The Slippery Rock High School Alumni Association, Inc. began as the dream of Rosemary (Gill) McMurray, class of 1959. She had advertised in the local newspapers for alumni to assist in forming an association to renew old friendships, make new friends, reminisce about school days, but most importantly to award scholarships to seniors in the graduating class of Slippery Rock Area High School. The principal of the high school, Harry Beil, was most cooperative and helpful in formulating the plans.
The group set out to reestablish class lists and to find current addresses for those alumni. With the help of yearbooks, reunion booklets, acquaintances and telephone books, we created that database. Invitations were sent and the first alumni dinner was held on June 14, 1997, with more than one hundred alumni in attendance. We have held a luncheon or dinner most years since then, usually on the Saturday following graduation.
The Association was incorporated in 1998 as a non-profit organization, at which time we approved by-laws for consistent operation. The Association is open to all alumni who attended any of the schools that eventually became the Slippery Rock Area High School, whether or not they graduated. Lifetime memberships and yearly memberships are available but are not necessary to attend the annual dinner.
We awarded our first scholarships in 1999. Since then, we have provided over $250,000 to graduating seniors of Slippery Rock Area High School. Our alumni have generously provided funding for these scholarships by contributing to or creating awards in honor of their loved ones.