“KHS Last Dance” Opportunity to Bid Farewell to Wildcats

by Jonathan Weaver

Even though no new students will attend Kittanning Senior High doesn’t mean that former students can’t walk through the hallways one final time.

Next month, Kittanning and Armstrong Central alumni and staff, as well as their significant others, will be able to relive their high school days during the “KHS Last Dance.

Scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 4-11PM, the event was brainstormed by Armstrong School District Foundation members, according to Class of 1974 graduate Mindy Owen – who was asked to chair the committee.

“I went when they had the open house for the general public (in November 2014) when it was just very-much of a shell, and it was very awesome,” Owen said. “It was very exciting to see it happening.

“It’s very bittersweet because we’re losing our school, but we’re moving to something much better.”

The event ticket sales will also benefit the Armstrong School District Foundation.

Owen, a paralegal who still lives in Kittanning, remembers cheering on the sideline with the Red Army in the stands during Wildcat sporting events, playoff games, and versus rival-Ford City.

“It was a huge rivalry then,” Owen said. “I very distinctly remember going to games in Ford City and when we got off the bus, we had to be protected because they were throwing eggs and tomatoes.”

Owen also bought a ticket for her husband, Jamie (a 1966 graduate) and talked with her father, Arnold (a 1953 graduate), about attending.

Soney Hockenberry graduated in 1976 from Kittanning, and is leading concessions during the dance.

The former Wildcats and new River Hawks cheerleading coach said cheerleaders, boys’ golf, girls’ golf, swimming and boys’ basketball teams will all sell food, drinks or other items during the dance.

Hockenberry’s sons, Kyle (a 2013 graduate) and Brent (a 2000 graduate), also played football, basketball and ran track at Kittanning

Jack Burford, a 1974 graduate who’s in charge of entertainment, said the event will feature two different DJ’s – one of which being Kittanning High graduate Mike Totos.

“Hopefully, we have a massive turnout,” Burford said.

An auto body mechanic from Kittanning who also was a school board candidate, Burford’s grandsons, Ashton and Colton, will attend the new school this Fall.

As well as the dance, alumni attending the event will be able to walk through the new school following a public self-guided tour.

“Last Dance” ticket holders will be able to walk through the Manor Township school from 2-4PM and will be entered into a raffle for an assortment of River Hawks items – including possibly tickets to the inaugural home game.

“We’ll hand everyone a ticket, if they show us their ticket to the dance,” Owen said.

Committee members also discussed DJ’s playing each class’ song, decorating the gymnasium with balloons or even crate paper flowers with spray-painted red edges and utilizing sponsorship donations toward fireworks

Megan Harvey-Crissman, a 2003 graduate who was a Wildcat swimmer, singer and cross-country runner, suggested utilizing money toward a photo booth filled with props such as the Wildcat mascot costume, football helmets and jerseys.

Harvey-Crissman, of Applewold, also has a future River Hawk in son, Landon – who will be a fourth-grader at West Hills Intermediate this Fall.

“He’s excited to be a River Hawk next year, but I’ll always talk about the Wildcats to him,” Harvey-Crissman said. “Wildcats will always be the best.

“I’ll always be a Wildcat – I’ll always bleed Wildcat colors.”

The committee also includes retired teacher Virginia Easley - a “snowbird” that lives half the time in Kittanning and taught physical education from January 1964 until June 1997.

Easley was also a former cheerleading sponsor and class advisor.

“I am friends on Facebook with a lot of my past students, and they advertised a meeting. I came, and I’m in,” Easley said.

In addition to being sold at Dizzy Lizzy’s, the 700 Shop, the Kittanning Public Library and at James Owen’s law office, tickets will also be sold at the former YMCA on North Water Street during the upcoming Fort Armstrong Folk Festival.

More plans will be discussed at the next meeting in two weeks.

Anyone interested in helping with the committee or donating memorabilia can contact committee members through the “KHS Last Dance” Facebook page or Owen at mowen333@hotmail.com

1 Comment

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  By mowen, July 15, 2015 @ 2:58 PM

  The tickets have been donated by Slate Lick Printing, Inc. and we have received a monetary donation from Nextier Bank — thank you!!

  Also, apparently I use “very” way too often!

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