PRESS RELEASE: NWCA Reunion 2010
November 17th, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amber Medrano
Phone: 602.403.1189
Email: nwca.reunion2010@gmail.com
LOST IN CYBER-SPACE: FACEBOOK FINDS A SCHOOL FORGOTTEN
Social networking website puts out the word to alumni: “Come home to the dome”.
The school that no longer exists first opened its doors in 1979. And on Saturday, April 24th 2010, a high school that has been closed for nearly 10 years will hold its first official reunion in the “big white dome” at 14240 N 43rd Ave, in Glendale, AZ. This announcement comes only eight months after the first few classmates found each other on the popular social networking site known as Facebook. To date, nearly 170 alums have reconnected via Facebook since April 2009.
Whatever planets aligned or constellations appeared to signal such a near improbable event is unknown, yet one thing is certain: a Cosmic Genius is at work.
As geniuses go, the credit could be ascribed to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO and an original founder of Facebook, for having the foresight to develop the most sophisticated - and free -“living” directory tool to date. Or, the kudos could go to a small group of determined school alumni, who saw the positive potential of the site and launched with it.
Prior to the advent of Facebook, there was simply nothing to facilitate communication among the graduating class members of NWCA – outside of paid membership websites like Classmates.com or Reunion.com. While similarly easy to use, these sites are only effective for high schools that have organized alumni chapters, since it involves recruitment of former students to logon, pay an annual fee, and find their graduating class to become a member.
“Facebook was simply the right virtual place, at the right virtual time.” says Kristina Hutton-Miller, the NWCA Reunion Event Treasurer. “There was no way we could have been able to get in touch with everyone connected to the school before this, but through a series of [Facebook] friend requests, we discovered the old “six-degrees-of-separation” principle works like a charm.”
The site has helped reconnect scattered classmates, administrators and teachers that have relocated from Glendale to towns as nearby as Gilbert, Arizona, and to places farther out of state such as California, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.
During its tenure, the school provided college preparatory academics and a family like environment that was a result of the small size of the enrollment. High school pep rallies held no more than 125 people in the modest multi-purpose room, and students and faculty alike participated in yearly fund-raising efforts by selling Christmas trees from the dirt lot that had been adjacent to the school to keep tuition costs from soaring.
Yet, due to financial troubles, the private Christian school known as Northwest Christian Academy or NWCA closed in 2001. Student records, school memories and a majority of fond relationships were all gone. The property that once housed the school – and was associated with Sweetwater Church of the Valley before it closed as well - became a charter school. However, the charter school did not survive much longer. In 2005, Pure Heart Christian Fellowship bought the facility and re-established a church. “Part of the joke amongst some of the alums that didn’t actually graduate there is that they can’t exactly remember the years they attended.” stated Reunion Event Coordinator, Amber Medrano. “I think I was there 1989-1993, but I’m not sure. I didn’t buy a yearbook the first couple years I went and I can’t get a copy of my transcripts now! Although, I’m sure if I think about it I can piece it together, but that’s not what matters to me. What matters is that lost relationships are rekindled and that people get a chance to say what’s on their heart. That’s why we’re doing this. Life is too short not to enjoy the company you keep.”
And it’s the camaraderie that ushers in more NWCA alumni as new members to Facebook every other week. “It was an experience that made us very close. No matter what graduating class you belonged to, from Seventh grade to Senior year, we all knew each other, looked out for each other, and had fun times participating in team sports, playing practical jokes, and just growing up.” commented Karin Alexander Morrow, Reunion Event Committee Member.
Many of the former students admit, while they didn’t have the best of everything, they wouldn’t trade the experience of having attended better funded public schools. “There was so much we benefitted from simply because the teachers cared and they could connect with us.” said Sharon Vasser, former alum. “It was a place that taught character and love, not just academics. And many of the friendships made there have carried on some thirty years later. It really was a special place.”
Pure Heart Christian Fellowship now owns the property where the school formerly existed near the sanctuary, and the pastoral staff is happy to accommodate the event in the youth chapel. “I was informed that it [the dome sanctuary] was originally used by the school to hold chapel services during the school week, and it seems appropriate that it continues to be used to minister to young adults today.” says Mark Hendrix, Executive Pastor at Pure Heart. “It really is neat to see how much the building meant to this group and we are honored to host their event.”
Amber Medrano is the Event Coordinator for the Northwest Christian Academy (NWCA) Family Reunion 2010 Event. The celebration event is intended for anyone who was connected to the school and has memories to share. For more information, or to purchase tickets and register for the event, please contact Amber at: 602.403.1189 or email: nwca.reunion2010@gmail.com.
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