"Alumni Square plans taking shape for BHS"

"Alumni Square plans taking shape for BHS"     Landscaping, benches, wall, patio history to be installed in northwest corner of campus."  Thus reads the headline of the Brookings Register for the weekend of August 22/23, 2015.  The public has now been informed about the new addition planned for the high school.  According to the paper, the plan was, with the help of current BHS principal Paul von Fischer, "dreamed up by the Brookings High School Class of 1964  (http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Brookings-High-School/32824?page=0)at their 50th reunion last year." (We were in 7th grade that year--http://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/Brookings-High-School/32824?page=106) (Some of these seniors that might be familiar to us are Bill Adams, Ron Aho, Russ Anderson, Dave Beatty, Ileen Beneke, Pete Bentley, Leslie Billings, Sharon Boggs, Liz Bundgaard, Ron Christie, Gary Derscheid, Mike Dotson, Marlyn Erickson, Nancy Felt, Van Fishback, Mary Foreman, Jerry Hoffman, Doug Holzkamp, Ray Horn, Kathy Ishmael, Julie Jackson, Tom Klinkel, Carol Kinney, Janice Kortan, Donna Lombard, Pat Lyons, Bob Nemitz, Suzanne Ness, Rich Norton, Dave Osvog, Terry Otterness, Mark Sanderson, John Schultz, Merri Lynn Schoepf, George Semeniuk, Tom Sexauer, Connie Shirley, Dave Sogn, Karen Sterud, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Turner, Susan Vick, Dave Watson, Anne Westbrook, and Barb Wolter)

The article continues:  "They envision an attractive and meaningful landscaped embellishment on the high school campus that will bring together in a common effort past and future BHS graduates.

"Their planned Alumni Square, which will actually be laid out 'in the round,' will include a bit of history dating back to the community’s high school in 1888, along with a modernistic, polished granite reflection wall, benches, and a centerpiece patio area highlighted with a giant likeness of a Bobcat paw print."

The planning committee of Anne Westbrook, John Schultz, Carol (Kinney) Hintz, Van Fishback, and Merri Lynn (Schoepf) Nelson hope to raise enough funds to be begin construction this fall.  The bell from the city's first permanent school, the "Red Castle," will be showcased in a concrete tower.  Also assisting in the planning, at no charge, were these Brookings firms:  Banner Associates, Inc.; Outlaw Graphics; Brutty Landscaping; and Les Rowland of designArc. 

Tax deductible gifts to the project may be sent to:

BHS Alumni Square projects
c/o Brian Lueders
School Administrative Offices
2130 Eight Street South
Brookings, SD  57006

A brief article can be found at http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=76&story_id=25834


The post below also contains some information, but it can be somewhat difficult to read.  50 years ago, we were high school freshmen, although we were still considered to be in junior high.  This project seems very noble.  Perhaps a small donation for those in a position to do so will help make this endeavor a reality sooner than later.