Alumni Association gears up for summer events

TICONDEROGA | With Sentinel pride looming large on the horizon, the Ticonderoga Alumni Association is entering into its busy season. After the Class of 2024 walks across the stage and Alumni Scholarship recipients apply their awards to further their education, the Alumni Association won't miss a beat in continuing fundraising efforts to ensure that the Class of 2025 will have all of the same financial opportunities as all alums who came before. "Thirty-six members of the Class of 2023 applied for and became eligible to receive almost $30,000 in Alumni Awards," said Steve Boyce, Alumni Association President. "My favorite part of being President of this great group is authorizing our Treasurer to send checks of either $750 or $10000 to awardees as they complete their first semester at college or tech-school, graduate from Advanced Individual Training as members of the military, or finish an approved apprentice program, all of which is funded by Ticonderoga Alumni and their friends." On Saturday, July 27, the primary fundraising event vital to sustaining the scholarship program will kick off at 8 a.m. when Ticonderoga Golf Course hosts the 2024 Ticonderoga Alumni Golf Tournament. The 18-hole, four-person scramble is open to any participants, regardless of being a Ti High alum. The Alumni Association also makes its point every year to honor two Distinguished Alumni. 2024 will mark the 19th year of this tradition. Recipients are those who have succeeded in their careers and reached out to serve their community and society, and who also are role models for future Ticonderoga graduates as to the possibilities imaginable if they are willing to work to pursue their dreams. "This is one way we can celebrate the achievements of our past alumni while establishing role models for future alumni," said Bob Dedrick of the Distinguished Alumni Committee. This year's awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 26 at 5:00 p.m. in the Banquet Room of the Ticonderoga Best Western. This year's honorees will be: Distinguished Alumni Award: Steve Boyce and Shaundra Bartlett Yaw Friends Award: We Are Instrumental (WAI) Special Service Award: Alex Blanchard and Friends Comforting Friends Hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available form 5 p.p. to 8 p.m. Family, friends, and community members are invited to celebrate another year of Sentinel success and notable achievements. It promises to be a night of local pride, and small town fellowship. Following an extremely well-received (and needed) Alumni Extravaganza Event in 2021, Bob Dedrick and Vigliotti have been at the helm planning the 2025 Alumni Extravaganza, which will be the weekend of July 24, 25, and 26 of 2025. "At our last Ti Alumni Association meeting, we unanimously agreed we would like to have a reunion in 2025," explained Dedrick, event co-chair. "We want to make this one even bigger than the last one in 2021." The plan for 2025 is to build on the 2021 event, adding more activities and family-friendly options so that children are also able to find enjoyment. To host a reunion of the magnitude Dedrick and Vigliotti are envisioning, $20,000 in fundraising efforts is required. "We are currently continuing our fundraisers for 2025- we need to raise about $8,000 more," Dedrick revealed. A town-wide bottle drive is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, and the $25.00 campaign is also continuing. To make a contribution to bringing the 2025 Alumni Extravaganza to life, donation checks may be made out to Ticonderoga Alumni Association and footnoted 2025 Extravaganza. Alumni who travel home from afar in 2025 may be encouraged to see the restored high school portico on their customary tour of their alma mater. Prep work has begun on the high school portico restoration project, which was approved in last year's budget vote. Over the course of several years, the portico has been steadily deteriorating, water damage to the balustrade and roof causing pieces of plaster to break away and crash to the ground beneath. The project is scheduled to begin in July with Murnane Building Contractors awarded the contract. "The architects and contractors are cautiously estimating a four-month window to fully complete the portico project," revealed Superintendent of Schools Scott Nephew. "We are hopeful to stay on this timeline, but all realize that unforeseen circumstances in construction projects sometimes come up." The resolution that was passed by the voters was for a $725,000 project, and according to Nephew, that number has not increased at this point. "We are most looking forward to the project beginning, and then essentially the final product," Nephew said, adding that the school is on the National Historic Registry and that the portico will be true to its original 1928 incarnation, with all renovations and restoration reflecting the original materials and design. "This is a building that the community takes great pride in, and it will be great to see the portico back in its original form," Nephew said. "The district is incredibly appreciative of the support of the community. This support is shown in several ways, but was evident in the portico vote last year, and in this year's budget, both of which passed overwhelmingly." Visit ticonderogaalumni.org to add your name and information to the database to receive correspondences. Follow facebook.com/ticonderogaalumniassociation for event updates or Instagram@tialumniassociation. Golfers interested in participating in the Alumni Tournament are encouraged to contact the Pro Shop at 518-585-2801 ext. 2 to reserve a spot for their team. Individuals who would like to play but do not have a four-person team can still reserve a spot and will be placed on a team. The Ticonderoga Golf Course website is ticonderogagolfcourse.com for more information.

Signup for our newsletter

Alumni Association gears up for summer events

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS