CCHS Alumni Association Wish List Program

 

The Wish List came about almost by accident.  A number of members, prior to 1999, had suggested that a Wish List of needed items for the school be read at the banquet and included in the yearly invitation.  The project was placed on the back burner until 1999 when an officer of the C.C. Booster Club approached the association about the possibility of sponsoring a State Championship Banner for the “Wall of Banners” in the high school gymnasium.  The suggestion was put before the assembly during new business and what was to happen next, amazed everyone in attendance at the 1999 alumni banquet.  Hoping to raise enough money for one flag the donating began….not with just a couple of dollars toward one flag….but with one class pledging to sponsor the entire flag.  No sooner did we have one flag paid for than another class stood to pledge yet another flag.  Then the fun began.  Classes began one-upping each other, with some not only sponsoring a flag, but banquet tables, too. When it was all said and done six State Championship Banners and six banquet tables had been funded with over $2,300 being pledged.  And so the Wish List was born…and was it ever.

 

The Booster Club was so thrilled with the outcome that they quickly voted to purchase and sponsor a CCHS Alumni Association Plaque, which is now nearly full.  Each gold bar recognizes $100 donations to the Wish List with the donor’s name, class year, and the item donated toward or purchased entirely.  The plaque is located on the wall by the north doors beside the concession stand. 

 

With the birth of the Wish List the association became well known as a giving and caring organization and has since made many more donations to the school totaling over $17,000.  The 2000 project was a new upright studio piano for the music department.  The Music Boosters had been working on this project for a number of years and after the banquet their dream was realized.  Individual members as well as entire classes donated a total of $2,200 toward the purchase of the piano.  A number of groups worked toward the purchase of a concession stand popcorn popper in 2001.  The association donated generously to this cause and also added four inserts to the graduation picture display rack.  In 2002 the association made a major purchase of tarps for the gymnasium floor.  The tarps are used whenever food or beverages are served and are helping to prolong the life of the floor.  The total cost of the tarps was $1,500.  2002 also found the Class of 1972 donating 3 banquet tables and 48 serving trays.   In 2003 the association purchased a Quiz Bowl Tournament System that has been used and enjoyed by the High School, Jr. High, and Elementary Quiz Bowl competitors.  The unit has made a world of difference to the teams.  2004 found the association going into the home improvement business with the purchase of new carpeting for the High School Student Lounge.  The lounge was originally constructed by Dakin Christenson for his 1987 Eagle Scout project and has withstood the test of time.  Todd Boman donated his time to the school to install the carpet and the purchase brings a fresh, new look to the lobby.  A UHF Multi-Frequency Wireless Microphone was also purchased at with donations that year.  The wireless microphone will be a wonderful asset to the alumni banquets for years to come, giving officers the ability to go out into the crowd for introductions, etc.  With the donations given in 2005 the association joined forces in May of 2006 with the Clay Center Community Club, the Clay Center Public School Endowment and Wing Ding to order a total of 27 new polyethylene banquet tables.  The association led the way by pledging 15 tables. The donations from 2006, 2007 and 2008 were used for a track facility project at the field as well as a generous donation to the yearbook and journalism staff. 2009 and 2010 donations were used to help fund the final CCHS Wildcat Yearbook.

 

To date, the most impressive and certainly the most time consuming project has been the Multiplex Graduation Picture Rack, which stores 80 years of CCHS graduates.  The unit is located in the high school lobby and places the pictures at eye-level.  Funding for the first section of the unit came entirely from the Class of 1998.  With this generous donation the dream of restoring the graduation pictures became a reality almost overnight.  The association had been saving for the project, but knew that realistically it would be many, many years before the dream was realized.  Very quickly volunteers were called in to bring the old pictures down from the walls, make needed repairs and identify entire classes of graduates whose names had never been listed.  The first unit was ready within 4 months and the second unit ordered soon after.  The second unit was funded by the sale of alumni directories, individual members and classes. 

 

In the late 1990s the association joined the Clay Center Community Foundation, Inc.  Our affiliation with the Foundation allows members to give tax-deductible donations to the Wish List if checks are made payable to the Foundation. Donors are encouraged to specify Wish List on the Memo/For line of the check and send their donation to: the Cornerstone Bank attn: Linda Hagemeier, Foundation Treasurer, 103 S Brown, Clay Center, NE 68933.

 

Inquiries regarding the Wish List Program can be directed to:

 

Sandy Northrop Overturf

CCHS Alumni Association

Permanent Corresponding Secretary

31160 Road T

Clay Center, NE 68933

E-mail: cchsalumni@windstream.net

 

Wish List Projects

The CCHS Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Clay Center Booster Club, began the Wish List Program in 1999.  Wish List items are purchased with alumni member donations, as well as proceeds from the sale of alumni directories and other fund-raisers. The Clay Center Booster Club recognizes all donations of $100 or more, with engraved gold bars on the alumni plaque.