Jayhawks alumni give back to their alma mater

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Some of the members of the Class of 1967 relax at the new St. Joseph Catholic High School library.

OGDEN — Every year St. Joseph Catholic High School hosts a summer BBQ for their alumni. During the event, those celebrating their 50-year reunion are honored. It’s also a time when the alumni ask for ideas of what the school needs, said Kari Lane, the school’s manager of alumni, enrollment and marketing.

One way that the alumni have shown their commitment to their alma mater is the projects they have undertaken to improve the campus. The classes of 1965 and 1966 gave new road signage that since  2016 has been in front of the school, and the Class of 1967 provided a new library, Lane said.

The donations for the library included building custom furniture, new signage, two big conference tables with electrical and USB ports, new shelves, new painting – in total “about a $50,000 upgrade,” Lane said.

Last year, the Class of 1986 decided that the school needed a new pavilion, “so they gave us over $40,000 for the $100,000 project and we will break ground during the spring,” said Lane, adding that the school depends on alumni to help secure these big ticket items.

“Without these alumni and these gracious gifts that they have given to the campus, our facilities wouldn’t be running as they are now,” said Lane, adding that the school feels deeply grateful to all these alumni.

“We want to thank them and their involvement with the school 50 years later and putting this little high school up on the hill,” she said.

That the involvement with the school doesn’t end even when some of the alumni don’t live in Utah anymore shows the seeds that were planted while they were students at St. Joseph Catholic High School.

“We have a strong commitment to quality education as the foundation of a successful individual,” said Michael Joseph, whose Class of 1968 was comprised of 25 students. “St. Joseph is the most exemplary example of great educators and caring mentors in the community.”

Giving back to the school is just returning a token of what the school has done for him and his family, said Joseph, whose children and now grandchildren are part of the Jayhawks community.

Supporting St. Joseph, “like any truly great effort, requires the commitment of caring individuals to support it,” Joseph said. “St. Joseph is one of the gems of the community and it is a privilege to help when needed. Our children and grandchildren will get the best education of mind, body and soul, while being challenged to be the best they can be, and the caring to make sure they are valued as individuals.”