Alumni 2004

VERONA HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

Spring 2004

Dear Members of the Verona Alumni Association,

 

Well, although it just doesn’t seem possible, another year has passed on by.   For all of you middle-agers or older, I’m quite sure that you will agree that the earth must be spinning faster because there is no way a year’s worth of time could have already ticked off!  At any rate, a school year will soon be ending, another group of Verona High School seniors are looking ahead to graduation and life after VHS, and, your alumni association officers are currently planning this year’s alumni banquet/meeting.  We especially hope to see YOU at this gathering.  More information is enclosed.

 

While we look forward to meeting former friends and fellow classmates at the alumni meetings, the heart and soul of the alumni association--the most important service we can offer as graduates of Verona High School is neither our wit nor our wisdom which we may have gained over our adult life but, rather, it is our collective ability to make a difference in at least a few students’ lives by providing them a small amount of financial support to help them attend colleges, universities or other schools for the purpose of advancing their education or getting special training. 

 

The cost of a college education has been increasing by leaps and bounds.  Make no mistake, the cost of attending most colleges are so high that our assistance, alone, will not even pay for an entire semester’s worth of tuition--much less a whole year.  Those of you who are currently paying tuition to an institution of higher education know exactly what I am talking about.  Most students must find multiple sources of funds:  college and personal loans, loans from relatives, part-time jobs, gifts, work-study programs and other grants and scholarships.  It is not unusual for college graduates to start their new career and their adult life with a debt of tens of thousands of dollars.  For instance, if you were to visit the Southwest Missouri State University website today,  you would find that a Missouri resident freshman, enrolled as a full-time student taking basic English, computer math, computer information systems, and physical education courses will incur a total of approximately $12, 997 of expenses in that first year.  Here is a breakdown of those costs:  Tuition-$5,128, room & board-$4,660, books & supplies-$800 and student services/course fees- $2,409.

 

These figures show the great “hurdle” that many students and their families have to face.  So rest assured that anything they receive from our alumni association would be greatly appreciated.  Whether it be great or small, you have an opportunity to make a difference in student’s life!  Please show your support for them by sending a contribution, today, to the Verona Alumni Scholarship Fund so that this worthy program can be continued and, with your help, expanded.  Your past generosity in contributing to the Scholarship Fund for Verona’s high school seniors has helped produce many success stories that are a source of “Wildcat” pride for all of us!  So please send your donation to the Verona Alumni Scholarship Fund well before graduation activities commence. 

 

Please let me introduce you to members of the most recent graduates of Verona High School who received scholarships from the Verona Alumni Scholarship Fund in 2003.  They are as follows:

 

Beth Inman-Ruscha, daughter of Joe and Julie Ruscha, was awarded a $200 scholarship to attend Missouri College of Cosmetology;

 

Alana Parker, daughter of Paul and Marcie Parker, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship* to attend Texas A&M University;

 

Amanda Parrigon, daughter of Gary and Sharon Parrigon, was awarded a $600 scholarship to attend Ozarks Technical Community College;

 

Steven Paul, son of Steven and Juanita Paul, was awarded a $500 scholarship to attend Ozarks Technical Community College;

 

James Probyn, son of John and Pat Probyn, was awarded a $800 scholarship* to attend Ozarks Technical Community College;

 

Amber Remington, daughter of Lee and Karen Remington, was awarded a $500 scholarship to attend Crowder College in Neosho;

 

Rebecca Sullivan, daughter of Roy and Debbi Snyder, was awarded an $800 scholarship* to attend Drury University;

 

Heather Weldy, daughter of Steve and Sheryl Weldy, was awarded a $600 scholarship to attend Crowder College; and

 

Gary Welters, son of Glen and Angie Welters, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship* to attend Ozarks Technical Community College.

 

(* - Denotes a scholarship award out of the Ray Dopson Scholarship Fund funding)

 

In 2003, more students were assisted than in the recent past.  This was possible due to generous donations from you--our alumni and, especially, Mr. Ray Dopson.  Please help us help more and more students by sending your donation, today!!  Your support is greatly appreciated!  Thank you!

               

Finally, I hate to end this newsletter on a sad note, but I wanted to let you know, in case you haven’t already heard, that another icon of Verona school history is no longer with us.  Vedas Conway Jackson passed from the scene on March 25, after a short illness at the age of 85.  “Mr. Jackson” was practically a permanent fixture at Verona, having served in the school system for 44 years.  Many of you reading this newsletter probably went to school with or knew at least one of his 4 children:  Ann, Jon, Susan and Robert.

 

Jon, the second oldest child, and I were classmates and close friends from 1st grade through the end of our senior year.  This provided an occasional opportunity to interact with Vedas outside of school.  An ocean of water has passed under the bridge since then but, from what I can recall, he was much the same at home as he was at school--soft-spoken yet firm, coupled with a dry but very keen sense of humor.  And while no one can always be liked by everyone, conversations among those in attendance at the visitation and funeral clearly showed that Vedas was loved and held in high esteem by many former students, teachers and parents.  Even those who may have seen an “un-cool” side of Mr. Jackson, reflected on their love and admiration for this former administrator and teacher.

 

No matter how long a person lives on this earth, it is always hard to give them up.  I am sure that our readers will join us in expressing our most sincere condolences to the entire family of Vedas Conway Jackson.  Your family will be in the thoughts & prayers of many friends & former students! 

 

                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Jim Appelquist, President

                                                                                                Della Tourville, Vice President

                                                                                                Marlene Hayes, Secretary/Treasurer

                                                                                                Vera McCord, Corresponding Secretary

Other Alumni News

·    DON’T FORGET TO ATTEND the Alumni Banquet and meeting on Sunday, August 8 at 1:00 p.m.  A total of 115 former students representing 10 different states attended the last event.   The annual Lion’s Club Picnic will be held that weekend, too (8/6 & 8/7)!

           

·    For your information, the class of 2004 will hold Baccalaureate on May 12 at 7:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church.  Commencement will be held May 16 at 2:00 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

 

·    See what is happening at VHS by checking out the Verona Schools website at:    http://schoolweb.missouri.edu/verona.k12.mo.us.  


 

THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND:  Please Detach THIS SECTION and mail it, along with your CONTRIBUTION

 

 

Name(s)                                                                                                        Class(es) of                                                          

 

Address                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

Scholarship contribution:  $___________________________   (Please make check payable to:  “VERONA ALUMNI ASSOC.”)

 

 

Please MAIL your SCHOLARSHIP CONTRIBUTION by MAY 3, 2004!  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

THE ALUMNI BANQUET/MEETING:  Please Detach THIS SECTION and mail it, along with your CHECK for meal reservations

 

      We have selected 1:00 p.m., Sunday, August 8, 2004, as the time & date of the Triennial Alumni Banquet and meeting.  The dates for the Verona Lions’ Club Picnic, held at the Verona Park, are August 6 and 7.  It is hoped that, by having the alumni banquet during the same weekend, you will have a better opportunity to visit with more alumni members.  The banquet will be in the air conditioned school cafeteria.  The food will be catered and the price will be $12.00 per person.  Any “profit” from the event will be placed in the association’s treasury to be used for scholarships.

 

Name:                                                                                                             

 

Address:                                                                                             

 

Number of Banquet Reservations:                       @  $12.00 per person

 

Amount Enclosed:  $                                        

 

PLEASE SEND BANQUET RESERVATIONS BY JULY 16, 2004

 

 

 

Please make all checks payable to:      VERONA ALUMNI ASSOC.

 

 

Send all checks and Scholarship and/or Banquet Forms to:    MARLENE HAYES

21161 LAWRENCE 1090

MONETT, MO  65708

 

 

 

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN AUGUST AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE VERONA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION!!!

 

 

 

 

P.S.  We do have a tax exempt number

 

so your GIFT to the Scholarship Fund is TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!!!.