What’s the Spirit of ’72?

WHY WE'VE DONATED

“This is a great way to help MHS students pursue their dreams – a great legacy that should last a long time. Feels good to help others with their education!”

Vicki (Gritton) Shank

“When I was in high school, I had fun competing for a scholarship, and just the energy of the competition raised my self-esteem to a new level. Thanks for letting me be a part of this!”

Gail Hopkins

“Our class didn't just graduate and scatter to the winds. We kept our identity as part of Manhattan and part of MHS, so it's fitting that we continue to support the school.”

John Nordin

“I remember all the amazing things our class accomplished when we worked together: plays, concerts, floats, parades. This fund may be one of the last times our class can accomplish something amazing together, and I’m happy to be part of it.”

Roger Toothaker

“I hope the Class of ’72 is remembered for placing our hearts into future graduates!”

Donna (Martin) Parsons

“A college education used to be an option for everyone. It’s not anymore. The right kid with the right help can make a good difference in the world.”

Don Lee

“This fund will make a difference, giving some MHS graduates opportunities that they would not have otherwise. That’s awesome!”

Suzy (Olson) Metzler

“We all know that small contributions combined with larger ones can have a huge impact, so I encourage everyone to give a little (or a lot) to help make a difference in young lives for years to come.”

Lori (Alexander) Borger

“I hope all my classmates will join me in donating whatever they can for a lasting tribute to the Class of ’72.”

Shelly Ince

Back at Manhattan High, the Class of 1972 had a favorite signoff that we wrote in each other’s yearbooks: “’72 Forever.”

Sure, we thought we were the best class to ever attend MHS. (What class doesn’t?) But we also had good reason to be proud of ourselves. We had bragging rights for an admirable array of star scholars, athletes, and artists. Even more, we believed we shared a powerful spirit. We were a community, and by and large, we looked out for one another. We were ambitious, and we supported one another’s ambitions. We shared a sense of possibility about our lives, and we cheered each other on.

This was the Spirit of ’72.

At our 50-year reunion in 2022, that spirit was still strong when a hundred classmates — about a third of the surviving class — gathered in Manhattan, Kansas, and we celebrated the bonds that have kept us connected in the half-century since our graduation.

At that event, reunion organizers announced an initiative that not only exemplifies our class spirit but also fulfills our “’72 Forever” catchphrase: an endowed scholarship fund, managed by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, to further the higher education of Manhattan High students.

The Class of ’72 benefited immensely from the educational foundation we received at MHS, so it’s only fitting to support today’s students who now have their own ambitions and sense of possibility. Because the fund is endowed, we also have ensured that our spirit lives on as the earnings will continue to support all the MHS classes yet to come.

With the help of a $25,000 matching gift from class member Lee Harris, we raised over $50,000 within a month of the reunion, creating a corpus that will sustain two $1,000 scholarships annually. Lee has since pledged another $25,000 match, and fundraising is ongoing – with plans to increase the number of scholarships.

If you are a member of the Class of ’72 – or a friend of MHS – you are invited to become a part of this important initiative and make a tax-deductible gift to the Spirit of ’72 Scholarship Fund. Click here to donate.