E-Letter 04/18/2009

      
Ackerman School Reunion meets Saturday
Rallies support for scholarship fund

Saturday, April 25, is the day and Ackerman High School campus will be the setting for former classmates, teachers, coaches, administrators and friends to gather for their annual school reunion. The meeting begins in the Ty Cobb Complex at 12:00 pm (noon) with registration and a silent auction until 2 pm. The program begins at 2 pm in the auditorium. The Ackerman School Reunion Group was organized in 1998 and is made up of former students, administrators and friends of AHS. The purpose of the annual meeting is renewing friendships and supporting the school. There is no cost for the event.

New to the reunion event this year is a silent auction (from 12 pm noon until 2 pm) that will feature wood crafts, paintings, books, pottery, CD’s and more, with all proceeds going to support the annual Reunion Scholarship Fund. According to reunion president Hazel Crenshaw Garrett (1964), “All of these silent auction items have been lovingly donated by some very talented alumni and friends of Ackerman School.” To date, those individuals donating items for the silent auction include Nan Sullivan, Hazel Crenshaw Garrett, Ruth Nowlin, Smoky Oswalt, Hank Taylor, Sara Pickett, Vivian Coleman, Marion Smith, Jimmy Crowder, Glendal Reid, Margie Fiebig, Danny Brunt, Susan Moore Clark, Kenneth Smith, Bobby Cooper, Jan Ganann, Kathryn Herrington Davis, and Charles Fulton (brother of the late Tommy Fulton).

Among the silent auction items will be a musical CD of Tommy Fulton (1967) who is remembered for his amazing musical talent. He went on to be a well respected conductor with the Metropolitan Opera and conducted operas and orchestras around the world before his death in 1994. His brother, Charles, has donated a CD of Tommy’s college freshman and sophomore piano recitals for the silent auction. Charles recently discovered two reel to reel tapes from Tommy’s estate and had them digitally transferred to CD. Hazel Garrett has donated three books: The Cemeteries of Choctaw County; The Families of Choctaw County; and the Chronicles of Choctaw County by Judge Coleman.

“Remember to come early this year for the silent auction, registration and fellowship. The auction and registration open at 12 noon and close at 2 pm as we begin our reunion program,” added Garrett.

The Ackerman School Reunion Scholarship Fund was established to provide annual scholarships to graduating seniors from Ackerman High School who plans to further his or her education in an academic or vocational institution of higher learning. The scholarships are nominated and selected by the faculty of Ackerman High School. According to Ackerman School Reunion founder Marion Smith, Sr. (1948), “The criteria of the scholarship award are based upon the student’s economic need and desire for furthering his/her education and training at a college or vocational institution. Additional considerations are the student’s outstanding moral character and reflect some of the following traits: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.” Smith added, “The reunion group awarded four scholarships in 2008 and with a successful silent auction, plan to award four additional scholarships in 2009. We hope that everyone will be generous in their bidding.”

According to reunion vice president Dick Burney (1958), “We had 180 former students, teachers and coaches who attended our reunion last year from nine different states. We have alumni who faithfully attend and we continue to reach out to those as near as Ackerman in hopes to make this their first year. Last year the AHS Class of 1958 was recognized at the event for highest attendance with 29 members present. It’s a barrel of fun reminiscing and re-establishing friendships. I challenge all alumni to call a former classmate today and meet us at the reunion on Saturday, April 25.”

We could top all records in 2009 if you attend and encourage your former classmates to meet you at AHS on Saturday, April 25. Why not make a phone call or send them e-mail today? Visit www.AckermanReunion.com today, and subscribe to the free e-mail notices. We now have Ackerman Reunion Group on www.Facebook.com. It’s free to join and a great way to keep in touch. After you join, click here for Ackerman High School Alumni.