Dear East High Alumni and Friends,
What an incredible night! On Saturday, June 6th, a record-breaking crowd of approximately 600 people gathered at the Prairie Meadows Convention Center for the 148th East High Scarlet Celebration.
From Randy Pressley’s beautiful a cappella rendition of the National Anthem to the roaring sounds of the EHS Jazz Band and Alumni Cheerleaders & Steppers leading us in our school songs, it was a phenomenal evening of reconnecting and celebrating the enduring spirit of East High. A special thank you to our wonderful Emcees, Andy “Danger” Von Ahnen and Julie Christiansen West, for keeping the evening energetic and memorable.
If you missed the event, or just want to relive the memories, click here to view and download photos from the celebration. https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCW5QE
Here is a quick look at the evening’s highlights:
Honoring Outstanding Alumni
We were thrilled to recognize a remarkable group of East High Grads who continue to exemplify our motto, “For the service of humanity”:
- Service of Humanity Award: Gloria Spillers Hoffmann (’46)
- Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees: Nancy Pike Elliott (’68), Patrick Lowe (’96), Janet Stamos Salta (’66), and Jeff White (’87) – the videos we shared can be found here.
- Ric Powell introduced the Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: John Van Liew (’02), Jason Dalbey (’89), DeMarco Turner, Jr. (’06), Haley Larson (’12), and Alyssa Thompson (’21) – extended bios and photos will be posted over the next few months.
We also took a moment to celebrate EHS Alumni Foundation President Joe Van Haalen (’87), who recently received the Des Moines Fire Department Medal of Honor for his heroic rescue of a young boy last summer.
Investing in the Future
Thanks to your ongoing generosity, the Foundation proudly recognized the 49 graduates of the Class of 2026 who received a combined $209,000 in scholarships to support their higher education!
Generations of Pride
A crowd favorite is always our roll call of classes. This year, we gave a special standing ovation to our oldest attending alumni: Bev Shelton (’47), Darlene Gier (’46), Gloria Hoffmann (’46), and an extra-special recognition for Geraldine Daniels from the Class of 1944, who is 100 years old!
Save the Date for Next Year! Mark your calendars for the 149th All-Alumni Scarlet Celebration on June 12, 2027. We are already looking forward to making it another unforgettable night.
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and donated to make this such a historic success. Onward, we will do or die for dear East High!
With Scarlet Pride,
The East High School Alumni Association & Foundation
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