The Eagle Grove High School graduating class of 1967 has made history…for a second time. The first is for being the largest class ever to graduate from EGHS with an astonishing 145 students, and the second for being the first class to have established an Endowed Scholarship! It was endowed at $10,000 on December 10, 2020.
“Not only did we meet our goal, we blew it away,” said class spokesman Bruce Bernard. “As of January 6, 2021, our balance with Dollars for Scholars is $12,700!”
But they’re not stopping there. They’ve set a goal to hit $15,000 by their 55th Class reunion in 2022.
As far as the endowment goes, Bernard said the class is looking forward to giving out their very first scholarships to two of this year’s graduating class members of 2021.
“When I worked with Paul Wilde from Dollars for Scholars to set up the $5000 scholarship, he sent me information about both non-endowed and endowed scholarships,” explained Bernard. “After reviewing both, it was apparent that if we were able to reach the $10,000 endowment level scholarship it would live on in perpetuity rather than end when the $5,000 was gone. I was confident we could reach that level given what we still had in the bank after creating the $5,000 scholarship and outstanding pledges due between now and 2122.”
This isn’t the first time the Class of 1967 has made a contribution to their alma mater. They’ve routinely given back to the students of the Eagle Grove Area School District over the years.
“I noticed the good work that the Class of 1964 had done in developing the outside study/gathering area across from the high school, as well as the granite stone by the flagpole donated by the Class of 1958(?),” said Bernard about touring the high school during their 50th Class Reunion. “It occurred to me that our class should consider some way of giving back to the community as well.”
In the fall of 2017, their class generated just over $2,000 to be used at a later date for a yet undetermined project. Then, during a class luncheon at Family Table in 2018, they began a school/library and scholarship fund as well. “I had come up with a goofy idea of creating a fountain somewhere on the school grounds or in the community. Fortunately, better ideas were suggested such as contacting the library and school district to ask for ‘wants’ they had that lacked funding. The idea of contributing to a scholarship was also suggested,” explained Bernard.
Local class members also agreed to contact the Library Board as well as Superintendent Toliver. Once they had the school projects identified information was sent out to all the class members asking if they would consider contributing to either the projects, the scholarship, or both.
To date, according to Bernard, the Class of 1967 has provided $4,000 to the school district and $1,300 to the Public Library. Additionally, the current balance in the school projects account is $1, 639 with $1,430 in outstanding pledges. The School District will be asked to identify additional potential projects in the spring of 2021.
Other donations they’ve made include a bench and table at the Eagle Grove Memorial Library as well as a "Buddy Bench" that was one of the items they provided at Eagle Grove Elementary at a total of $4000. Other items included a new swing set at the elementary and refillable water bottle stations.
“Our leadership goal is to set an example that "encourages" other classes to step up and get engaged…this is all about giving back to a community that time and experience have shown provided a nurturing environment for most of us. It’s also about paying it forward, helping others as we were helped when we were seniors,” concluded Bernard.
