A generous gift from the Big Rapids High School Class of 1976 will provide students and school organizations with a new way to promote the activities, events, and accomplishments that make Big Rapids Public Schools special.
At the Big Rapids All-Class Reunion this past August, members of the Class of 1976 came together with a shared goal: to make a donation that would have an impact across the school district. The class had previously donated a projector to the schools, and they wanted to once again support something that could be used by students and groups throughout the school.
The idea for their next project came from a meaningful connection within the Big Rapids alumni family.
BRHS teacher and 2007 graduate Kristy Britton attended the all-class reunion. Her mother, Mindy Britton, was a member of the Class of 1976 and had recently passed away. As classmates gathered to discuss how they could make a lasting contribution to their alma mater, Kristy suggested using the funds to purchase a large-format poster printer for the school.
The idea immediately resonated with the Class of 1976.
Big Rapids Public Schools does not currently have a printer capable of producing large posters, creating an opportunity for the new equipment to benefit student organizations, athletic teams, clubs, activities and other groups across the school. From advertising an upcoming school event to celebrating student accomplishments, the printer will give students and staff a new resource to share their Cardinal pride.
The Class of 1976 raised $3,100 for the project, and today, MaryKay MacIver and Mary Davison presented the check to Kristy and BRHS Principal Ron Pincumbe, on behalf of the class.
For the Class of 1976, however, the donation is about more than purchasing equipment. It is also a way to honor the memory of their classmate and friend, Mindy Britton, while creating something that will benefit generations of students.
The collaboration between Mindy's classmates and her daughter is a particularly special example of the connections that continue to make the Big Rapids alumni community so meaningful.
“It's incredibly special to see the Class of 1976 come together to support our students, and even more meaningful that this gift will honor Mindy through a collaboration with her daughter,” said Superintendent Tim Haist. “We are so grateful for their generosity, and for the lasting connection they continue to have with Big Rapids Public Schools.”
The Class of 1976's gift is a reminder that being a Cardinal doesn't end at graduation. Decades after leaving the halls of Big Rapids High School, alumni continue to find ways to invest in the students who walk those same halls today.
Big Rapids Public Schools extends its sincere appreciation to the Class of 1976 for their generosity, thoughtfulness and continued Cardinal pride — and for helping turn a meaningful reunion into a lasting gift for future generations of Cardinals.