Concord Class of 1953 reunion

The Concord High School Class of 1953 held its 70th graduation reunion recently. The classmates have met annually for the last 20 years. Before that, they had met at five-year intervals. Ginger Beck Sanborn has been the general chairman of the event all but one of those years.

There were 21 classmates at the event. Several more had to cancel their attendance due to contracting Covid. There were 12 women attendees and 9 men. There were 11 guests, primarily adult children of the classmates.

The person who traveled the greatest distance was Gail Christensen Sanders, who lives in Florida. Bob Sandquist came the second greatest distance. His home is in Connecticut.

The class heard a status report on its scholarship fund. After distributing scholarships of $3,000 to each of three students who graduated this past June, the fund balance is over $34,000. It grew even greater as over $5,400 has been donated at this year’s reunion. That is the second highest annual amount as one recent year eclipsed the $6,000 mark.

The effort to fund scholarships for graduating Concord High seniors was begun in 2003. A single scholarship of $500 was awarded in 2004, The donations have increased and so has the number and size of the awards.

The whole process reflects the support of a worthy program by school employees at the superintendent’s office and staffers at Concord High School. The students fill out the common application form. The guidance counselors at high school review all the applications and name the winners of the Class of ’53 awards.

The district holds and invests the fund. Then it verifies the enrollment of the student at a place of higher education before the monetary reward is released directly to the student’s college or trade school. Students attending two-year schools, four-year schools, and trade schools are eligible in this program.

The enthusiasm for the scholarship work by employees of the district is clearly noticeable and the Class of ’53 thanks them for administering the program with care. This program from the alums is the largest single one of all the scholarships and prizes given out each year in June. Jack Dunn, the finance director, and all the folks cited at the high school make the program run in a fair, secure and open manner.

The only task for the classmates is to donate and they have done that with great enthusiasm. The Class asks other reunion classes to join them in this effort. Thanks a Million to all those who have participated over the last twenty years with their voluntary giving of their time and their treasure.

Betty Hoadley

Concord

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