Archive: Around Town

The Lansing High School Class of 1994 has always been close-knit and independent.  When Jeff Howell and Matt Combs realized how many of their classmates were on Facebook they decided to take the lead in organizing a reunion.  "A lot of our classmates found each other on Facebookover the last year or so," Howell says.  "One made a passing comment last Fall about how cool it would be if we were to get together this summer."

As it turned out two thirds of the class have a presence on Facebook.  So Howell, a Web developer who now lives in Zimmerman, Minnesota set up a Reunion page on the service.  The page provides a place for classmates to congregate and talk about what they want to do when they come home to Lansing for a three-day event starting on August 14.


Howell estimates that between Facebook and other kinds of contact that he and Combs are in touch with about 70 of the 77 member class.  They have enlisted the help of the high school staff to try to track down the remaining seven, as well as teachers who may have left the school since they graduated 15 years ago.  They have also enlisted former English Teacher Julia Berens to help track down teachers.

Howell says that the schedule for the weekend isn't set because he and Combs want to get ideas from classmates and see what can be arranged.  Tentatively they plan a happy hour greeting on Friday evening, a possible golf outing, or wine tastings.  Saturday happens to be the day of Lansing Harbor Festival, which may provide opportunities for classmates to gather at Myers Park to enjoy a day of free music, activities, and camaraderie.  Participants will also tour the high school to see changes that have been made in the 15 years since they graduated.

About 65% of the graduates have remained in the Central New York area, while others have spread to Charlotte, NC, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Minnesota, Seattle, WA, Texas, and even Europe.  Many have maintained contact, or regained it on Facebook.  And Howell says that he misses Lansing and enjoys opportunities to keep in touch.


"We've seen the world change in many different ways," he says.  "We really just want to get together, reminisce and see everybody and have a good time.  We all had differences, and we all had our moments where we had some issues with each other, but in the long run we all really had a good time together.  We have lots of good memories, and we really enjoyed our high school experience.  The 77 of us made it worth remembering."


For now Howell and Combs are gauging interest, tracking down teachers and classmates, and soliciting ideas for a reunion that won't be too costly during the current economic downturn.  The pair are hoping to find 100% of their classmates and are asking them to get in touch as they learn about the reunion.  While many will stay with family in Lansing, the pair are working on getting blocks of hotel rooms for those who are traveling with their own families or just need a place to stay.  And they may have a wider agenda:

"Mrs. Henry, our eleventh grade English teacher, used to say the class of 1994 was bound for greatness.  So we've been biding our time before we get together and start planning how we're going to take over the world," Howell jokes.

The fact that they are in touch with 90% of their classmates after 15 years is remarkable.  While Facebook helped facilitate some of that, many classmates have kept in touch through the years.

"I think that's a tribute to how much we all meant to each other," Howell says.  "It's time that we all get together and remember all the things that we meant to each other when we were growing up."

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