Class of 1968
Alumni Liaison
Volume 11 | Number 3
Welcome to the May 2026 edition of Rise, the voice of Grand Island Senior High alumni and friends. It’s graduation time of year and you will see that reflected in some of the stories in this edition. Enjoy!
As we do every other month, we landed in over 11,000 in-boxes today bringing you news, views, and memories of GISH. Rise is a publication of the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.
This is Issue #3 of our 11th year of publishing the only consistent connection for alumni and friends of Grand Island Senior High. That makes this iteration 63 of Rise as we move smartly into another decade of bringing the comings and goings of Islander alums across the globe.
Since Senior High has added the Class of 2026 to its living history, we’ll start there with the details of graduation which took place on May 9 where you can search for the names of long lost relatives and friends. Rise’s own Reagan Kort, who graduated with the Class of 2026, introduces to two Islanders who are success stories in their own right. In Foundation Focus, the Foundation’s Administration and Development Associate, Mandy Sullivan, details how the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation assures every graduating senior a cap, a gown, and essentially a place for graduation. Her story underscores the Foundation’s ability to be there for students when the time comes.
If the South Pacific has been on your mind this winter, make time for Wandering Writer Sarah Kuta's story on Nebraskan Marlon Brando’s island paradise. The movies are on the mind of “Distant Mirror” scribe Mike Monk who offers us the first of two installments on the films that have had an impact in his life.
Be sure to catch Kari Hooker-Leep’s piece on “The Innovation Tank,” a new and fascinating way that opens up new worlds to GIPS students, through their teachers’ creativity. In my “I’ve Been Thinking” column, I reminisce a little on my own graduation day, musing that even though the "traditions" may have changed, the importance of the day hasn’t.
As usual, In Memoriam lists those 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. And, once again, you’ll get a chance to test your memory -- or at least your Google search skills -- with another edition of Islander Trivia.
Stay in touch, Islanders. And remember: Keep pushing on.
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At the Top
George Ayoub reflects on recent graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026.
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Making Your Mark
Kari Hooker-Leep introduces the newly redesigned Classroom Grant Program.
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Foundation Focus
Mandy Sullivan highlights how Compassion Grants preserve joy for every GISH graduate.
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I've Been Thinking
George Ayoub discusses how the graduation milestone stays vital even as traditions change.
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On the Island
Reagan Kort shares how GISH seniors are embracing their final rite of passage.
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Distant Mirror
Mike Monk takes a stroll down memory lane in a 2-part article on the variety of movie theater experiences in Grand Island.
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A Wandering Writer's World
Sarah Kuta explores Marlon Brando’s private Polynesian paradise, a vision ahead of it's time.
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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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Islander Trivia
How well do you know Grand Island Senior High?
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Tom Dinsdale -
At the Top
Senior High Class of 2026 Graduates
Photo courtesy of Grand Island Public Schools
A packed Heartland Events Center on the Nebraska State Fair campus hosted the 144th Grand Island Senior High graduation ceremony on Saturday May 9 at 10 a.m. Over 600 seniors strode across the stage to get their high school diploma, moving in an instant from students to alumni.
The ceremony included music by the GISH orchestra and choir, a student speech, and the traditional superintendent's message preceding the conferring of diplomas. In his message to the graduates, Superintendent, Matt Fischer, told them to always choose the path of integrity when faced with problems and dilemmas. “The path ahead won’t always be easy. You will be faced with shortcuts and easy ways out. Choosing the harder path, when it is the right one, is what will ultimately define your legacy,” he said.
Here’s to a hearty Rise congratulations to the Class of 2026. A link to the graduation program including the names of all the graduates can be found here.
(e) Mail Bag
Making Your Mark
Dream Bigger: Introducing the Innovation Tank
Class of 1983
Executive Director
GIPS Foundation
There is a unique kind of magic that happens when teachers are given the resources to match their imaginations. For years, our educators have performed wonders with small-scale grants, but we know that locked inside our classrooms are "moonshot" ideas—the kind of transformative projects that don’t just change a lesson plan, but change a student’s entire life. We are thrilled to announce a bold, heartfelt evolution of our Classroom Grant program: “The Innovation Tank.” Inspired by the spirit of innovation and the passion of our educators, this program moves us away from small, administrative fixes toward high-impact, life-changing investments in our student's futures.
We believe that our teachers are great innovators in our community, and it is time we treated them as such. By raising our funding ceiling from $2,500 to $5,000, we are sending a clear message: dream bigger. This isn't just about new equipment; it’s about creating a culture where a teacher’s most ambitious vision for their students can actually come to life. The Foundation believes this shift is vital because our students deserve more than just the basics; they deserve environments that spark curiosity and demand engagement. Our mission has always been to support the classroom, but with the Innovation Tank, we are choosing to invest in the future of education itself. We want to fund the projects that students will remember for the rest of their lives.
The journey to the Tank begins with the "Big Idea," a simplified proposal where teachers share their heart for innovation and their vision for the classroom. From there, a selection of finalists will receive personalized pitch coaching, helping them find their voice and sharpen their ability to share their dreams. This experience is about more than just a check; it is an investment in our teachers themselves, building their confidence and giving them a platform to showcase their expertise. The Foundation believes that when we empower a teacher, the direct beneficiaries are the students, who gain a role model who isn't afraid to take risks and pursue excellence.
The heart of the program beats loudest during the live “Pitch.” Finalists will stand before a panel of "Sharks"—a group of passionate board members, local business leaders, and administration to share their stories. In the “Tank,” the gap between community resources and classroom needs disappears. Our Sharks will have the power to fund these dreams on the spot, witnessing firsthand the passion that drives our schools. The impact on students is profound; instead of scattered resources, they receive access to sustainable, cutting-edge tools.
"We aren't just buying supplies anymore," said Grants Committee Chairperson, Erin Marsh. "We are building experiential assets that transform a school’s identity and provide students with hands-on experiences they can't get from a textbook."
As the Foundation and our committees prepare the final logistics for this inaugural event, we are building something that honors the hard work of our teachers and the limitless curiosity of our students. We are committed to ensuring this program provides a maximum return on investment, focusing our energy on the projects that will leave a lasting legacy.
If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased. - Maya Angelou
Foundation Focus
The Fabric of Success: Covering Every Senior’s Milestone
Administration & Development Associate
GIPS Foundation
Graduation marks the moment a student finally emerges from years of hard work, ready to breathe a sigh of relief. While many students are busy debating which decorations will look best at their graduation party or what kind of food to serve their guests, others are burdened by a much heavier weight: the possibility of walking across the stage without the very uniform that symbolizes their achievement. For those facing financial hardship, the $40 cost of a cap and gown is anything but a minor detail; it is a barrier that creates overwhelming stress and unfairly dims their moment in the spotlight.
The Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) Foundation believes that no parent should have to choose between a utility bill and a graduation gown. Through dedicated funding and the generosity of community donors, the Foundation provides caps and gowns through a Compassion Grant for graduating seniors who find themselves in these difficult positions. By easing the burden of senior year expenses, the GIPS Foundation ensures that a "stretched" budget never prevents a student from participating in this rite of passage.
The GIPS Foundation is privileged to steward Compassion Grants, which are permanent endowments designed to remove barriers by providing essential resources like mental health counseling, clothing, and transportation assisting in student success. These funds reflect the unique legacies of their donors, such as the Gloria and S.N. "Bud" Wolbach Student Kindness Fund. As a bedrock of the Compassion Grant program, the Wolbach Fund honors the couple's lifelong commitment to community by providing students with hope and opportunity—specifically ensuring graduating seniors in need can celebrate their success with a cap and gown. By connecting students to their school and community, these grants ensure that the spirit of generosity continues to drive student achievement for generations to come. For the Class of 2026 these funds have secured 48 seniors with their cap and gown, totaling over $1900, with this number potentially growing in the days leading up to graduation.
Grand Island Public Schools’ counselors, social workers, and teachers serve as the front line for Compassion Grant recipients, identifying students who may be struggling in silence. Once a student is nominated, the Foundation takes immediate action to ensure their cap and gown are paid for, lifting the weight of the expense so the student can focus on their achievement. Grand Island Public Schools Social Worker Dawn Deuel-Rutt shares her experience with the Foundation’s grant process: “I’m incredibly grateful to the GIPS Foundation for removing a barrier that keeps some of our students from fully experiencing graduation. For many of our students, they would not be able to participate in the graduation ceremony without this assistance. I’ve worked with students who planned to skip the ceremony because their families simply couldn’t afford a cap and gown. Some are navigating homelessness. Others are working full-time, with every dollar going toward supporting their households. Because of this funding, these students are given the same opportunity as their peers—to walk across the stage, be recognized, and celebrate everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve. That moment of belonging and accomplishment is something every student deserves, and I'm forever grateful to the GIPS Foundation for making it possible.”
The Compassion Grants are an enduring reflection of the Grand Island community's spirit. They serve as a reminder that these students are not walking alone. When the community invests in a student’s cap and gown, they are sending a powerful message: "We see your hard work, we are proud of you, and we want to see you cross that finish line."
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I've Been Thinking
Graduation Still Important
Class of 1968
Alumni Liaison
For the record … well … we really can’t say because the dispute lingers. That debate is just exactly how many graduates walked across the makeshift stage facing east in Memorial Stadium on the afternoon May 19, 1968. The two numbers bandied about for the last 58 years are 429 or 420.
I was a member in good standing of the Class of 1968 -- I had enough credits to graduate. So either estimate works for me. Nor does it really matter at this point exactly how many of us there were, nearly six decades after the fact, such as it is.
Putting together this or any May issue of Rise usually elicits memories of my own graduation. Perhaps it does you, too. Funerals and weddings sometimes make us consider our own mortality and the day or days we say, “I do.” High school graduations can have the same effect.
I graduated before the advent of the graduation party, so we had no sheet cakes, meat and cheese trays, or glitter-dusted tables. I have a picture somewhere of my parents in dress-up mode and me in cap and gown on the front porch. I think one of my uncles was around someplace, too. A couple buddies came by on their way to the ceremony, and I hitched a ride with one as my mom and dad had left to get good seats.
Photo courtesy of Grand Island Public Schools
That was also before air horns and other noisy PDAs - public displays of approval -- from family and friends. I have never quite been able to square these raucous yet joyful outbursts with something that begins with Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance." But then, nobody has asked me either. Sometimes when you’re old, like from the Class of 1968, you act like it. This might be one of those times. (Hint: It is.)
Like any senior on graduation day, the ceremony seemed long and tedious, something you get when you read 429 or 420 names -- first, last, and middle. Since I do not remember, I checked the weather from that day and about the time I dragged my carcass across the stage -- early as I recall, a nod to the alphabet -- it was cool, in the upper 50s, and cloudy. While hands holding smart phones high to get a good shot are de rigueur for today’s graduations, I cannot recall seeing a single camera in the stands as I scanned the crowd for my parents. My guess is that surely a Brownie Instamatic or even a Polaroid or two was at the ready.
Whatever the actual number of 1968 graduating Islanders who were sitting in folding chairs about the 40-yard line, it was the last time that specific group was all together in one place. Never to be put back together again. I used to think that made such a day important. I’m not so sure of that anymore.
I do know this. May rarely comes and goes without me thinking about 1968 and all those classmates and all those folding chairs and all the time that has since expired.
So, I guess, as the Class of 2026, the newly minted alumni of Grand Island Senior High, might tell you: The day we graduate from high school -- which is only once -- is in and of itself important.
On the Island
Senior High Class of 2026 Graduates
Class of 2026
Student Correspondent
Hello, readers of RISE. Things sure are warming up outside, and the same energy is buzzing inside the halls of Grand Island Senior High. Many of my classmates and I have found it quite difficult to focus during the latter portion of the year, but we made it. Myself alongside almost 700 others are proud to say that we are now GISH graduates.
On May 9, members of the Class of 2026 turned their tassels and tossed their caps, concluding their time as Grand Island Islanders. I was very excited to share this special occasion with my friends, who succeeded as both Magna Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude graduates alongside me. It is safe to say that I will miss the halls of the Island, but I know that I will always be an Islander at heart.
Senior Michael Westerby was involved in fine arts at GISH. He will continue to pursue music in college.
For the senior class, spring was full of many fun activities. On Class Day, the class officers hosted a “senior sunrise” at Memorial Stadium. On that early morning, graduating students were encouraged to wear shirts displaying their future college, career, or military plans. It was an early, but fun morning. I enjoyed watching the passionate and motivated people around me celebrate their achievements. The sunrise was beautiful, and excited me about all the new things coming ahead.
In April, the 2026 GISH Prom was held at Fonner Park. The class officers showed off their year-long work with an extravagant, glimmering, “The Great Gatsby” themed evening. Senior Michael Westerby, a dedicated student and musician, had the honor of being Prom King – the very first at Grand Island Senior High.
Michael told me all about this exciting title and recognition from his classmates. “Getting to be the prom king this year was such an honor. It’s a very surreal experience to be recognized by my classmates in that manner,” he said. Westerby was nominated by his classmates to be a member of the prom court, and those same students showed up to vote. Both prom queen and king were crowned by the class officers and Mr. Hubbard during the dance. “I also got to keep my crown, which was a fun experience. I’ll always have this fun memory from my senior year”, said Westerby. Michael is attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the fall to study music education. I can’t wait to see what Michael achieves as he represents Grand Island Senior High in his future adventures.
GISH Junior Reese Jones broke 18 feet in the long jump during this current track season.
While the seniors may no longer be roaming the halls of Grand Island Senior High, the other classes are making the most out of these spring months. A big part of May in the athletic department at GISH is track season. Junior Reese Jones has shown great dedication throughout her season in multiple events. She told me all about her achievements so far this year. “I have achieved several personal records and am very close to breaking the school record in the long jump. My favorite memory from this season is breaking 18 feet in the long jump. It has been a goal I have been after since freshman year and jumping it was definitely a highlight,” she said. While Jones is making history and achieving personal goals, she’s also experiencing the remarkable environment that is fostered in the athletic program here at GISH. “It is a very nice feeling to have such a connected group of girls supporting you when you compete. I enjoy running in the 4x400 because I love the feeling of being able to run for my team and the other girls in the relay. (We) teammates are very close, and I really enjoy the bond that has been created between us,” she said. While highlighting an extremely positive and successful season so far, Jones also notes that she looks forward to setting more personal records and gaining close, bonded friendships in the future. It is so exciting to see maturing students carry on the strong legacy set before them. Islanders are achieving success alongside their peers in so many ways.
While my time at GISH has come to an end, I can’t help feeling proud of how far I came, and how far my classmates have come alongside me. I can’t wait to see where the future takes us. These final days before summer for the Islanders are always exciting, but the hallways will be empty without all the hustle and bustle soon. Here’s to a fun, safe, and memorable end of spring.
A Distant Mirror
Class of 1967
Rise Contributor
“Hooray for Hollywood!” – Part 1 – Growing Up in Grand Island With Movies
I have always loved movies, and I particularly treasure seeing a movie in a theatre, where it is a shared communal experience. Sitting in a dark theatre, surrounded by others, with my popcorn and drink in hand, is a joy. In the movie house, one can become engrossed in the movie without interruption. Watching a movie on television or on a laptop, tablet or phone does not provide the same experience as seeing it on the big screen. And there are always distractions. Should I start a load of laundry or do a few dishes? Do I answer the phone or check a text. In the theatre we silence our phones! What a concept.
The first movie I ever saw was when my father took me to see the 1955 “Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier" at a small movie house in the tiny hamlet of North Loup, Nebraska. I was six years old. The vivid colors and Davy’s exciting adventures knocked me out. The movie had a huge impact. Thereafter, like many boys of my generation, I had to have a Davy Crockett coonskin hat, play rifle, and powder horn.
This first film was a prelude to a childhood in which I spent lots of pleasure and time at the three Grand Island movie houses that existed in the 1950’s and early 1960’s: The Grand Theatre on Third Street, the Capitol Theatre on Second Street, and the Island Theatre on Fourth Street.
The Grand Theatre was of course the home of Wally Kemp’s Summer Shows, where grade schoolers could buy a card of tickets to eight movies, one movie a week during the summer. These were delightful experiences. My mother would give me 25 cents with which I would buy a ten-cent popcorn, a ten-cent Coke, and a nickel candy bar. Wally Kemp, the manager, would introduce each movie, and lead us in singing God Bless America. (A few young wags sang “God Bless My Underwear. They are my only pair.”) He then asked the assembled youths to make as much noise as they wanted, and we all screamed. After the noise fest, we were generally ready to settle down and enjoy the movie. Wally also would upon occasion host special events before the movie. When my cousin Randy Garroutte (GISH Class of 1970), he was about eight, made a big splash one year, getting second place in the on-stage hula hoop contest.
I recall vividly and fondly two of the movies I saw at the Summer Shows. The first was the 1950 version of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” a comedy featuring a family of 12 children, guided by a father who was an efficiency expert. He preached the value of never wasting time. He taught how to shower effectively, but quickly, noting the parts of the body to be washed and the sequence in which to wash them. He had his children listen to language records while in the bathtub. The values of efficiency and organization have stayed with me to this day.
My favorite Summer Show movie was the 1951 version of “Angels in the Outfield” starring Janet Leigh, Paul Douglas, and Keenan Wynn as the bad guy. Eight-year-old orphan Bridget attends games of the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates with nuns and girls from her orphanage. To help the Pirates, Bridget prays for them. Soon, there are actual angels, the “Heavenly Choir Nine,” to assist the Pirates on the field, but only Bridget can see them. Bridget and her new female reporter friend meet the gruff manager and soften him. The movie has some excellent scenes of baseball at Forbes Field, then the home of the Pirates, and a wonderful tear-jerking ending. It remains in my top 10 movies of all time.
Gloriously, after the Grand Theatre closed in 1985, a community group of volunteers rescued and reopened it on November 27, 1987, showing Gene Kelly in the classic “Singing in the Rain.” Over the years thereafter, they restored the building to its original splendor, especially in the restoration of the beautiful Art Deco style facade that had been rendered over. The Grand now glows.
I also recall enjoying the Island Theatre on Fourth Street. It had terrific Saturday morning shows, featuring cowboy movies, cartoons, and newsreels, attended by a slightly more riotous group of youths.
The Capitol Theatre on Second Street was an historic 1,130 seat movie palace that opened on March 24, 1927. It was large, elegant, and gorgeous. Designed by the architect John Eberson, it featured an “atmospheric” style blending Italian Renaissance, Spanish, and Moroccan designs. It was designed to accommodate both films and live acts, featuring a stage, dressing rooms, an orchestra pit, and a Wurlitzer organ. It was the brainchild of local banker/department store owner S.N. Wolbach and Carl Laemmle, president of Universal Pictures.
When I was about eleven years old, my aunt Jerrene and mother Ramona took my eight-year-old cousin Randy and me to the Capitol to see Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” also starring Janet Leigh. Jerrene had to lie about her son Randy’s age to get in, and she did. It was, and is, a pretty scary movie for such young folks, but we survived and loved it. My mother, Ramona, also took my sister, Pat Wagoner, (GISH Class of 1970) and me to the Capitol to see “Gone With the Wind” around this time. It was the first movie we recall having an intermission.
The Capitol closed in 1985 and was demolished for a parking lot. Yes, you pave paradise and put up a parking lot.
My Aunt Jerrene was fantastic. She never used the word “movie” but instead would suggest we “go to the show.” She would drive us to the theatre, buy tickets, and, even if the movie had started or was half over, we would enter. The idea of arriving at the beginning was foreign to her. I can’t tell you how many movies we left after she would say, “Ok, this is where we came in.” Somehow it didn’t seem to diminish the enjoyment.
One day, when I was about 15, I was downtown by myself on Third Street, and I saw that a movie called “Dr. Strangelove” was playing at the Grand. On a whim, by myself, I decided to see it. It is a very powerful and hilariously dark movie. The movie depicts the US Air Force flying nuclear loaded planes to the Soviet Union by mistake. The president then tries to call them back. But one of the bombers miraculously gets through and drops a nuclear bomb, which triggers a Soviet nuclear response that devastates the world. The movie ends with a series of nuclear explosions. I walked out stunned. Little did I know that “Dr. Strangelove,” released in 1964, would go on to receive four Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor (Peter Sellers).
Families also saw movies at the Grand Island Drive-In Theater west of town, which opened in 1949 and closed in the early 1980’s. Often a whole family would go, with the kids in pajamas, and see a movie in their car. This location was also a popular dating venue, with teens taking their girlfriends to what some called “the passion pit.” The bolder miscreants of my generation would also, from time to time, hide one or two friends in the trunk (I’m not kidding) and then free them once inside to lower the price of admission. Desperate to see the movie “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” and with my friends all busy, I once went to the Drive-In by myself.
Television also provided some great movies not available in the theatres, like the once yearly showing of “The Wizard of Oz.” I recall first seeing the movie before we had a color television. When we later got a color television, we marveled at the switch from black and white to color when Dorothy arrived in OZ.
Yes, Grand Island was a delightful place to enjoy movies growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. For the next issue of Rise, I will trace the evolution of my continued love of film from my college days into later life in “Hooray for Hollywood! – Part 2.”
A Wandering Writer's World
Exploring Marlon Brando’s private island in French Polynesia
Class of 2008
Rise Contributor
I was interviewing an entrepreneur for a business magazine recently when he said something that struck me. He said, “Sometimes ideas aren’t bad, they’re just early."
Marlon Brando photo courtesy of Tetiaroa Society
As soon as I heard this little nugget of wisdom, I immediately thought of Marlon Brando.
I know, I know, Marlon Brando? That seems like kind of a big leap. But a few months earlier, I had visited Brando’s private island in French Polynesia, where I witnessed this exact philosophy in action.
Born in Omaha in 1924, Brando grew up to become an iconic American actor known for his raw, method-driven performances in films like “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “On the Waterfront.” In the 1960s, while filming “Mutiny on the Bounty,” Brando visited an atoll — a ring-shaped collection of small islands encircling a central lagoon — about 30 miles north of Tahiti. He was so captivated by the place, called Tetiaroa, that he convinced its owner to sell it to him.
Aerial view of the atoll photo courtesy of Tetiaroa Society
Tetiaroa became Brando’s hideout — his escape from the turmoil and temptations of Hollywood. But he also had ambitious plans for his slice of paradise.
Some of his ideas were futuristic — or downright outlandish. He thought about filling the lagoon with eels to generate electricity, for example, and considered turning the atoll into a habitat for gorillas. He wondered about the possibility of developing an air-conditioning system that relied on cold water pumped from the depths of the ocean.
But others seemed more feasible. He wanted to make Tetiaroa a “university of the sea,” a place where scientists from around the globe could conduct cutting-edge research and students could learn about conservation and Polynesian culture. He hoped Tetiaroa might serve as a testing ground for experimental sustainability efforts, such as solar power, wind power, and technologies to convert waste into energy. And he wanted to show that tourism, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation could co-exist and even thrive in harmony.
In the early 1970s, Brando built an airstrip and a small hotel consisting of bungalows and A-frame huts on Tetiaroa. The hotel operated for many years, though it was never profitable and was repeatedly damaged by tropical storms. But Brando could never seem to get his act together — nor scrounge up enough money — to bring his full vision for Tetiaroa to life. (His life story is wildly complicated and tragically sad, but I won’t get into all that now. If you’re interested in learning more, I recommend Peter Manso’s comprehensive biography.)
However, over the last decade, many of his grand plans for Tetiaroa have become a reality. After he died in 2004, his estate teamed up with Pacific Beachcomber, an established hospitality company that already had several hotels in French Polynesia. The company agreed to build and run a new, small, luxury eco-resort on Tetiaroa, inspired by the late actor’s idea of turning the atoll into a low-impact, environmentally friendly, and innovative paradise for travelers.
The Brando has 35 private villas
The resort, called The Brando, opened in 2014 on the 10th anniversary of Brando’s death. At the same time, the nonprofit Tetiaroa Society was established to help fulfill Brando’s wishes of preserving the atoll and Polynesian culture, and of making Tetiaroa a hub for scientific research.
Now, more than 10 years later, the Tetiaroa Society runs a high-tech research facility on the atoll and offers dormitory-style lodging for up to 18 visiting scientists at a time. The group gets most of its funding from the resort, which has hosted celebrities and VIPs ranging from President Barack Obama to Beyoncé to Britney Spears.
The Tetiaroa Society, with support from the Brando, has made the atoll a vibrant hub for scientific research on everything from sharks and microplastics to shoreline erosion and sea-level rise. Beyond that, it’s a living laboratory, a place where researchers can put their ideas into practice—like how to eradicate invasive rats to protect seabirds. Schoolchildren also visit Tetiaroa, where guides share Polynesian legends, language, and traditional knowledge, as well as the cultural history of the atoll. Students also meet with visiting researchers, study plants and animals, learn about the importance of conservation, and spend time in nature.
And remember Brando’s seemingly crazy idea of using cold seawater to cool down the buildings on Tetiaroa? Not so crazy after all. Today, that’s exactly how the structures on Tetiaroa are cooled. Called “the SWAC”— short for seawater air conditioning — the system uses a pipe to bring up water from 3,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. The frigid saltwater passes through a heat exchanger, where it cools a separate, closed circuit of fresh water. The chilled freshwater then gets pumped to air conditioners, while the seawater gets sent back to the ocean. The entire process uses minimal electricity, supplied primarily by 4,700 solar panels on the atoll, and does not use any refrigerants.
Long before sustainability became a buzzword and eco-tourism gained traction as a viable business model, Brando was sketching out ideas that felt impractical, even idealistic—too ambitious for their time.
It would be easy to mistake that kind of thinking for naivety. But after visiting Tetiaroa and doing a deep-dive into everything that’s underway there today, I now understand that some ideas aren’t far-fetched or absurd — they simply arrive before the world is ready to carry them forward. What once seemed out of reach has, slowly and collectively, begun to take shape on Tetiaroa.
“Marlon was a visionary,” Hinano Murphy, the cultural director for the Tetiaroa Society, told me. “He wanted to create a school of the ocean. And I think what we are doing today … we are following Marlon’s spirit.”
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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 3rd Tuesday of each month at Pam's Cafe on South Locust at 11:30 am.
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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 IHOP, 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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1966Class of '66 meets for lunch on the third Wednesday of the month at noon with the place updated each month on our class Facebook page. Hope to see many friends attend!!
The 60th reunion for the Class of 1966 will be held on Sept 19, 2026 at the Grand Island Hotel / Casino from 6 pm - 11 pm. A block of rooms is being held for reservations ($179). Dinner will be served and there will be a cash bar. Contact Raynette (Webb) Martin for additional information. Approximate cost will be $50-$60/person.
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1967The class of 1967 meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday from 2:00-5:00 at Tommy's for chit-chat, pie, and coffee.
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1969The class of 1969 invites all classmates to our Monthly Luncheons. We meet the second Monday at noon of each month at The Finish Line at Fonner Park in Grand Island. Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times.
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1976The class of 1976 is exited to announce their 50th reunion to be held Saturday September 12, 2026 at the Full Circle Venue located at 220 W 3rd St, Grand Island. Informal gathering planned for the Friday evening before, MORE DETAILS to follow.
For questions, shares or update information contact:
Connie (Deitchler) Madison at madcon57@hotmail.com
Anita (Yunk) Lewandowski at anita.lewandowski@gmail.com -
1986Eighty six, Eighty six, eighty eighty eighty SIX! Join us August 7-8 for our 40th class reunion. Friday we have have a golf tournament and then later Friday night join us for a bonfire, conversation, and games outside of town on the river. Saturday will include a tour of the High School and then a dinner Saturday evening. Please provide your contact info to the email below or reach out to request for info on the events.
Contact: gish1986reunion@gmail.com -
1996Please join our "GISH Class of 1996" Facebook page for Event links and to catch up with your classmates!
If you are not on Facebook and want more information about the events, please contact Jill Jakob Bonczynski at jilljakob@hotmail.com
Friday July 31, 2026 - Class gathering at Hear GI. Specifics as more details are available.
Saturday August 1, 2026 10am - 12pm tour of GISH and Memorial Stadium, 6:30pm Traveler's Tap Room
RSVPs are requested for Saturday August 1st - Traveler's Tap Room so that we can communicate with restaurant. -
2006Class of 2006 is excited to announce their 20th Class Reunion to be celebrated on July 11th, 2026 from 4pm to 9pm at Stolley Park. There will be a catered picnic open to families. Please contact Alicia Hansen at aliciahansen@live.com for questions.
In Memoriam
March and April memorial list of GISH Alumni
David Steinbeck, class of 1964, died March 4, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 79
Judy (Spear) Blain, class of 1961, died March 5, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 82
Jack Ross, class of 1964, died March 11, 2026, at the age of 79
Christina Peterson, class of 1995, died March 12, 2026, in Kearney, NE, at the age of 48
Wayne Gleason, class of 1957, died March 13, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 86
Lorretta (Herman) Niemoth, class of 1959, died March 14, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 84
Gary Linder, class of 1960, died March 16, 2026, in Millard, NE, at the age of 83
Marty Rocca, class of 1979, died March 17, 2026, at the age of 65
Peggy (Killham) Inman, class of 1970, died March 19, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 74
Jacquelyn (Quandt) Pollock, class of 1963, died March 19, 2026, at the age of 80
Irasema Interiano, class of 2009, died March 27, 2026, at the age of 34
Kathy Rogan, class of 1981, died March 29, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 62
Randy Gregory, class of 1974, died March 29, 2026, in Hastings, NE, at the age of 69
Peggy (Davis) Worm, class of 1969 died April 1, 2026, at the age of 74
Jeanette (Hansen) Moores, class of 1957, died April 1, 2026, in Evergreen, CO, at the age of 87
Terri (Warner) Wells, class of 1973, died April 4, 2026, in Springfield, MO, at the age of 70
Leslie Stine, class of 1981, died April 6, 2026, in Rincon, Georgia, at the age of 62
Michael Spahr, class of 1958, died April 7, 2026, at the age of 85
Ronda (Hulme) Gilmore, class of 1975, died April 11, 2026, at the age of 68
Patricia (Mcostrich) Hughes, class of 1959, died April 13, 2026, in Bethesda, MD, at the age of 84
Patricia "Pat" (Hoffman) Sinnard, class of 1949, died April 14, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 94
Elden Heim, class of 1965, died April 19, 2026, in Altoona, Iowa, at the age of 79
Daryll Thavenet, class of 1956, died April 19, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 87
Norma (Hill) Trosper, class of 1965, died April 20, 2026, in Grand Island, NE, at the age of 78
Charlene (Reimers) Lautenschlager, class of 1981, died April 23, 2026, in Lincoln, NE, at the age of 62
Shirley (Auhl) Richards, class of 1956, died April 23, 2026, at the age of 88
Cheryl (Roth) Johnson, class of 1975, died April 26, 2026, at the age of 69
Susan (Smith) English, class of 1967, died April 27, 2026, in Cairo, NE, at the age of 76
George Simon, class of 1966, died April 27, 2026, at the age of 78
Randy Spiehs, class of 1967, died April 28, 2026, at the age of 76
To report an alumni death since February 2026, 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.
Islander Trivia
How well do you know Grand Island Senior High?
Welcome to “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 is the trivia for this edition: Since this edition of Rise is focused on graduation and the end of the school year, here are three questions involving “Commencements,” which, as you know, are ironically at the end of a student’s high school years … as in commencing the next part of life.
1. Where was what is considered the first formal high school graduation held on June 18, 1873?
a. Boston, Mass.
b. Omaha, Neb.
c. Chicago, Ill.
d. New York City
e. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2. When was the first Grand Island Senior High Graduation?
a. 1874
b. 1878
c. 1881
d. 1883
e. 1885
3. How many were in the Senior High inaugural class of graduates.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 18
e. 21
Answers:
1. e
2. d
3. a
Do you have a trivia suggestions for our next edition? We would love to hear from you!
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