This is a vague summary of The New Shield, the Alumni Association's newsletter.  It is only intended to highlight the newsletter so it is quite incomplete.  If you would like to receive the complete New Shield, please join the Alumni Association today by clicking here!  For more background on the Alumni Association, click here.   If this is your first time, you may want to visit the front page.

February 2003

Tutor at your alma mater

Ever thought about tutoring at Northwest Classen, Taft or another former middle school or elementary school in OKC? The Alumni Association is enouraging members to become a tutor at an Oklahoma City Public School. You will receive training to help you know what to expect and how best to help. Training will be held March 25 or April 22, 2003, 5:30-7:00pm in the Cafeteria Conference Room at the Board of Education building, 900 N. Klein. Call Beverly Wallace or Susan Parker at 232-4049 to reserve a place.

The Oklahoma City Public School's Foundation is also sponsoring a program for volunteer substitute teachers. The budget problems have created a large need for this program. Visit the OCPSF site to learn more.

Board of Directors Meeting March 27

BOD meeting of the Alumni Association at 7:00pm March 27, 2003 in the library at NWC. Important new directions will be discussed. Everyone is welcome to attend so please come if you can!

Museum open, looking for more donations

The museum is open every second Tuesday from 10 am to 2 pm. If you have anything (or any money) you would like to donate, please contact Jerry and Paulette Thrower (Class of '58) at jthrowever@sbcglobal.net

January 2001

New officers!
The Alumni Association has elected its new officers for the year.  Check out the list on the Alumni Association information page.

March 2000

Editorial note: I missed two issues here somewhere. Don't think the Alumni Association is slacking -- it's me!  However, I will do my best to keep this up to date (I'm posting this two days after receiving my newsletter). -- Stephen, your humble webmaster.

President Sets Tone
Bill Whetstone, '57, outlined several goals for the Alumni Association in the year 2000.  Please help the NWCAA by (1) Renewing your membership or become a member for the first time, (2) Donate for special projects, (3) Keep the Association posted when you move; (4) Recruit new members.  Whetstone says "Remember, NWC is where you got your start to get you where you are today.  It is payback time."

Board Members and Committee Chairs Selected
The November 30, 1999 general membership meeting selected new board members, listed here.  The Association is seeking a person to be legal counsel.  If interested, call Bill Whetstone at (405) 721-4544.

Help the Newsletter!
We need articles for the newsletter!  If you have anything newsworthy to publish, contact Judy Whetstone through the Alumni Association phone number or address.

The Accomplishments Add Up
The NWCAA has many accomplishments of late of which to be pround.  Amound them are providing two $500 scholarships each of the past three years as well as purchasing the awards for the senior assembly last year, awarding funds to the school for repairs to the intecom system and for new curtains for the Little Theatre, donated furniture for the teachers lounge, and has pledged $4000 for programs and/or equipment needed by the school, subject to NWCAA approval.

Ring?
Anyone with the initial C.A.W. from the Class of '70 that lost a ring should contact the Association.  It has been found.

Historical Committee Moving Along with Museum
The museum is becoming a reality.  Jerry and Paulette Thrower, '58, have been working hard and ceiling repairs and painting have begun!  If you have time to donate to the project, or have items you wish to donate, contact Jerry or Paulette through the Association.

Reunions
Reunions are planned for the classes of '57, '60, '80 and '90.  See the reunion page for details.
 

February 1999

New President Priveleged to Serve
Bill Whetstone, '57, the new Alumni Association president began the newsletter with a letter, expressing his thanks for being given the "priveledge of serving as president" for the next two years. He thanked Virgil Butler (the new editor of the New Shield), and promising more comments on new directions for the association in the next newsletter.

Praise for Richard Harrison
Former New Shield editor Dr. Richard Harrison, '62, who passed away in December from a heart attack, was remembered a fine man who "consideredit a priviledge to be associated with the NWCAA and considered his position an honor". Virgil Butler, '56, also remembers him as a "faithful friend" and said that his service to the association would be missed and it would be hard to replace him.

Reunion "Booklet" Available
Ramona Robertson Ware, '57, reports that her predecessor as Reunion Committee Chair, Kaye Horne, has prepared a "full blown book" to help reunion committees with "ideas, sources, lists, forms, suggestions, etc."  It is available for loan by contacting Judy Croom Whetstone at 405-721-4544.

Alum Keeps on Caring
Visit the Kids, We Care Website www.kidswecare.org
Rusty Minick, who, as we previously reported, has begun a project called "Kids We Care" to help children effected by the Murrah Building bombing, has expanded the program to include all children "needing the attention".  The program takes kids on outdoor trips and to sporting events (like OCU and OSU basketball games).  The most recent outing was a fishing derby attended by over 200 kids as well as notables Barry Switzer, Kelvin Sampson, Sean Sutton and a number of OU atheletes.  Rusty has purchased 160 achres of land just easy of the Lazy E Arena which he hopes to turn into a fishing camp, but he needs your help! (He's paid alot of this out of pocket, though he has a few sponsors).  To help with a donation of your time or money, contact Rusty at "Kids We Care", 1324 S. Kelly, Edmond, OK, or call him at 405-844-2273.

NWC Museum Gears Up
The NWC Meseum, long planned to showcase memorabilia from the school's past, is now much closer to being realized.  The school first gave us a showcase in the main hall, and now we have been given a room off the library.  The School Board is looking into building an outside door for the museum (which looks to be quite promising).  If you have donations of memorabilia or would like to help out with organization etc, call Jerry or Pauletter Thrower at 405-722-9544.

Scholarship Committee Organizes College Visitations
The association's scholarship committee has been working with principal Weldon Davis and councelor Charles Albritton in informing students about college opportunities and scholarships.  Though their coordiation, the committee has brought representatives from OU and OSU to speak with students, and is working to also bring in reps from Langston University.  This is a much needed service, since only 30 NWC grads attended college last year [editor's note: unless things have gotten much worse in the last five years, I think that this only counts four year universities].  You, the alumni, are also urged to lobby the school board to provide students with the best resource for reaching info on colleges today, the internet.  The school has no internet access [hence this being published on a Berkeley site], and it would be quite useful, especially in this respect.

Virgil Butler Promises New Things for New Shield
Our new editor, Virigl Bulter, wants to publish four newsletters a year.  The February and October issues will be straight news updates, but the other two will be expanded to include news on classmates.  This can only happen with your help!  If you would like to become a correspondant for the New Shield, to write articles regularly or to serve as a regional representative to funnel along news on your classmates, please contact Virgil Bulter, vhb@alphalynx.com, or by phone, 405-943-9099.  Also, if you have photos you would like published, send those to him via the association, and he'll return them, or you can scan them yourself and e-mail them to him.  If you submit an article, please do so in MS Word or Word Perfect for Mac or PC format.

March 1998

Alum Tells "Kids, We Care"
Rusty Minick ('73) has started an organization called "Kids, We Care".  It was started after the Alfred P. Murrah building was bombed and tries to help all the kids affected by this terrible act by taking them on trips such as to a Dallas Cowboys football game (they got to meet some of the players), OSU football games, basketball games, fishing, and camping trips. He has purchased land near the Lazy E Arena for a camp. He has the ponds stocked so that when the kids fish, they pretty much catch one every time. If you are interested in helping, you can contact him at: Kids, We Care 1324 S. Kelly Edmond, OK 73003, (405) 844-2273.

December 1997

Rich Harrison Passes Away
Richard Harrison, '62, passed away this December.  Rich was the editor of "The New Shield" for it's two year existance.  His talent and effort will be greatly missed.  Our most sincere condolences go out to his family.

July 1997

Homecoming is Set
Homecoming is September 26, 1997 at Taft Stadium.  Come watch and cheer as we trounce the McGinnis Irish.  An alumni party will follow at the Elks Lodge.  Call 721-6666 for details.  BTFI!

Reunions, Reunions, Reunions
The Classes of '57, '62, '77, and '87 had reunions this summer, and it looks like all were a success.  The Class of '58 is in the planning stages of a reunion.  Contact Linda Nance Duncan, (405) 947-3005. If others are planning reunions, please let the AA know so we can help spread the word.

New Big Man on Campus
Roy Howell has been named the eleventh principal of Northwest Classen.  He received his B.A. and M.A. from University of Central Oklahoma and has taught and coached in central Oklahoma for 24 years.  Best of luck, Roy!

Wanted -- Your Old Stuff
The Historical Committee is collecting items for display at a planned "museum".  All kinds of stuff has been donated, but much more is needed.   Contact Jerry or Paulete Thrower, (405) 722-9544.

Knight in Need of Help
Kara Lee Luman, Class of '57, needs to have a spinal reconstruction operation which would ease the contstant pain she suffers as a result of a 1982 stabbing.  The procedure will cost $40,000.  Donations may be made to Speical Care Inc. c/o Kara Lee Merrell Fund, 3105 Sunset Blvd., OKC, OK 73120

Hot Dogs, Burgers, and Good Fun
The first ever All School Alumni picnic was held July 19.  The highlight was the awarding of the first ever NWCAA Scholarship to Melanie Morphis, '97, for her academic excellence at NWC.

NWC Student Council Needs You
The Student Council conducts a number of "Candy Gram" fundraisers throughout the year, and would like to give alumni the opportunity to advertise their businesses in them.  Also, StuCo is soliciting gifts to be given for a new "Student of the Month" award.  For details, contact Jo Wheeler at 942-5557.