Reunion News & Class Notes

Reunion News for Little Lions

Mark your calendar for these upcoming reunions. Keep with more reunion news at statehighalumni.com.

1973 & 1974

News on the combined 50th Class Reunion for the SCHS Classes of 1973 & 1974: Our weekend celebration will begin Friday night, June 30, 2023, with our main event being held on Saturday, July 1 in the main ballroom at Mountain View Country Club (formerly the Elks Club). Visit the website for more information and registration details: www.statehigh50th.com.

1993

The Class of 1993 30th Reunion will be held March 3 at Primanti Brothers in State College starting at 5 p.m.

Additionally, Shelly Geshwindner Soltis has agreed to give a tour of the high school. If interested, please meet in front of the new high school on the Westerly Parkway side at 1:30 p.m on March 4. 

Please RSVP to Kimberly Hodges via Facebook or text 814-769-6992.

Keep with more reunion news at statehighalumni.com.

 

Alumni News & Notes

Share your updates at scasdfoundation.org/alumni-survey.

Alumni from ’56 to ’13 share their memories and life updates. Share yours at scasdfoundation.org/alumni-survey.

David Truby ’56, Indiana County, PA

My State High English courses (and any writing classes), History and my homeroom teacher (cannot recall her name, but I think IUP hired her in the 1960s) were influential.  Harold Griffith was a good teacher for me as was Mr. Yerg. I was involved with Baseball, Football, Wrestling, Photography, and Stage Drama. I LOVED State College being a fun, safe and small town. I keep in touch with some friends… but not enough.  For some reason, we no longer have class reunions.  I used to go to them all. I served in U.S. Army, had myriad jobs in my career, earned a Ph.D. from PSU, and am now retired and heading out of my mid-80s in age. I have had a varied career… management, public relations, journalism, advertising, criminal investigation, photography, university professor, published book author, magazine editor, freelance magazine writer, etc. State High is where all these life experiences began and were encouraged.

Patty Berrena McCleskey ’65, Millerstown, PA

My Biology teacher Mrs. Hart made an impact. I went on to be a teacher and loved teaching science. Cheerleader advisor Mrs. Hamill instilled in me the importance of physical fitness. I loved marching in front of the band down the ramp onto Memorial Field. I had to stand in the Iron Kettle so it wouldn’t get stolen at the game! Class of ’65 has a monthly brunch. I live an hour away but try to attend. It is so much fun to get together! I went to PSU and received my BS and MEd in education. I am currently retired. I  walk daily, play bridge weekly and read. Love being with my grand girls who are now in college.

Margaret Bauer ’69, Wyomissing, PA

I am semi-retired, working four part-time jobs (because I choose to continue working) – and living in Wyomissing, PA. Still enjoying making music (playing in a New Horizons Band and playing piano/organ for my church). I love to craft and spend my spare time making custom greeting cards, teeshirts, etc.  Just having fun doing it. My field of expertise is association management. I spent thirty years in the field (10 as executive director of the PA Library Assn. and 20 years as executive director of the PA Music Educators Association).  I also hold masters’ degrees in library science and music history/literature.

Randall (Randy) Bitner ’69, State College, PA

I am retired from my role as Coordinator of Technology Education for SCASD. I graduated from Penn State in 1973 and taught at State High for 31 years! It was so neat to work with my former teachers. Al Brace, Industrial Arts teacher, taught me many skills in the repair of equipment. Mr. Ohman taught the appreciation of History and Mr. Ron Strapel made me understand cars and machines! I was in Little Lion Auto Club, Basketball and Marching Band. I am one of the class contacts for the class of 1969. We have a class page on Facebook so I keep up with many friends.

Robert Puzak ’79, State College, PA

Back in State College after 34 years in Ohio.  Our family really liked the Cleveland area but our kids went to PSU so we moved back and they visit a lot!

Katherine “Katie” (Jeffreys) Bassani ’80, Huntingdon, PA

My husband and I moved to Huntingdon, PA, after living since 2004 in Colorado. I’m a Principal Program Manager for an analytics company called Alteryx, located in Broomfield, CO. I’m a portfolio manager for our cloud products, so I help organize, track, mitigate and report on how our software development teams are doing. My husband and I have 3 kids, two of whom also were in SCASD for elementary and even had some of my teachers.

Adrian (Bissell) Major ’82, Phoenix, AZ

After teaching school and coaching sports in PA for 20 years, I retired from that career and began another, as an analyst at an insurance company. I took an early retirement from that company after 15 years. I now live in Arizona. No one at State High will believe this, but I taught high school math (algebra) for 20 years!

Julia (Spychalski) Flannery ’85, Norristown, PA 

I am currently a Special Education teacher for Universal Companies in Philadelphia and am enrolled in the Education Leadership/Supervision MEd program at Penn State World Campus. I volunteered in the special education classroom in high school and this led me to become a special education teacher. Some of my favorite teachers included Mr. Bob Lillie, Mr. Glick, Mr. Joe Boris, Mr. John Kovalchick, Mr. Richard Victor, and Ms. Julie Gittings. I have two adult children and I still keep in touch with many State High friends.

Maureen Kennedy ’85, South Bend, IN

I live in the South Bend, Indiana area. I work for Indiana University – South Bend in the library. I am married, with 2 children and now one grandchild. I participate in triathlons frequently and I am debating the one that is coming to State College next year. It might be fun to run some of the areas I did in High School.

George Phillips ’99, Japan

I am an IT engineer, living in Japan and married since 2017. I have 2 sons (eldest: 2 years 10 months, youngest: 1 month). Just bought a house!

Sarah Abramson ’02, Brooklyn, NY

I am Clinical Director for an Eating Disorder Clinic in New York City. Being a peer listener at State High helped me to prepare for a career in social work. I have fond memories of being accepted by the seniors during my freshman year on the golf team. The bonds we created resulted in 20-year-long friendships. Some of my best friends today are people I met 20 years ago at State High!

Adam Bergeman ’07, Loveland, CO

Project Engineer, Coloscapes Concrete

Mr. Boris, Mr. Gipe were favorite teachers. Memories include the old high school, football games, talent shows and the bands that came out of it (Lemonsoul, North, Percival Madison, Inverted Axis etc.). I have lived out in Colorado since 2013. I worked in the ski industry and then moved into the renewable energy industry,  and now I work in the construction industry as a project engineer. I graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor in Recreation Management, but have been working in the construction industry for the last 7 years.

Fallecia Ehrmann ’08, State College, PA

In high school, I was in cheerleading and choir and enjoyed traveling for choir competitions. Mrs. Boris was always the spirit of the school!  I’m a Pennsylvania Deputy Constable for my township. I am also raising an amazing daughter in my childhood home in the district.

Laura Egan ’09, State College, PA

I am working in St. Mary’s as a Japanese-English translator for a powdered metal part manufacturing company. I also translate manga (comics from Japan) on the side and my first one in print released May 2022.

Cassandra Keith ’13, Philipsburg, PA

Mr. Boris and Mr. Furmanek were such fun teachers. My med skills and other classes helped me to get into nursing school. I currently work at Penn State and have a 6-year-old boy.

Submit your news at scasdfoundation.org/alumni-survey.