Well, our 20-year reunion has come and gone.  If you weren’t able to attend, you missed a real treat.  It was a blast!  Classmates came from all over the country, even as far away as Las Vegas.  Most were accompanied by their spouses.  However, a few showed up alone.  Some came with a buddy.  One even brought his children.  In all, turnout was tremendous, with at least 94 people in attendance.

Around 7:00 p.m., people slowly started to trickle in.  A lot of us were nervous but excited, trying to guess who was who as each person filed through the door.   Once people spotted their old friends, mini celebrations erupted around the room.  It was as if no time had passed.  There were plenty of big smiles, hugs, laughs....and a lot of picture taking!  (Some of us still have flashes of light in our vision.  Whew!) 

What a night to reminisce.  There was a display table in the corner of the room with memorabilia from our senior year, including a diploma and cover, graduation cap & tassel, class schedule, senior class T-shirt, and a huge yearbook display, which featured the yearbook photos of everyone in our senior class.  Boy!  That really provided some comic relief!  But, the highlight of the evening was when we gave class awards during our reunion program. 

Congratulations to these award winners:

• The “Early Bird Award” for the first to register for the reunion - Mark Chishom and Kristina Hartley.  Prize:  Candy worms
• The “Christopher Columbus Award” for the person who traveled the farthest to the reunion - Belinda Adams, who came from Las Vegas, Nevada.  Prize:  Ladies’ travel pack, with deodorant, toothpaste, soap, and lotion.
• The “George & Weezy Jefferson Award” for the longest marriage - Erika Walker Scott, married for 19 years.  Prize:  Ball ‘n Chain
• The “Full House Award” for the most kids - “Stephen Boan, with 5 kids.  Prize:  A big bottle of aspirin
• The “Brat Pack /Molly Ringwald Award” for the least-changed female - “ Denise Perreault-Mayne.  Prize:  “16 Candles” DVD
• The “Brat Pack /Matthew Broderick Award” for the least-changed male - “ Jim Best.  Prize:  “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” DVD 

Back to School Tour & Family Picnic

Early Sunday afternoon, a small group of us (Maja Osterman, Vivian Ulmer-Benefield, Denise Perreault-Mayne, Erika Walker-Scott, Tanya Corley, Dienna Allen-Smith, Gregg Branham, Suzanne Moore-Brown, Hal Reed, Mike Emmer, Lisa Daniels, Kyler Canada-Mattingly, Melanie Free, and Will Crowley) dropped by the school to take one last look around with our families.  Walking through the halls brought back some great memories of our old school days. 

Much of the campus has remained like it was when we were students, including the pods, lockers and a few of the murals.  The most notable change, of course, is the front of the school, where there used to be sitting benches and our black, metal sculpture.  The portables are also gone, replaced by Bates Hall, a facility for wrestling.  All the carpeting has been removed in the commons area and hallways.  The "Little Theater" has been renovated with new seats and rear partitions by the entrances. 

The biggest surprise has to be the surrounding neighborhood.  It has changed dramatically.  Back in 1985, leaving campus to hang out at Schiano's or Jimmy's Mart for lunch or after school was a big treat.  Now, students have the luxury of simply stepping across the street for fancy cuisine, ice cream, and even shopping.  A Bruster's Creamery just opened directly in front of the school.  Next door are Carrabba's Italian Restaurant and McAlister's Deli, with Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and several retails stores at the corner of Sparkleberry Lane and Two Notch Road.

After the school tour, we spent the rest of the day socializing and relaxing with our families at Sesquicentennial Park.  You couldn't ask for a better ending to our reunion weekend.

Special thanks!

The Reunion Committee would like to thank the following: 

Class Events & Entertainment
Dr. Greg Owings - Principal, Spring Valley High School
Thelma Maxwell - The State newspaper
Shelley Kriegshaber - R2TV
The South Carolina Election Commission

And, to everyone who participated, THANK YOU!!!