News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The speakers for the Livingston Academy Alumni Association Dinner are official.
The same three speakers planned for last year’s cancelled event are headlining. Jonathan Maynard of the class 2005, a Dolly Stampede performer at Pigeon Forge, Dr. William Todd class of 1999 who specializes in infectious disease at Byrdstown Medical Center and class of 1961’s Mike McCulley, a retired astronaut.
Assistant Principal and Planning Committee Member Lesley Riddle said the association is ready to bring back the dinner.
“You go through all the planning and had everything set up last year,” Riddle said. “Over 200 planning to attend, and of course those three great speakers and had to cancel within a month of it had happening. We were just so disappointed and such a great event for all the alumni to come and mingle and talk. So, it was really disappointing, but we are so excited this year.”
Riddle said the program was created to raise money for classroom supplies while putting on a social event for alumni. Riddle said the long term goal is to have 100 members, so the association can donate $2,500 annually through membership dues.
“It is only five years old,” Riddle said. “We started it for the purpose of purchasing items for teachers that the school system just couldn’t afford and to have an opportunity for all the alumni to get back together on a annual basis rather than just year 10 year reunions.”
Riddle said the class of 1961 will be honored for its 60th year reunion and can eat for free. Riddle said everyone else can still come to the dinner as long as the $25 membership fee is payed.
“We originally formed the alumni association back when we had the 100 year celebration of the school here at Livingston Academy,” Riddle said. “We had that back celebration then it kind of fell off, so we brought it back together about five years ago and have grown every single year.”
The dinner includes a ribeye steak sandwich and a baked potato bar. Riddle said attendees can expect music over the generations, photos from past classes and interactions from alumni throughout the history of Livingston Academy.
The dinner is scheduled for April 24th at Livingston Academy at 4:30 p.m.
