The Emmitsburg High School (EHS) Alumni Association held its 92nd annual banquet on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at the Emmitsburg Ambulance Company event facility. A social hour was held at 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner. One hundred eighty-nine graduates and attendees were part of the celebration.
The program began with musical selections from Timeless Harmony Barbershop Quartet. Alumni President Jim Martin presided over the business meeting with assistance from Vice President Bill Wivell. Secretaries, Phyllis Kelly and Connie Fisher, shared the minutes from last year’s banquet. Treasurer Sam Valentine presented the treasurer’s report.
Phyllis Kelley introduced the 2016 scholarship winners. This year’s scholarship recipients included Megan Millison, daughter of Sheri Wetzel and Phillip Millison, who attends Salisbury University and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in social work to help trauma patients; Maya Swiderski, daughter of Deborah Wivell and William Swiderski, who attends the University of Pennsylvania and is pursuing her degree to become a veterinarian; Kayla Umbel, daughter of Chad and Sandy Umbel, attends Virginia Tech in their dairy science program; Marah Williams, daughter of Richard and Joan Williams, attends Towson University to become an audiologist; and Taylor E. Shank, daughter of Duane and Anita Shank, who attends Clemson University and is pursuing a degree in architecture.
Maura Williams was in attendance at the banquet and expressed her appreciation; Joyce Bruchey read an excerpt from Maura’s application for the scholarship, “Although my family has been in Emmitsburg for many, many years, none of my relatives ever attended Emmitsburg High School. My great-grandparents were illiterate. My grandmother had only an eighth grade education… Grandma was barred from attending Emmitsburg High School because she was black. (Maura’s grandmother, Kathleen Williams, was 102 when she passed away in June of this year.) Her hard work has given me the opportunity to pursue a doctorate. My grandma taught me determination and kindness, and that complaining is worthless and forgiveness is important.” Joyce Bruchey said, “What better words. I’m glad she was one of our winners.” Maura thanked the audience for her scholarship award.
Richard Williams, Maura’s father, thanked the organization for the good that they do. Even though they didn’t attend the high school, it was still a vital part of the community. He said, “We hated to see the school close. It was a community where bigger is not always better. It’s nice for the small communities to stay together. We were sorry to see the school go.”
Taylor Shank’s mother, Anita, thanked the organization for the scholarship award, expressing that Taylor is very appreciative of the opportunity it helps provide.
Alumni members who donated money to the scholarship fund were thanked, then gift baskets provided by Catoctin Mountain Orchard were presented to Elwood Motter, Class of 1934, as the oldest attendee, and to Mike Humerick, the alumni who travelled the farthest, from Alaska. The classes with largest attendance were the Class of 1953 and the Class of 1968, each with eighteen. Richard and Connie Masser from Scenic View Orchards presented apples to winning classes to keep them healthy until the next year’s banquet. Joyce Bruchey, EHSAA historian, shared the names of deceased alumni and attendees and spoke of the importance of appreciating each day and the blessing of good health. She also reminded the audience that time flies but each is the pilot of the journey.
Honored classes were the classes of 1941, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966 and 1971. Students who attended Emmitsburg Elementary and went on the Catoctin High have been invited in recent years. The class of 1972 was recognized. Souvenir booklets related to each specific year were given to members of each honored class. Joyce Bruchey introduced the honorees with personal high school tidbits. She explained that the EHS History book, along with a supplement, were still available.
Vice president, Bill Wivell, presented Joyce Bruchey a plaque and gift certificate in honor of her work on EHS history and her service to the organization. Rev. Bill Simpson closed the program with a prayer and all sang, “God Bless America.” Honor class group photos were then taken.
