of Rise. We are happy you’re a subscriber and hope you continue to read the comings and goings of Islander alums across the globe.
Here’s some of what you will find inside this issue: Say hello to Alex Weaver, our new “On the Island” correspondent. I’ll leave it to Alex to introduce himself in his column, where he also fills us in on a summer filled with preparation for the new school year. Abigayle Frazier-Hansen gives us the deets on what’s happening at the GIPS Foundation office.
“At the Top” argues that GISH students might benefit from a history course on, you guessed it, Grand Island Senior High. Once again, you’ll get a chance to test your memory, your skill, or your Google search skills with another edition of “Islander Trivia.”
In her “Making Your Mark” piece, Grand Island Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Kari Hooker-Leep takes us through the thrills of the Welcome Back event for GIPS teachers and staff. If you're a Willa Cather fan, and I’m betting many of you are, read Mike Monk's “Distant Mirror” on “My Antonia.” Wandering Writer Sarah Kuta takes to the sheer beauty and grandeur of Alaska while my “I’ve Been Thinking” piece ponders the word Harvest as it relates to the seasons and the Foundation’s big event scheduled for Sept. 26.
As usual, in our In Memoriam we have a list of Islanders who have passed, in Reunions we have class gatherings and other class get-togethers, and in Class Notes we have the lives and times of Islanders everywhere.
Stay in touch, Islanders. And remember: Keep pushing on.
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At the Top
George argues that GISH students might benefit from a history course on, you guessed it, Grand Island Senior High.
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Making Your Mark
Kari Hooker-Leep takes us through the thrills of the Welcome Back event for GIPS teachers and staff.
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Your Legacy. Their Opportunity.
Mike Bockoven shares ways to participate in Harvest if you didn't get a ticket.
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Foundation Focus
Abigayle Frazier-Hansen gives us the deets on what’s happening at the GIPS Foundation office.
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I've Been Thinking
George ponders the word Harvest as it relates to the seasons and the Foundation’s big event scheduled for Sept. 26.
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On the Island
Alex Weaver introduces himself and fills us in on a summer filled with preparation for the new school year.
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Distant Mirror
Mike recounts Willa Cather's 'My Antonia'.
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A Wandering Writer's World
Sarah Kuta takes to the sheer beauty and grandeur of Alaska.
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Class Reunion Updates
Class gatherings in Islander Nation.
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In Memoriam
Remembering Islanders who have recently passed.
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Class Notes
The latest happenings in the lives of GIPS alums.
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Islander Trivia
How well do you know Grand Island Senior High?
At the Top
New year at Senior High should be one for the GISH history book
The Grand Island school district, now in year 157, welcomed students last month for the start of another school year. For nearly all of that time, Grand Island Senior High has been the anchor for the district, graduating its first class in 1883 when it conferred five diplomas to the very first Islanders.
Photo courtesy of George Ayoub
Fall of 2024 welcomed back the state’s third largest contingent of high schoolers according to niche.com, a website that keeps track of such things. GISH now has well over 2,000 Islanders, a daily city that gathers on North Lafayette each morning. If GISH were ranked by population among Nebraska cities and towns, the Wear Purple, Be Gold people would be ranked #52 just behind David City and ahead of Valentine.
Since Rise recognizes the power of new technology, here are some other tidbits generated by AI you will not find in “Islander Trivia,” elsewhere in this newsletter. Here’s a sampling:
● 1925: A building was constructed at 5th and Elm and named Grand Island Senior High.
● 1955: GISH moved to a new building on the 2100 block of Lafayette Avenue (its current home).
● The school's planetarium was started in 1965 and completed in 1966.
● 1994: Ground was broken for a major addition to the Senior High Building.
● 1997: The addition was completed.
● 2019-2020: GISH adopted an "academy" system, allowing students to choose one of five tracks on which to focus.
Thank you Siri or Alexa or ChatGPT or whatever you call your personal piece of artificial intelligence.
Photo courtesy of George Ayoub
Meanwhile, looking ahead in our Senior High history text, next May, GISH will bid adieu to another class of graduates, the version number 142 of tassel movers and potential world shakers. Those seniors, the Class of 2025, who showed up at school in August scrubbed and shined and ready for a new year will outnumber the Class of 1883 by hundreds. Nevertheless, the diploma will read the same.
Here’s an idea for the history department: Develop a class around the history of Grand Island Senior High. Several books have been written on the subject. Use AI for research if you must, but the story of a high school is the story of a place and its people. It would be a clear bonus for the Class of 2025 and classes beyond to know the history -- the lives and times if you will -- of a place that’s been around for this long, handing out degrees for well over a century, and then every fall starting the process all over again.
(e) Mail Bag
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Making Your Mark
Art of the thank you
Executive Director
GIPS Foundation
The other day, I was in a meeting and the ice-breaking question was “What does August mean to you?” Now, I will also say that this was a room of education supporters, so you would think the answers would lean towards school being back in session.
You would be surprised. The majority answered with the beginning of football season. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy football, but does it compare to new shoes and the smell of a fresh box of Crayons? That’s a resounding NO from me. I can still remember my mom taking all three of us kids school shopping, bless her heart. Despite the budget constraints, she always managed to find ways to make us feel special. So when I think of August, the first thing that comes to my mind still today is buying a new pair of shoes and choosing the perfect outfit for the first day of school.
Now, fast forward to 2024 and the GIPS Welcome Back. This is the adult version of the first day of school. Staff are excited to see other teachers and reconnect. Teachers proudly wear their chosen first-day outfits, usually emblazoned with their school colors and mascots and their new shoes. And of course, our first-year staff are anxious and scanning the room for a familiar face.
Welcome Back is an amazing day filled with 1,600 plus staff, administration and teachers, gathering together to kick off the school year. A day filled with first-year teacher nerves, inspirational speakers, a superintendent riding a bicycle and seasoned professionals possibly beginning their last year teaching all wearing what I would assume are new shoes. I cannot tell you how energized the air is with each one of these professionals smiling, laughing, and embracing each other with the same enthusiasm as a First Grader walking back into their school.
This is a day filled with new teachers, new ideas, new shoes, and the thoughts of all that lies ahead with the GIPS students of 2024-2025. You felt the excitement of the chant WE ARE GIPS! WE ARE GIPS! WE ARE GIPS! I was thankful to be part of this gathering.
As the GIPS Foundation, we are not only honored to be part of the gathering, but also overwhelmingly honored to be part of saying thank you in a special way to staff, administration, and teachers. Our part of the day's event is recognizing the exceptional contributions of six amazing GIPS employees with the coveted Teacher of the Year Award. Awarding them with words of gratitude from their peers, parents, and staff, welcoming them onto the stage like the ROCKSTARS they are, surprising them with family and even providing them with a large check courtesy of First National Bank of Omaha. This is the epitome of the art of the thank you.
The art of the thank you is the center of Welcome Back. We say thank you to all employees that make a difference in the students' lives daily. We thank the nutritional staff, custodians, coaches, teachers, counselors, administration and the GIPS Foundation. We are all grateful for being a part of GIPS and ensuring that all students thrive, dream big and are successful. WE ARE ALL GIPS!
If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased. - Maya Angelou
Your Legacy. Their Opportunity.
Harvest: Every little bit helps
Fundraising Coordinator
GIPS Foundation
I’ve got some bad news and some good news. And some great news.
The bad news is ticket sales to the GIPS Foundation’s Harvest event have closed. The event is September 26, but we need time to get tables set, dinners counted and to attend to the million little things that make this event “go.”
The good news is even if you don’t have your ticket there are three ways you can help. Here’s what you can do:
- Check out our silent auction. These items have been generously donated by businesses and individuals in our community and truly represent the breadth of support for the GIPS Foundation. From horse riding lessons to gift certificates for new food places, from painting experiences to seats at graduation, from crane viewing to welding helmets, there is so much to bid on. You can bid online and possibly walk away with a fantastic item, all while helping Harvest.
- While you’re checking out the silent auction, we’d ask you to please donate to the “Fund a Mission” where we are raising money specifically for scholarships. Every little bit helps us get closer to the goal of funding new scholarships for students.
- Finally, follow our social media for all the details about this great night. There will be stories coming out of Harvest that will be sure to inspire.
Which brings me to the great news.
Harvest is all about raising money for the programs that help students and teachers at GIPS. Behind every large or small donation, behind every silent auction bid and behind all the hoopla and fun lies an amazing mission of helping our students dream big. It’s woven into the fabric of this event and everything we do day-to-day at the GIPS Foundation. The great news is you can be part of it. You can help a child reach their potential, you can help a teacher meet a need in the classroom, you can help make GIPS a better place. We ask you to please join us in this mission however you can, at whatever level you can. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of everyone at GIPS.
Foundation Focus
A strong start to the school year
Office Coordinator
GIPS Foundation
As the new school year begins, the GIPS Foundation is off to an energetic and impactful start. With a range of exciting programs underway, we’re making great strides thanks to the generous support of our community. From celebrating outstanding teachers to gearing up for our biggest event of the year, here’s a look at what the Foundation has been working on.
The school year began with a heartwarming celebration of our exceptional educators at the annual Welcome Back event. Foundation Executive Director Kari Hooker-Leep presented six Teacher of the Year awards to inspiring educators and staff who go above and beyond in shaping the minds of our students. Our Foundation staff (Candi Wiemers, Mike Bockoven, and Kari Price) and a group of volunteers helped guide the winners and their families during the ceremony. I waited outside the theater to get photos of the winners and their families. Meanwhile, the GIPS communications team conducted interviews with the awardees as well as Hooker-Leep to help share their incredible stories with the broader community.
The new school year began with exciting news for teachers: Applications for our Classroom Grants opened. Candi worked hard to prepare the application site to open on August 1. Teachers have until September 27 to submit their grant proposals. I wrote an article about what Engleman Elementary used their grant funding for in hopes of inspiring teachers to apply. Candi has also been spreading the word across our social media platforms, encouraging teachers to apply for these grants that can bring new, creative ideas into their classrooms.
One of our biggest annual events, Harvest, is fast approaching, and preparations are in full swing. Mike wrapped up the silent auction (which opens on September 16) and live auction procurement in early August. Meanwhile, Candi and Kari Hooker-Leep have been busy creating marketing and day-of-event materials to make sure everything runs smoothly. I proofread our event website, marketing materials, and email content to ensure that all communications are clear and polished. Kari Price has also been instrumental, double-checking business names for recognition and processing donations while sending thank-you notes to our generous donors. Our entire team is coming together to prepare decorations and ensure Harvest is a spectacular success
As we approached the end of the fiscal year (August 31), Kari Price and Kari Hooker-Leep budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year and laid the groundwork for what promises to be another impactful year. Kari Price and I worked hard to complete the remaining deposits in the final week. Kari Price also worked on our numbers for the financial reports and our impact report, which will be shared during our community campaign this winter, and prepared for the annual audit in September.
In the midst of all our other projects, we prepared Rise, created new scholarship and legacy grant funds, volunteered for the Nebraska State Fair, and continued the day-to-day tasks of the office. As you can see, it’s been a busy and productive start to the school year for the Foundation. None of this would be possible without the continued support of our donors, volunteers, and community. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress as we work together to make a lasting impact on our students and schools.
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I've Been Thinking
Gathering of gifts result of generous sowing
Class of 1968
Alumni Liaison
Photo courtesy of George Ayoub
By now, most of you know that the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation’s annual Harvest is September 26 at Riverside Golf Club. As with the past two Harvests, the evening will be not simply inspirational, as we hear from those directly impacted by the generosity of those who support the work of the Foundation, but will also have plenty of laughs, some great entertainment, delicious food, and desserts that are worth “dashing” for.
I plan to be at my regular post, greeting friends and acquaintances there to support the Foundation and meeting new people I’m about to break bread with who are there to do the same.
One thing I especially like about Harvest is its name. Obviously, as Nebraskans, we associate Harvest with the start of school, September, and the onset of fall with its cool early mornings and evening breezes signaling that change is afoot. Oh, and let’s not forget football, Husker football, and volleyball, Husker volleyball, and all the other programs in colleges and high schools that keep Nebraska sports fans on the edges of their stadium seats all fall.
I am an unabashed fan of autumn. Aside from it being my favorite time of the year (OK, I admit I have a birthday mixed in there), I’ve always marveled at its pastoral scenes and traditional images as clear indications of the season’s cycles. I find sense in fall reaping of the spring and summer toil, ingenuity, care, creativity and sometimes luck, dumb or otherwise.
Which brings me back to the GIPS Foundation’s Harvest. The Foundation’s mission is to support GIPS students through scholarships and programs that give them opportunities they might not ever have otherwise. You know “Your legacy. Their opportunity.” That’s the sowing.
That is only possible through the ongoing support of the Foundation and its work: Many of you reading this are the generous individuals and groups who see the enormous value in giving opportunities for students to realize dreams that otherwise might be deferred, students who in turn could very well parlay those dreams into stellar careers, community caring and creative visions that, if not changing the world, are at least leaving it better than they found it.
That’s some beautiful sowing and rewarding reaping.
All of which makes Harvest a night to celebrate both what has been the gathering of gifts, the result of generosity, time and endeavor, but also the planting and tending of the seeds of a better world.
On the Island
Preparing for a school year of success
Class of 2025
Student Correspondent
Hello, readers of Rise. My name is Alex Weaver, and I am excited to serve as Rise’s On the Island correspondent for the 2024-25 school year. I am looking forward to sharing the exciting happenings at GISH with you throughout the year. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Avery Rogers, who has done an excellent job in the past.
I am currently a senior at Grand Island Senior High and have previously attended Westridge Middle School and Shoemaker Elementary School. This year, I am taking AP Literature, AP Psychology, AP Statistics, American Government, Spanish III and Show Choir. I am deeply involved in the culture and community at GISH and have been a part of numerous activities and clubs since my freshman year. This year, I am a dance captain in our varsity show choir and am actively involved in the theater department, participating in various one-acts, plays and musicals. Additionally, I currently serve as an officer in our National Honor Society, Student Council and GISH’s youth Kiwanis Program. I am also an ambassador for the academy model at GISH and a Hulagan spirit leader. My extensive involvement has given me a unique perspective on the various events that take place throughout the year at GISH, and I am grateful to be a part of it all. This summer, Islanders have been extremely busy preparing for their competitive seasons. In the Fine Arts department, GISH’s varsity show choir and marching band have attended their own camps to set them up for a school year of success.
Photo Courtesy of Alex Weaver
Grand Island Senior High’s varsity show choir, Ultimate Image, had their annual choreography camp this summer. The camp ran from July 17 to July 21, beginning at noon and extending into the late evening. Throughout the week, show choir members learned dance moves that will make up the competitive show they will travel with in the early months of 2025.
Alek Kuebler, a senior, is a first-year dance captain for Ultimate Image. He said that choreography camp is an essential part of getting the season started off right. “The five days of straight choreo[graphy] with the group you'll be competing with for the rest of the year is a good way to start getting used to your team.” He also said that the hard work and self-perseverance that form throughout the week is something that is needed throughout the entire season, preparing the group for tough rehearsals and long competition days.
Show Choir Director, Jesse LaBrie, said that he and other directors work hard to prepare for the week. Beginning in early summer, the show choir team works with choreographers to develop a show concept and begins to sort through “dozens of songs” to create a theme for the show, says LaBrie. Then, in early June, directors meet in Omaha with costume designers. LaBrie mentions that designers begin to sort through materials, styles, designs and colors to plan the perfect outfits to accompany the show. All of these fun details are revealed to show choir members right before they begin learning the choreography.
Choreography week is so much more than just learning a few dances, and I had an amazing time throughout the difficult but exciting week with my team. We all look forward to choreography camp because it prepares us for the entire year-long season. I love learning the new theme, getting fun choreography and watching our show come together. While it’s a tiring week, it’s all worth it when competition season starts up in January.
Photo courtesy of Alex Weaver
Much like the varsity show choir, the Islander Marching Band has had a summer full of preparation as well. GISH’s annual “Marching Band Camp” began on July 22 for Color Guard and Percussion members and on July 29 for the full ensemble. The camp ended on August 2 with a premiere night for friends and family. Throughout the week, band members sorted through music for their new show, learned new field drills and began marching fundamentals. This year, the band is playing selections from “New World Symphony,” and their show is themed around the adventures of a journey home. Marching rehearsals began outside on the field in the mornings. After an hour-long lunch break, music rehearsals continued inside.
GISH’s head drum major, Karina Calmo, is a senior and has been involved in the Marching Band all four years. As a drum major, Calmo’s main job is to keep time and conduct the music, but she said her job at band camp is much more than that. Calmo explains that she “makes sure everybody understands what the director is telling them, makes sure all rehearsals run smoothly and overall sets an example for the entire band.” Calmo said that she enjoys seeing the progress the band makes over the season. “The growth of the band is really enlightening and fun to see,” she said. “And the progression the band makes from camp to State Band at the end of the season is truly amazing.”
Photo courtesy of Alex Weaver
Claire Gartner, a senior, is a second-year drum major with the Islander Marching Band. She said that at band camp, everyone is able to “refresh some basic technique” and also form new relationships. She stresses that forming those bonds early on is vital in making the rest of the season go smoothly. Gartner also said that marching fundamentals are always “really difficult for the freshman to grasp onto because it's a completely new realm of things that they've never really experienced before.” Gartner said that it is really inspiring to see new members power through the tough week full of heat, soreness and exhaustion and get a hang of the complicated fundamentals.
Most activities at Grand Island Senior High have had busy summers full of preparation. Participants of football camp, UCA cheer camp, girls basketball camp and Islander soccer camp kept the gym and stadium full this summer as well. All activities have their own version of what sets them up for greatness. With all these committed Islanders, Grand Island Senior High is sure to have a great year full of success in all activities, and I can’t wait to see it unfold.
A Distant Mirror
Willa Cather and ‘My Antonia’
Class of 1967
Rise Contributor
Since my early childhood days in Grand Island, I have always had a very positive view of Nebraskans. While of course there are reprobates in every society, I came to believe that Nebraskans were generally good, kind, loving and self-reliant people.
This perception was recently reinforced and broadened by reading the wonderful Willa Cather book “My Antonia.” For several years, three of my intrepid 1967 GISH classmates, Jeff Greenberger, Tom Meedel, Dennis Hickstein and I have had a book club. Recently Dennis chose “My Antonia.” Cather, as many of you know, is perhaps the best author ever to come from Nebraska. Wikipedia describes “My Antonia” this way:
“‘My Antonia’ was enthusiastically received in 1918 when it was first published. It was considered a masterpiece and placed Cather in the forefront of novelists.
Her early novels, “Oh Pioneers!,” “One of Ours,” “A Lost Lady” and “My Antonia,” brilliantly describe the settlers who first came to Nebraska and their hardscrabble lives creating a life on the prairie. With gorgeous prose, she describes the vast prairie, then little settled, and its beauty.”
“My Antonia” is somewhat autobiographical since Cather, like the character Jim in “My Antonia,” lived in Virginia until she moved to Nebraska at age nine. Cather, like Jim, graduated from the University of Nebraska and ended up working in New York City.
Photo courtesy of Mike Monk
Jim arrives in Nebraska at the same time as Antonia’s family, the Shimerdas, who recently emigrated from Bohemia. We learn that Jim’s Nebraska family and the Shimerdas live a few miles apart. Jim’s grandfather is a successful farmer and wisely manages his resources. The Shimerda family is new to farming and struggles greatly to eke out a living. Indeed, they barely speak any English, so learning the language is another of the challenges they face. The intelligent and lively Antonia takes on that challenge immediately.
Cather paints the stark reality of having to survive based on your own immediate actions and essentially live off the land, sometimes with help from neighbors. It takes a village. Most people who came to settle in 1880’s Nebraska were bold. They were prepared to take on the challenge of carving out a life from scratch because they viewed the upside opportunities, whether rightly or wrongly, as better than they could get elsewhere, as in Bohemia.
Some who did not have the strength to survive are winnowed out in a sort of human survival of the fittest. The Shimerdas are woefully unprepared for the farm life and take a year or so to get on their feet. Their father is unable to survive in the end since he passionately misses the family and culture of the Bohemia he left. Two Russians who settle near them have a torturous past and cannot escape it.
For those strong enough and wise enough to survive, there is a happiness and contentment that arises from having the ability to face serious obligations in life. They sense the need and have the willingness to work constantly. No one thinks of blaming their problems on the government or expects the government to solve their problems. From self-reliance comes a freedom in life. In “My Antonia,” the settlers have, or develop, not only agricultural skills but also construction, mechanical and domestic skills. The isolation and lack of other options make such learning essential.
While I grew up in the booming metropolis of Grand Island, my father lived most of his life in two small Nebraska towns: North Loup and Oxford, both about 600 in population. Every summer as a boy I would stay with my father and family for a couple weeks. I got to know the joys of a very small town. These people had plumbing, electrical, construction and other skills that amazed me. They relied upon and helped each other. At one point, my two brothers-in-law in Oxford helped create their own rural golf course (with sand greens) and actually built a beautiful racquetball court with no outside help. In short, growing up, I saw in these towns much of the hardy small-town self-reliance the settlers possess in “My Antonia.”
Cather’s prose is exquisite, precise and intelligent. She uses somewhat sophisticated language to describe common rural people. Cather brilliantly captures the broken English of immigrants learning the language. She also gloriously describes the land of Nebraska. For example:
“All those fall afternoons were the same, but I never got used to them. As far as we could see, the miles of copper-red grass were drenched in sunlight that was stronger and fiercer than at any other time of the day. The blond cornfields were red gold, the haystacks turned rosy and threw long shadows. The whole prairie was like the bush that burned with fire and was not consumed. The hour always had the exultation of victory, of triumphant ending, like a hero’s death – heroes who died young and gloriously. It was a sudden transfiguration, a lifting up of the day.”
Photo courtesy of Mike Monk
“My Antonia” covers a period of many years, and we see over time the successes and failures of a wide variety of characters. We see the growth and changes they experience. There are charlatans, like Mr. and Mrs. Cutter, loving families like the Harlings, sad failures like the Russian brothers and lively “hired girls,” young women who came to the town of Black Hawk (the thinly disguised actual town of Red Cloud) to work for families or businesses. A few characters decide to travel and simply disappear forever.
Throughout the novel, Antonia and Jim are great friends. They seem particularly attuned to each other. But when Jim goes off to attend the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and later works in New York City, they drift apart. The book concludes, however, with a joyous and poignant meeting. Jim visits Nebraska and stays with Antonia, her new rustic, but kind husband and her brood of 10 children. Antonia has told the children stories of Jim and their rural beginnings, and the children all adore Jim when they meet him. We sense that Jim and Antonia have recaptured and renewed the love and respect they have always had, even though their lives have gone, and will go, in different directions. As Cather said it, “Whatever we had missed, we possessed together the precious, the incommunicable past.”
To experience a vibrant sense of life on the Nebraska prairie in the 1880’s, get a sense of our Nebraska roots and enjoy a beautifully written book, I highly recommend “My Antonia.” I would also recommend a trip to Red Cloud to visit the Cather house and museum, and to observe the topography so vividly described in “My Antonia.” As Hickstein notes, “Red Cloud is not only embedded in her fiction, but intrinsic to the fabric of it.”
I can be reached at michaelmonk47@yahoo.com.
A Wandering Writer's World
5 things I learned on a family trip to Alaska
Class of 2008
Rise Contributor
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kuta
In early August, Russell and I said goodbye to the dogs and headed to the airport for a flight to Seattle. Once in the Emerald City, we met up with my parents, my cousin and her husband and my aunt. We had all convened in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate my aunt’s 80th birthday with a cruise to the Last Frontier.
During a week-long sailing around southeast Alaska, we stopped in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. We also spent a day sailing through Glacier Bay National Park with two National Park Service rangers onboard to answer questions and share information. Overall, it was an ideal multigenerational trip—lots of family time, but with plenty of built-in flexibility for everyone to do their own thing. It was also educational—here are five things I learned on the trip.
Alaska Is Huge
Alaska is massive—which you probably vaguely remember from geography class. But the scale is seriously impressive, even though we only saw a teeny-tiny fraction of it on our trip.
Just how big? Including all of the islands and peninsulas, Alaska is as wide as the entire Lower 48. You could fit eight Nebraskas inside Alaska. It’s bigger than Texas (yep), California and Montana combined.
Alaska also has 47,300 miles of tidal shoreline, as well as 3 million lakes that each span more than 20 acres. It’s home to the northernmost and westernmost points in the entire United States.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kuta
Bald Eagles Are Everywhere
I’ve watched enough David Attenborough nature documentaries to know that Alaska is brimming with bald eagles. But I didn’t quite understand just how abundant they were until we arrived.
As soon as we could see land, as if right on cue, I spotted one. Then another and another and another. (They are easy to see because their snow-white heads are a stark contrast to the wall of dark green evergreen trees.) Our hiking and rafting guide in Skagway told us she sees so many of them she often forgets to point them out to guests.
Alaska is home to roughly 30,000 individuals, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Regionally, their numbers fluctuate greatly throughout the year. In Haines, which is next door to Skagway, the year-round population is 400 bald eagles. But from October to December every day, an estimated 3,500 bald eagles flock there to gorge on a late run of chum salmon in the Chilkat River.
To put Alaska’s numbers into broader perspective, more than 315,000 bald eagles now live in the entire Lower 48, according to the latest count. The population has made a miraculous recovery since the middle of the 20th century, when the pesticide DDT decimated the population to a little more than 400 nesting pairs. The EPA banned DDT in 1972 and, ever since, bald eagle numbers have been slowly climbing. They were removed from the endangered species list in 2007.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kuta
Lakes and Rivers Are Brilliantly Blue, Thanks to Glacial Flour
The North Pacific Ocean is a deep, inky black color. But many of Alaska’s rivers and lakes are an unusual shade of brilliant blue—almost an iridescent, milky hue. It’s stunning.
The color comes from something known as “glacial flour,” which is more or less exactly what it sounds like: Sediment from glaciers that’s been naturally ground into a very fine powder. The consistency is similar to the flour you use to bake with. It’s so lightweight that it floats in water, which gives it that cloudy appearance. And when sunlight hits the tiny particles of sediment, it scatters and creates a wide range of blues. So, if you ever see a river or lake with water that looks bluer than you’d expect, it might be fed by runoff from a nearby glacier.
Sea Otters Are Even More Adorable Than You Imagine
On TV and in photographs, sea otters look impossibly cute—floating on their backs and holding hands while sleeping so they don’t lose each other. I’m here to tell you that, yes, they are even more adorable in person. As we sailed into Glacier Bay National Park, we saw hundreds (no exaggeration) of these furry marine mammals, often hanging out together in large rafts.
Scientists say the sea otter “stock” in southeast Alaska is growing or stable. But, overall, sea otter numbers are still rebounding from commercial hunting that started in the mid-1700s. Several populations, including the group that lives in southwest Alaska, are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Kuta
Salmon Are Impressive
I really didn’t consider myself much of a fish person until this summer, when I watched the salmon run in Alaska and Seattle. I’ve now developed a soft spot for these amazing creatures.
Salmon are anadromous, meaning they are born in fresh water, spend most of their lives in the ocean, and then return to fresh water again to spawn. Going from the river to the ocean is the easy part—and once they arrive, they feast on krill, crustaceans and fish. After 18 months to eight years of fattening up and maturing, they begin to make the long journey upstream to their birthplace.
You can really empathize with these gilled creatures when you see them in person, flinging themselves up waterfalls and valiantly swimming against strong currents to reach their natal river. And then, after all that effort, they spawn and die en masse. Their bodies decompose, transferring nutrients from ocean to freshwater ecosystems. Pretty cool when you stop to think about it.
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Alumni Reunions
Alumni Coordinator
kprice@gips.org
308.385.5525
Planning a class reunion?
We can help get you started!
Contact us for your class list and send us information about your reunion.
We will post it to our website.
NOTE: Reunion information in this newsletter is current as of the publication date. To see Reunion updates and additions go to our Alumni Reunions page.
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1956The Class of 1956 wishes to extend an invitation to fellow classmates to join them at their monthly gathering. They meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Ramada Midtown at 6:00 pm.
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Decades of the 60'sThe Decades of the 60’s breakfast continues to be held the second Saturday of each month at Tommy’s, 8:30 a.m. This is a great opportunity to reconnect over a cup of coffee and/or breakfast. We would love to have you join us!
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1960The Class of 1960 meets the first Wednesday of each month at Tommy's Restaurant at 11 a.m. Join us for lively conversation and a good time. Send your email address to Donna Weaver Smith for monthly communications at: dowesm@yahoo.com
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1966The class of ‘66 meets for lunch the third Wednesday of each month at the Platt Duetsche, 12 noon. Please join us!
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1969The class of 1969 invites all classmates to our Monthly Luncheons. We meet the second Monday of each month at NOON, at The Finish Line at Fonner Park in Grand Island. Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times.
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1969
The Class of 1969 will hold their 55th Class Reunion on October 18 & 19, 2024. Both nights will be held at the Grand Island Saddle Club. Casual gathering on Oct 18, from 5:30 pm until midnight. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Dinner Buffet on Oct 19, 5:30 pm until midnight. Prime Rib, Fried Chicken, & Shrimp. Cost: (both nights) $69 single; $138 double. Friday night: $25 single; $50 double. Saturday night: $50 single; $100 double. All reservations with checks for reunion need to be received by Oct 7, 2024. Pay by checks to: GISH 1969 Reunion Committee, PO BOX 5661, Grand Island, NE, 68802. For any questions, email to GISH1969reunion@gmail.com Due to other conventions that weekend, don’t wait too to get a motel room. You can use this link to help look for rooms: https://user-98wfrft.cld.bz/VIBE-2024/58/
In Memoriam
July and August memorial list of GISH Alumni
Bonnie (Keller) Larson, Class of 1951, died March 3, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 90.
Dean Hayward, Class of 1961, died June 19, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 82.
Phyllis (Brehm) Hongsermeier, Class of 1948, died July 1, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 93.
Marna (Niemoth) Porath, Class of 1965, died July 10, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 77.
Gary Wright, Class of 1973, died July 21, 2024 in Oshkosh, WI at the age of 68.
Timothy Skibstead, Class of 1980, died July 22, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 62.
Lorraine Lassonde, Class of 1979, died July 30, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 63.
Connie (Meyer) Krohn, Class of 1958, died August 1, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 83.
Gloria (Stephens) Dinsdale, Class of 1944, died August 1, 2024 in Omaha, NE at the age of 97.
Mark Clayton, Class of 1963, died August 2, 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland. at the age of 79.
Darrell Hummell, Class of 1952, died August 2, 2024 in Hastings, NE at the age of 89.
Daniel Arrasmith, Class of 1968, died August 13, 2024 in Lincoln, NE at the age of 74.
Helen (Plebanek) Ellison, Class of 1980, died August 14, 2024 in Olney, IL at the age of 62.
Steven Gallagher, Class of 1966, died August 14, 2024 in Omaha, NE at the age of 76.
Pam (Arfman) Bergmark, Class of 1977, died August 19, 2024 at the age of 65.
Helen (Burghardt) Miller, Class of 1955, died August 21, 2024 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 86.
Lyle Wertz, Class of 1964, died August 22, 2024 in Englewood, CO at the age of 77.
Bill Paro, Class of 1951, died August 30, 2024 in Plattsmouth, NE at the age of 91.
To report an alumni death since August 2024, please send an email with the first name, last name, class year and maiden name if applicable to alumni@gips.org
Class Notes
Rise wants to help you celebrate your successes with other Grand Island Senior High alumni and friends. “Class Notes” is the place to highlight a birth, an anniversary, a promotion, a college degree, an award, or other notable personal accomplishments and triumphs. Tell us about that new business. That perfect baby … or grandbaby. That Masters degree you earned after years of hard work. That recognition from your company, your cohorts, your community.
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GISH Alumni Classes, as proud alumni, you have a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and make a significant impact on future GISH graduates. Following in the footsteps of the Class of 1964 and 1973, who have established scholarships, the GIPS Foundation encourages you to create your own Class scholarship fund. By doing so, alumni can provide a chance for students to pursue their dreams. Together, you can make a difference in the lives of GISH graduates and leave a legacy that will be celebrated for years to come. Please contact Kari Hooker-Leep (khookerleep@gips.org) at the GIPS Foundation to discuss how to get started.
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1959Robert D. Shanks Jr. PhD, Class of 1959, has published three books "A Father's Stories for His Children", "An Awakening at Nain", and "Tales from Northern Arizona". https://robertdarrolshanks.com/
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1965Patty A. (Vang) Morris is retiring after 5 years at GIPS. She was a Technology Assistant at Barr Middle School.
Islander Trivia
How well do you know Grand Island Senior High?
Rise is starting a new feature each edition called “Islander Trivia,” questions designed to send you to the deep recesses of your memory … or at least to your yearbooks, Facebook friends from high school or even Google.
Here are the answers for this edition:
- The Islanders are a one-of-a-kind mascot in the state of Nebraska. How many other one-of-kinds can you name?
Answer: (partial list)
Beatrice Orangemen
Bloomfield Bees
Centura Centurions
Columbus Discoverers
Cozad Haymakers
Diller-Odell Griffins
Elkhorn Antlers
Fairbury Jeffs
Heartland Lutheran Red Hornets
Holdrege Dusters
Lincoln High Links
Lincoln North Star Navigators
Malcom Clippers
Minden Whippets
Omaha Benson Bunnies
Ord Chanticleers
Pender Pendragons
Southwest Roughriders
Sterling Jets
Sutherland Sailors
Quest Forward Academy Swarm
- Senior High is a member of the Heartland Athletic Conference, fondly known as the HAC. The Islanders were once a part of the Big Ten Conference. Who were the other nine schools? For bonus points, put them in their divisions, East and West.
Answer:
Big Ten East
Fremont
Norfolk
Columbus
Hastings
Grand Island
Big Ten West
Kearney
North Platte
McCook
Alliance
Scottsbluff
In 1967, eschewing a well-known winner from Broadway, the Senior High theater and music departments helped Nebraska celebrate its 100 years of statehood by staging a spring musical that captured the pioneer spirit. What was the name of that play?
Answer: “Land of the Singing Sky”
Do you have a trivia suggestions for our next edition? We would love to hear from you!
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Terms & Conditions
Donation Refund Policy
We are grateful for your donation and support of our organization. If you have made an error in making your donation or change your mind about contributing to our organization please contact us. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment. If you made your donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card.Automated Recurring Donation Cancellation
Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time. But if you must cancel your recurring donation, please notify us.Powered by Firespring
