Page 7 - Fall 2019 Newsletter

Meet Your Board – Introduction and Overview

By Rachel Fitzpatrick '93

This is the start of a new series of articles to introduce, honor and thank a special group of individuals. These individuals have
been, or are currently, members of the Houlton High School Alumni Association (HHSAA) board. Many have been members
of the board for a long period of time and a few for only a couple years, but all have added to HHSAA and where we are today
as an organization. HHSAA has had around 20 board members, both pastand present, and the need to highlight what they
have done for the association has been overlooked. The board has been made up of a minimum of 9 to 15 members at any one
time. In completing some preliminary research, I found that only a few board members have ever been highlighted with articles
in the North Star News. I will incorporate these past articles and reference the original writers and published issues as well as
add personal thoughts about the future of HHSAA from these board members. This is a big project as some board members
have a long and continuing history with HHSAA, such as the founder Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick ’86, while others have
moved on for different reasons, such as Marty Bouchard ‘87.

As the 25th Anniversary of HHSAA approaches in 2022, it’s a time to reflect on everything the founding board members and
unsung volunteers have done for HHSAA and the graduates of HHS. Here is a quick overview of what HHSAA has done, but
keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list.

1996 – Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick ’86 had the idea to form an organization for HHS alumni to stay connected and fundraise for HHS projects.
1997 – 1st newsletter of 16 pages sent out to 4,000 addresses / HHSAA incorporated as a non-profit organization.
1998 – $4,000 donation to HHS for library, athletics, music, technology, Dollars For Scholars and soccer field lights
1999 – 9 board members / about 800 members
2000 – HHS Centennial Celebration (1st multi-class reunion)
2001 – Assisted with HHS Science lab renovations / 2 - $500 “Dollars For Scholars” scholarships
2002 – 5th Anniversary – 11 board members / HHSAA direct scholarships given to seniors
2003 – Start HHS Faculty Scholarship / Endowment Fund created with a goal of $1 Million / Start Lifetime Membership / Start annual Social /
HoultonAlumni.com unveiled / $15,000 donated for auditorium curtains, new floor for the new “Alumni” Gymnasium, hockey program, technology,
special education, library, music, athletics, Tom Matthews Scholarship fund and $6,000 for senior scholarships
2004 – Endowment reached $80,000 and receives approximately $470,000 from Henry White ’29 estate / Annual Fund Developed / HHS Fine Arts
Expansion Project announced
2005 – 2nd Multi-Class Reunion / $16,000 in scholarships awarded / New HHS library chairs
2006 - $35,000 in scholarships awarded / $10,000 donated to HHS fitness room / Annual Golf Scramble started / $7,500 donated to Houlton
Community Arts Center Project
2007 – HHSAA 10th Anniversary / Annual Fund brought in over $37,500 / Began 50th Class reunion Honoree Award / Donated 4 SMART boards to
HHS
2008 – Annual Fund reached over $42,000 in donations / $42,000 given in scholarships / $25,000 donated to Houlton Community Arts Center project
2009 - $50,000 donated through Annual Fund / $47,500 scholarships awarded
2010 – 3rd Multi-Class Reunion / $50,000 in scholarships awarded
2011 – Founder Scholarship Established in Lauren Peabody Fitzpatrick’s name / $50,550 in scholarships awarded / 34 Lifetime members
2012 – HHSAA 15th Anniversary / $59,780 in scholarships awarded
2013 - $50,500 in scholarships awarded / Start Gift of Graduation DVD to HHS seniors / 64 Lifetime Members
2014 – $50,000 in scholarships awarded / 74 Lifetime Members
2015 – 4th Multi-Class Reunion / Started FaceBook page / 82 Lifetime Members
2016 – Patricia Donovan Fitzpatrick ’63 Scholarship started by her brother, Michael Donovan / $50,000 in scholarships / North Star News Committee
formed / 95 Lifetime Members
2017 – HHSAA 20th Anniversary / Thomas M Brown ’59 scholarship fund started / HoultonOpoly Game created and for sale / $70,000 in scholarships
awarded
2018 - $53,000 in scholarships awarded / $500,000 bequest to HHSAA from Maxine and Hamilton Giberson Estate / 102 Lifetime Members
2019 – $76,000 in scholarships awarded / $18,000 for a light board in the Auditorium and assist funding a pilot Mechanical Systems Technician program
(for plumbing, heating and air conditioning training)
2020 – 5th Multi-Class Reunion
2022 – HHSAA 25th Anniversary
www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 7