75 Years-Class of 1943
Lucille Pelster Jillson and Phyllis Lawson Kinney
Oldest Alumni present
70 Years-Class of 1948
Gene Norton
65 Years-Class of 1953
Charles Sheets, Bruce Merchant, Dale Carter, Luellen Dozler Landgren and Frank Shores
60 Years-Class of 1958
Gloria Hawks Swanson, Marilyn Clark and Carolyn Armstrong Johnson
55 Years-Class of 1963
Dick Bennett and Ricky Johnson
50 Years-Class of 1968
FR-Pam Busteed Kuester, Lana Kinney Bennett, Jeanne Beeson Peterson, Diane Armstrong Sholes, Kathleen Shoemaker Frye & Dean Wilkinson BR-Bill Kuester, Ed Johnson, Ron Kerkman, Brian Becklun & Anna Huffman Dunbar
40 Years-Class of 1978
FR-Kathy Scholl Tobias, Judy Kuester Jones, Becki Tobias Beckman & Jayne Meis Malmberg BR-Kasey Tobias, Jerry Pelster, Richard Tobias & Gary Reestman
25 Years-Class of 1993
Josh Kinney
20 Years-Class of 1998
Angie Kruntorad Horstman, Bryan Hestekind, Erin Schindler Greenwood, John Avidano & Julie Henn
10 Years-Class of 2008
Suzanne Hoefer Schneider, Jennifer Bush, Michael Miller, Becki Schindler & Jenna Schindler
Class of 2018
Liam Heithoff, Myranda Palmer, Hayes Miller and Lydia Behnk
75 Years-Class of 1943
Lucille Pelster Jillson and Phyllis Lawson Kinney
Oldest Alumni present
The 2018 Elgin High School Alumni Banquet was held on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at the EPS Gym. A total of 95 alumni, spouses, and guests attended the 7 p.m. banquet. Those traveling the furthest to attend the banquet were Charles Sheets, Class of 1953, from Georgia and Rick Tobias, Class of 1978, from South Carolina, both traveling 1500 miles. The oldest alumni members attending the banquet were Lucille Pelster Jillson and Phyllis Kinney Lawson from the Class of 1943. Both ladies received corsages in celebration of their 75th reunion.
Prior to the banquet, approximately 30 alumni and guests attended an open house which was held at Elgin Public School. A social hour was held at Boomerangs where Jessie Krause Reestman, Class of 1987, hosted more than 60 alumni and guests. She entertained them with trivia and music from their honored years. Dennis Morgan from the Elgin Review, Dylan Widger, Class of 2016, from the Antelope County News and Rita Schrage Heithoff, Class of 1976, took pictures of honored alumni before the banquet. Rita also provided decorations for the event and remained to take pictures throughout the banquet.
The Class of 1978 looks over their yearbooks
Jennifer Bush-Master of Ceromonies
Laurie Schindler Waterbury keeps the Alumni Banquet going!
Ronda Capler Behnk, Class of 1985, gave the welcome
Her daughter Lydia Behnk, Class of 2018, gave the response
Superintendent Dan Polk updates everyone on the current happenings at school
Jennifer Bush, Class of 2008, served as Master of Ceremonies. Becki Schindler, Class of 2008, gave the invocation before the baked steak and chicken breast dinner was catered by the L Bar B of Clearwater. Following the meal, Bush introduced special guests, including EHS Superintendent Dan Polk and his wife, Deb. In addition to Bush and Schindler, other committee members introduced were Jenna Schindler Prokopec, Class of 2008 and Laurie Schindler Waterbury, Class of 1980. Ronda Capler Behnk, Class of 1985, gave the welcome to the alumni and the newest graduates of EHS while her daughter, Lydia Behnk, Class of 2018, gave the response to the welcome. Superintendent Polk then shared some humor with the alumni as well as informed them of some of the campus improvements along with the new technology being used at the school such as the drones. He also introduced the 2018 graduates of Elgin High School to the alumni.
Five and ten year classes were recognized and honored. Speakers were Phyllis Lawson Kinney, Class of 1943, Gene Norton, Class of 1948, Marilyn Clark, Class of 1958, Kathleen Shoemaker Frye, Class of 1968, Kasey Tobias, Class of 1978, Bryan Hestekind, Class of 1998, and Liam Heithoff, Class of 2018. Speakers shared memories and information about their classmates and time spent at Elgin Public School as well as wishing the best to the Class of 2018. Two $400 scholarships were presented to Myranda Palmer and Liam Heithoff. Myranda will be attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Liam will be attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Bill Kuester, Class of 1968, received the 2018 Honored Alumnus Award. He was honored for his commitment to students and education, his service to his community and his many accomplishments.
Honored Alumnus-Bill Kuester Class of 1968
Jenna Schindler presents Bill with his award
Phyllis Lawson Kinney spoke for the Class of 1943
Gene Norton reminisced about the Class of 1948
Bruce Merchant talked about the Class of 1953
Marilyn Clark shared memories about the Class of 1958
Kathleen Shoemaker Frye talked about the fun times the Class of 1968 had at EHS
Ken Capler shared a few laughs with his classmates from 1978
Bryan Hestekind shared memories from his yearbook with the Class of 1998
Liam Heithoff talked about his 2018 senior year
Laurie Schindler Waterbury pins a corsage on one of the oldest present alumni.
Oldest Alumni present
Myranda Palmer receiving her scholarship from Jenna Schindler
Alumni Scholarship Winners
Myranda Palmer and Liam Heithoff
Family of EHS Alumni-Phyllis Kinney Lawson (1943), Daughter Lana Kinney Bennett (1968), Son-in-law Dick Bennett (1968), son Mike Kinney (1975) and his wife Karin Scholl Kinney (1975) and grandson Josh Kinney (1993)
During the business meeting, the 2017 Alumni Minutes and Financial Report were reviewed. No questions or concerns were addressed. After much discussion over the past year as whether or not to continue with a yearly banquet , the committee shared with the attending members that the banquet will continue to take place each year. Each alumni class will have a representative to help keep track of classmates for the committee. The members of the Ten Year Class will continue to serve on the committee, but Laurie Schindler Waterbury will remain as a constant member of each future committee. So with Waterbury, the Class of 2009 will be planning the 2019 banquet on June 22, 2019 (4th Saturday of June). The banquet concluded with the School Song.
