Where We've Been: 50 Years of Graduates

WHERE WE'VE BEEN 50 YEARS

In late spring of 1967, our institution’s first graduates walked the stage to accept high school diplomas. Only 13 young men and women matriculated from our small school that year. While Collegiate is still small by some standards, we now graduate nearly four times that number, and then encourage students off to some of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the world.

Members of the Class of 1967, then and now

YEARSOF GRADUATES // by Katie Hatfield Gunzelman ’07

Fifty years ago last May, the people pictured on these pages left Collegiate to begin their lives in the real world. Just this past October, nine of those individuals got together to reminisce, share stories, and break bread with one another and some members of the Class of 1968. While we didn’t get a chance to interview them in person, three classmates answered some questions electronically. Despite computer screens in between, you’ll see personality in their answers. As a member of the Collegiate community, you may even see yourself, your closest friend, or your child in their words. Fifty years of graduates and fifty years of change. Judging by Jim Garvey, Pam Unruh Smith, and Gary Short’s answers below, though, some things stay very much the same. Here’s to our dear Collegiate – past, present, and future!

What is your earliest memory from your time at Collegiate?

JG // In the fall of 1958, as a fourth grader, I started attending the Christopher Rankin School, which evolved into the Independent Day School, which evolved into the Prairie School, which evolved into Wichita Collegiate School in 1963. When the Independent Day School formed (I believe in the middle of fifth grade for me, say January 1960) we were the oldest class and remained that way until we graduated as seniors in 1967. PS // My earliest memory is being a “newbie” and being behind everyone in math. I had to take Algebra I and II at the same time. GS //My earliest memory is walking into class my first day at Collegiate (my junior year).

For how long did you attend Collegiate?

PS // I attended Collegiate for four years. GS //Two years - junior and senior years. JG // Four years.

What was graduation day like for you?

GS // Don’t remember a thing. PS // I don’t remember much. I left immediately after graduation for school in California.

What’s the most important lesson you learned while at Collegiate?

GS // Don’t procrastinate (never really learned this one).

Members of the Class of 1968 joined in on the reunion.

In what way(s) did Collegiate prepare you for college and the world beyond school?

JG // Lots of writing and using reason to figure things out. PS // I was able to quiz out of most of my freshman year at the University of Southern California.

“We were the oldest class and remained that way until we graduated as seniors in 1967.”

Do you still keep in touch with any of your classmates?

PS // I am related to the Love family (Randy) and have occasional contact with Ken Fast, Georgia Yates Stevens, and Pam Brunson. GS // I see a few classmates periodically - the reunions really help.

What advice/wisdom would you offer those who just recently graduated or are preparing to graduate from Collegiate?

GS // Get the best education you can and never stop learning.

Who was your favorite teacher?

PS // Rich Koch, by far. JG // Mr. Robert Lentz. In 7th grade American History (maybe 8th grade), he gave us three to five or so questions each week which required very lengthy answers. This entailed many pages of writing. Thursday nights were generally late for me since the papers were due on Fridays. Lots of reading and lots of writing. It was hard work but good training for a seventh grader. It really made us think and helped develop our writing skills.

CLASS OF 1967

Pam Brunson Coe McEwen Kenneth Fast

Jim Garvey Klaus Kollmai Randy Love

Ed Myers Jim Ralston Hale Ritchie