To the SHS Class of 1976,

 

 The SHS Class of 1976 is proud to support future SHS graduates in their educational endeavors, whether they are pursuing college or trade school. Our graduation year coincided with the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution's signing. As part of our graduation ceremony, we celebrated by incorporating red, white, and blue into our traditional cap-and-gown attire. This year, we have the opportunity to commemorate the United States’ 250th birthday as we gathered for our 50th high school reunion. We are grateful for our upbringing in Sunnyside and all it provided us. Many of our families were immigrants who came to the U.S. in the early to mid-1900s, and we were the beneficiaries of that move.

 

The learning opportunities and life lessons we received gave us a strong foundation for the future, one which we strive not to take for granted. This scholarship fund is being established as a token of gratitude for those early opportunities and to extend a chance for success to future graduates. To further our efforts and directly recognize our class, we have created a special scholarship that will be awarded annually to a deserving graduate, starting with the SHS Class of 2027.

 

The SHS Class of 1976 Scholarship will initially be set at $2,000. The Alumni Board will select the recipient, as they do for all scholarships. To fund this scholarship, we have established a separate endowment account that will accept donations from the Class of '76 alumni or anyone who wishes to contribute. The new fund currently holds $22,800 in recent donations from our class. Our goal is to raise enough principal to sustain the scholarship in perpetuity. At current rates, we need to raise between $45,000 and $55,000 to fund a $2,000 annual scholarship.

 

While the endowment grows, we will fund the scholarship directly with the initial donations received each year. Once we reach the $2,000 goal for the Class of 1976, we will deposit all subsequent donations into the Class of 1976 endowment account. The earnings on this account will fund future scholarships. Importantly, all donations are tax-deductible. As fellow alumni of the SHS Class of 1976, we hope you will join us in supporting the Sunnyside High School Alumni Scholarship Fund while leaving a lasting legacy on behalf of our class.

 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help fund the SHS Class of 1976 Scholarship Endowment.

 

Respectfully,

Dana Cummings and Allene Bestebeur

SHS Class of 1976 Scholarship Committee