Letter from a SHSAA Founder
My name is Paul Kracher and I’m a proud Omaha South High grad, class of 1961. My involvement in the Alumni Association started in 1986 at my 25-year class reunion. I was recruited to not only being on our 30-year reunion committee, but being the chairman as well – go figure. I hoped in five years they would forget. No such luck!
During the planning of that reunion, I stumbled upon the fact that South didn’t have an alumni association, and because of that the alumni were being left out of crucial events like the Adopt-a-School Partners for South High banquet. Soon after, I partnered with Dr. Richard Gulizia and with his initial help and my support, the Alumni Association was created.
Now, 25 years later, here we are. Our original goal, a lofty one indeed, was to raise a $1 million endowment fund to help South High students. We felt that if we could help them attend college or trade schools, we would be successful. We also wanted to create a $2 million dollar fund for an alumni foundation. We envisioned that foundation funds would only be used for SHS student scholarships and to enhance their education. What started as one $500 scholarship has grown to multiple scholarships totaling upwards of $30,000 a year. Thanks to our supporters, we are very close to reaching our $1 million dollar endowment fund that will sustain the alumni association for many years to come. This is why we keep at our mission – for the future of SHS students.
If it weren’t for all the hard-working members of the Alumni Association and friends of SHS, I do not believe we would have accomplished what we have.
During the planning of that reunion, I stumbled upon the fact that South didn’t have an alumni association, and because of that the alumni were being left out of crucial events like the Adopt-a-School Partners for South High banquet. Soon after, I partnered with Dr. Richard Gulizia and with his initial help and my support, the Alumni Association was created.
Now, 25 years later, here we are. Our original goal, a lofty one indeed, was to raise a $1 million endowment fund to help South High students. We felt that if we could help them attend college or trade schools, we would be successful. We also wanted to create a $2 million dollar fund for an alumni foundation. We envisioned that foundation funds would only be used for SHS student scholarships and to enhance their education. What started as one $500 scholarship has grown to multiple scholarships totaling upwards of $30,000 a year. Thanks to our supporters, we are very close to reaching our $1 million dollar endowment fund that will sustain the alumni association for many years to come. This is why we keep at our mission – for the future of SHS students.
If it weren’t for all the hard-working members of the Alumni Association and friends of SHS, I do not believe we would have accomplished what we have.