Newsletters - Yoncalla Alumni Association

Spring 2019 Newsletter

3/5/2019

Yoncalla Alumni Association
P. O. Box 925
Yoncalla, OR 97499

Spring 2019
            Greetings, again, from the Home of the Eagles . . .
            The Spring Newsletter always marks the halfway point in our scholarship fundraising for the current year’s graduating seniors. The Class of 2019 is on track to graduate another fine group of qualifying students. A couple years ago, the state passed a tuition assistance program for the community colleges called the Oregon Promise. Basically, Oregon resident high school students graduating with at least a 2.5 grade point average will qualify for the Oregon Promise which will provide tuition assistance at any Oregon community college. However, when students receive and apply their scholarship money for tuition, the community colleges will use these scholarship dollars toward tuition costs ahead of the money offered by the Oregon Promise. We have been working with recent graduates who are attending a community college by holding their YAA scholarships for them until they complete their community college studies and then transfer to a four year college or university. One of our goals is to help each student maximize their scholarship dollars.
            The Yoncalla All-School Reunion is scheduled, for the second Sunday in August which will be August 11, 2019. This annual gathering of Eagles will meet at Pass Creek Park in Curtin with the potluck beginning at 11:00 am. Please call organizer Kay VanKrevelen (60) with any questions or offers of assistance at 541-672-8259.
            If you have not yet checked out the Yoncalla Alumni Association’s website, please do so at yoncallaalumniassociation.org for the current newsletter, pictures and now with the ability to make an online contribution, if you prefer this method. At the writing of the fall newsletter, the website was not compatible with mobile devices. We have since corrected that issue. However, we wish to hear from you regarding your experience with the website and look forward to reading your comments.

Terry Duncan (69)
                                                                                    President, YAA

Class of 1969 – 50 Year Reunion
            Trying to coordinate their 50th Class Reunion with the Yoncalla All-School Reunion, the Class of 1969 is planning their gathering on August 10th (Saturday) at Pass Creek Park in Curtin. It is scheduled from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm with the potluck beginning at noon. To assist with the potluck and if your last name begins with a letter between A and G – would you please bring a dessert; if your last name begins with a letter between H and N – please bring a salad; and if your last name begins with a letter between O and Z – please bring a meat/main dish. Everyone please bring your own drinks. Dinnerware and chips will be provided. Be sure, however, to bring some chairs. The Class of 1969 extends this invitation to all teachers and neighboring classes! If you have a favorite YHS memory, please be willing to share it with your class. You may text or leave a message with Nancy (Cox) Benzel at 541-228-0158.

Yoncalla Alumni Invitational Basketball Tournament
            With all proceeds benefiting the Yoncalla Youth Sports organization (a 501c3 non-profit), an alumni basketball tournament is scheduled for March 22nd and 23rd. The tournament will include both women’s and men’s teams. The entry fee is $180 per team or $30 per individual. The entry fee includes the T-Shirt. Players without a team will be placed on one. All participants must be at least 18 years old and post high school. Each registering team should provide the following information: team name, team captain, players’ first and last names and the shirt size for each player. Please contact Shawn Garrett at 541-913-8281 or email yoncallayouthsports@outlook.com.

Seismic Retrofit Update
            After meeting with Superintendent/High School Principal Brian Berry, I learned of the progress of the high school retrofit provided through grant funds received from the state. Phase 1 is nearly complete and it involved the expansion of the office area, the removal of the glass blocks and being replaced by new windows, upgrading the lower boy’s restroom and the painting of some of the exterior walls. The office expansion also created a vestibule allowing an entry system that is always monitored and requires people to get “buzzed” into the building. Phase 1 also includes the installation of a new HVAC system allowing for individual classroom climate control. Phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to begin this month (February). This phase will close the high school gym and work on the trusses will begin. Pilasters will be installed at both ends of the gym and requiring the lowering of the gym ceiling. The gym’s glass blocks will also be removed and replaced with new windows. Phase 2 should be completed in August. Simultaneously, Phase 3 will lower the stage and bring the current library into the main building (there will be no classrooms outside the main building adding to the security and safety for students). After lowering the stage area, the current shop facility will be expanded into the old stage area.

The YHS Academies are Progressing Well
            With the addition of much needed new equipment has come the expansion of the shop course offerings. The students are learning on the same equipment used in the wood working industry. After the stage is lowered and the shop classroom expands into that part of the building, the additional room will improve the safety and continued expansion of this part of the curriculum. The new equipment has required students to learn the CAD programs. In the engineering area, the students continue to build bridge projects that are taken to Oregon State University for stress tests and then they are compared to other bridge projects built by students around the state of Oregon. The Engineering Academy has added a new rocket project where students use software for the initial design in the classroom then build their rockets to be tested outside. The rockets will be launched and tested for design and whether or not the parachute opens. Superintendent Berry also informed me that a new Natural Resources class has been added to the YHS curriculum affording students the opportunity to earn beginning and advance college credit in the Natural Resources area.

Contributions to Date
Class of 2019

            Students in the Class of 2011 received the first Yoncalla Alumni Association scholarships. Since then, the Yoncalla Alumni Association has awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarship money to graduating seniors. Fundamental to our belief, is that education will make a positive difference in the life of a young person. The YAA is committed to helping Yoncalla students take that initial post-secondary step toward further education. This newsletter is the only tool used by the YAA to solicit contributions for scholarship money. On behalf of all graduating YHS students and the YAA, we wish to express our sincere gratitude for the continued generosity of the Yoncalla alumni base, family and friends!

Honorary Contributions:
Mary Ellen Lasswell (teacher) – Yoncalla; Jim Booth (60) – Salem, OR; Jim Hudson (59) – Salem, OR; Susan (Cowan) Skirvin (58) – Indio, CA; Betty (LaMar) McKirdy (50) – Eugene, OR; Mary (Farrell) Andrews (60) – Newberg, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR; Boyd Duncan (73) – Montpeiler, ID; George Murdock (Superintendent) – Pendleton, OR

Memorials:
Marie (Blanchfill) Smith (75) by John Duncan (75) – Nine Mile Falls, WA
Nina (Bryant) Noffsinger (75) by John Duncan (75) – Nine Mile Falls, WA
Steve Means (75) by John Duncan (75) – Nine Mile Falls, WA
Vicki (Crites) Duncan (71) by John Duncan (75) – Nine Mile Falls, WA; Terry (69) & Bonnie (Dupper) Duncan (67) – Yoncalla
Roy Langdon (68) by Betty (Langdon) Sneed (70) – Lakeside; Dorothy Langdon (74) – Oakland, OR; Anna (Langdon) Ellington (63)
Mary (Putman) Crossfield (70) by Cindy (Payne) Johnsrud (70) – Drain, OR
Max Dodd (42) by Jeanette (Dodd) Crites (69) – Roseburg
Stan Snider (56) by Morris Snider (57) – Salem, OR
Bill Snider (59) by Morris Snider (57) – Salem, OR
Paul Allen (48) by Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR
Pauline (Rychard) Allen (52) by Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR
Shirley (Highley) Waters (51) by Homer Waters (51) – Yoncalla
Lois Ann (Wright) Jemenez (51) by Dick (47) & Arlene (Fast) Gordon (51) – Yoncalla
Walt & Sandy Speer (Teacher) by Steve Speer (76) – Fossil, OR
Linda Speer (79) by Steve Speer (76) – Fossil, OR
Everett Swezey (57) by Ronald Powell (57) – Prineville, OR
Kimberly Campbell (78) by Bob (54) & Lois (Parks) Campbell (55) – Yoncalla; Deanna (Mast) Derrick (80) – Drain, OR
Anne (Campbell) Proebstel (57) by Connie (Campbell) Hemminger (58) San Jose, CA
Jim Proebstel (58) by Connie (Campbell) Hemminger (58) – San Jose, CA
Ruby Thomas (Teacher) by Connie (Campbell) Hemminger (58) – San Jose, CA
Marli (Haller) Ward (87) by Deanna (Mast) Derrick (83) – Drain, OR
Ray Benzel (69) by Nancy (Cox) Benzel (69) – Yoncalla
Bernice (McKaig) Kruse (21) by Madalyn (Smith) Tower (68) – Stayton, OR
Betty (Kruse) Smith (41) by Madalyn (Smith) Tower (68) – Stayton, OR
Gordon McKaig Smith (64) by Madalyn (Smith) Tower (68) – Stayton, OR
Claudia (Bowman) Hutto (61) by James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR
Dave Williams (57) by James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR
Nina Duncan by Doris Means (44) – Yoncalla; Terry (69) & Bonnie (Dupper) Duncan (67) – Yoncalla
Judi (Bennett) Gay (88) – by Terry (69) and Bonnie (Dupper) Duncan (67) – Yoncalla
Dennis Thompson (66) – by Rodney Thompson (60) – Pendleton, OR
Mary Diana (Thompson) Brady (62) – by Rodney Thompson (60) – Pendleton, OR

Memorial Scholarships:
Charolette Wise Memorial Scholarship: Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR

Don Kingery Sr. Memorial Scholarship: Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR

Quentin Rychard Memorial Scholarship: Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR

J. R. Van Loon Memorial Scholarship: Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR

Devin Duncan Memorial Scholarship: John Duncan (75) – Nine Mile Falls, WA; Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; Don Wood – Union, OR; Mary Ellen Lasswell – Yoncalla; Tara (Duncan) Glover (01) – Franklin, TN; Anthony Lopez Waste (90) – Canutillo, TX; Ron Robinson – Eugene, OR; Derece (Duncan) Argo – Ormond Beach, FL; Virginia (Langdon) Westfall (59) – Fremont, CA; Nicole (Meeuwsen) Reif (95) – Buckley, WA; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR; Boyd Duncan (73) – Montpeiler, ID

Bill Lasswell Memorial Scholarship: Jim Allen (76) – Sutherlin, OR; James Wamsley (58) – Cottage Grove, OR; Bob (54) & Lois (Parks) Campbell (55) – Yoncalla
                                  Yoncalla Alumni Association Board of Directors
     Terry Duncan (69) – President
Carl Van Loon (75) – Vice President
Stella (Rychard) Myers (70) – Treasurer
Betty (Tucker) Duncan (75) – Secretary
Nancy (Cox) Benzel (69) – Member
Rob Bragg (67) – Member
YHS Faculty Representative – Member
Yoncalla Alumni Association
Scholarships for the Class of 2019

Name________________________(Maiden)_

Year Graduated

Please indicate the type of donation you are contributing:

A_Honorary Dues (contributions to the General Scholarship Fund).

B_Memorial Contributions (contributions in the name of a deceased alumnus and the
             funds go into the General Scholarship Fund).

             Deceased alumnus’ name___________________

             Maiden name_

             Year deceased alumnus graduated____________

C_Existing Annual Memorial Scholarships (these contributions are added to the existing
              Annual memorial scholarship award).

              _Charlotte Wise Memorial Scholarship

              _Don Kingery Memorial Scholarship

              _Quentin Rychard Memorial Scholarship

              _J. R. Van Loon Memorial Scholarship

              _Devin C. Duncan Memorial Scholarship

              ___Bill Lasswell Memorial Scholarship

If contributing by check, please make payable to:

Yoncalla Alumni Association
PO Box 925
Yoncalla, OR 97499