Who we are and
what we're about
The Ruston High School Alumni Association was formed in 2005 by a group of RHS alumni who had a desire to give something back to Ruston High School. Our first membership drive ran through October 22, 2005 - Homecoming Weekend for RHS. At that time, it was the decision of the Board of Directors that all members who joined on or before that date would be Charter Members.
The 2005 homecoming was an historic event. The RHS Alumni Association sponsored the first annual Ruston Bearcat Ultimate Tailgate Reunion that was open to anyone who was interested in attending. It was held on the Ruston High School Campus from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M., on Saturday, October 22, 2005. Guided tours of Ruston High School by students and faculty were available. Or those who preferred could take a casual walk-through of the school at their own pace.
The Association would like to encourage each class or group of classes to hold a reunion during homecoming weekend at an off campus site. For those classes who may be planning an upcoming reunion, please contact John Sachs, 318-254-5303, or the Webmaster to have your reunion posted on our web site. Information that we have on upcoming individual class reunions can be found here.
We would like to have as many RHS graduates as possible to become members of the Ruston High School Alumni Association. There is a lifetime, one-time registration fee of $25.00 to join. Associate memberships are also available for any non-graduating former Ruston High School student, as well as any person or organization who would like to support RHS. Associate membership registration is also a one-time $25.00 fee. Associate members have no voting rights.
Our mission statement as written in our "By-Laws" follows:
"The primary purpose of the corporation is researching and maintaining a current database of all Ruston High School graduates and their addresses; giving assistance in funding academic programs, equipment or capital improvements for the school benefiting all students; fostering the school's rich history, spirit and tradition for graduates and current student body; supporting functions for the benefit of all students and graduates; establishing endowments, scholarships, teacher enhancement programs and the like in order to foster and improve the education of current and future students attending Ruston High School in Ruston, Louisiana."
Here are just some of the past and current projects of the Ruston High School Alumni Association:
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The Association hosts a luncheon during RHS Homecoming weekend at which time the following honors are bestowed:
Distinguished RHS Alumni
Distinguished Past RHS Educator Distinguished Present RHS Educator |
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Hosts an all-class reunion during homecoming weekend each year |
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Presents a $1,500 Outstanding Achievement Award to a graduating senior each year |
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Provided the funds to build two large trophy cases for the remodeled lobby of Ruston High School |
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Bought a large tent for Ruston High to be used at football tailgating, track meets, homecoming functions, and many other high school events |
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Maintains this alumni association web site with current information, announcements, photos, list of past award winners, school history, a guestbook to leave comments and messages, and a list of current alumni association members |
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Provides assistance in funding academic programs, equipment or capitol improvements for Ruston High School |
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Continues to foster the rich history, spirit and tradition of Ruston High School |
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To provide a display of Distinguished Alumni Award winners in a prominent place in Ruston High |
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To create and publish a newsletter for all Ruston High School Alumni members |
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And to eventually have an office space at Ruston High School, staffed by an alumni director to handle alumni business |
History of the RHS
Alumni Association
This organization did not begin overnight. The creation of the Ruston High School Alumni Association was initiated by Mrs. Paula Pardue, Senior Guidance Counselor at Ruston High School. Her vision was for a method to furnish additional scholarships for graduating RHS seniors to attend college.
When a group of RHS alumni approached Mr. Kenny Henderson, former RHS Principal, and Mrs. Pardue about establishing a memorial for teachers through the alumni association, it was discovered that with her other duties, Mrs. Pardue was over dedicated with school duties and the association.
At that point the group agreed with Mr. Henderson to re-organize the association into a Non-Profit Corporation. This was completed in April, 2004. Mrs. Pardue, being an RHS Alumni and an RHS Faculty member, was appointed the task of coordinating business between the school and association.
An initial start-up committee made up of Ruston High School alumni established the ground work for the creation of the Ruston High School Alumni Association. These committee members were:
Mirian Pipes Savage | Mary Allen Belton | Helen Knotts Shrell |
Patricia Reese Edwards | Ann KcKee Boyd | Joe Richardson |
Marvin McBride | Glen Neaville | Charles Buck Stewart |
Charles Jimerson | Fredric Hoogland | Joyce Mathewes Sutton |
Willie Green | Jessie Boyd Frazier | Jane Fuller Ball |
Roberta Green Hinton | Ernest Lee Young | Diane Williamson Stuckey |
Pat Moyers | Angie Brewster Green | Antionette Riser Anderson |
Copyright 2005 - 2012, Ruston High School Alumni Association.