Date: Saturday, August 2, 2003

Time: 6:00 PM to 1 AM

Location: American Legion, 6501 Portland Ave S., Richfield 55423

Just show up for Hors d’oeuvres, but call the Legion at 612-866-3647 for reservations if you want a sit down dinner (served until 9pm).

The ‘Patricians’ (rock band of RHS grads that used to play sock hops in ’68) will provide 3 sets of live music on stage in the auditorium at the reunion. To help with reunion contact: Jim Ostberg (972-272-2222) gssgss@attbi.com

Date: Saturday, August 2, 2003

Time: 6:30 check-in, Cash bar; 7:00 buffet; 9:00 music & dancing

Location: Wyndham Minneapolis Airport (Located behind Perkins on 494 & France near the
Cattle Company)

Date: Friday, September 25, 2003

Location: Metropolitan Ballroom (5418 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN)

For more information go to the Reunion Organizers of Minnesota Website (www.minnesotaunions.com)

Date: Saturday, August 9, 2003

Time: 7:00 pm to Midnight

Location: Buck Hill Chalet, Burnsville, MN

For more information please contact: Mary (Bryant) Kallstrom (952)440-9929 brooms91@earthlink.net

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2003

Location: Atlas Grill 200 6^th St S, Minneapolis MN 55402

Located in the Pillsbury Center in downtown Minneapolis. There is free underground parking. Visit www.minnesotareunions.com to register for the reunion. Please send an email with your current address information (and maiden name, if applicable) to pip 1993.@hotmail.com

Class Website: www.rhs93.cheeb.com

The Richfield Foundation was organized in 1989 by a group of concerned Richfield citizens who felt there was a need for local support of activities and organizations that contribute to the well-being of Richfield and its citizens.

During its ten-year history, the Richfield Foundation has made numerous grants in support of organizations serving our community, including grants to Cornerstone, Family and Children’s Services, Fraser Community Services, Hampton Place After School Center, St. David’s Child Development and Family Services, Storefront/Youth Action, VEAP, and YouthNet.

In 1997, the Richfield Foundation created the Richfield Public Schools Dedicated Fund (RPS FUND) to support programs and activities within Richfield Public Schools. A committee for the RPS FUND acquires and distributes funds to programs, services, and activities that enhance the quality of education offered by our local public schools.

The RPS Fund is supported by individuals and corporations with an interest in enriching our community’s schools, and by special fundraising events such as the Summer Cabaret. Contributions can also be made in honor of recent or past staff members through the Spartan Gold Helmet Award. Donors may designate funds for specific purposes such as the RPS Endowment Fund.

Many previous donors have supported the RPS Fund through the United Way, which offers the convenience of giving through payroll deductions (Twin Cities donors learn more here). The RPS Fund does not have a code to fill in on United Way donation cards, but you may still designate the Fund by checking the "Optional" box and writing "Richfield Foundation/RPS Fund."

Many employers will match your donations to charitable organizations. Please ask at your workplace about this easy way to double your giving.

Send contributions to: RPS Dedicated Fund P.O. Box 23462, Richfield, MN 55423

We accept Visa/Mastercard. Please call 612-798-6704 with any questions.

The RPS Fund web site is http://www.rpsfund.

Alia Barbouche, a 1998 graduate of RHS, graduated from UW-Madison in 3-1/2 years thanks to the college-in-the school classes she took at RHS. She is employed by the Medical Reinsurance Company – a financial intermediary and broker for the reinsurance industry. In the fall she will begin her pursuit for Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. Her dream is to be involved with Community and Economic Development. She sends her thanks to Madame Keller and Mr. Gothmann, "two outstanding teachers."

Denny Swanson, a 1963 RHS graduate, retired from teaching after 33 years of teaching film, speech and acting, mostly at Apple Valley and Eagan high schools. A teaching colleague calls him a legend. "He’s so well known for the quality of the work he does. I would say he’s the strongest high school director in the state of Minnesota. People come to his shows and can’t believe these are high school kids." In the green room, his favorite abode, he says: "I’m a little scared about this whole transition, so I’m going to make it right."

Luke Gehring, a 1975 RHS Graduate, lives in Erie, PA. An artist, Gehring has shown and sold works in numerous regional exhibitions in Minneapolis and Erie. He exhibits watercolors in invitational, open and juried shows. He also is an iconographer, and his images are in churches and homes across the United States and in foreign countries.

Darby Hendrickson graduated from RHS in 1991 where he played hockey with several grade school friends. Matt Stepnes, another 1991 graduate, and Darby have known each other since they were preschoolers and with several other friends culminated their friendship when Richfield went to the state championship their senior year. Darby has been on the Wild Hockey team since the 1994-95 season and Matt, who was a fourth-line player in high school lives in San Francisco and sells corporate sponsorships for the Golden State Warriors. Congratulations to two great hockey aficionados.

Five new members were inducted to the RHS hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Northfield Country Club Golf Course June 16^th, 2003. After the annual Spartan Open Golf Tournament that day, a dinner was sponsored by the Spartan Foundation during which the lifetime sports achievements of five outstanding RHS graduates were

First to be honored was Tom Gersey (class of 1964). After three years of football, a State Championship, and being named to the All State team, Tom went on to play football at the U of M. In the Navy, Tom played championship level baseball, basketball, and slo-pitch softball at Moffett AFB in northern California. Tom has since been officiating high school and college sports in the Bay Area, 28 years in baseball, 27 years in football, 25 years in basketball, and seven years in women’s slo-pitch softball, including conference, sectional and state title games in all four sports. He also teaches at official’s clinics and has written for a national officiating magazine. Recognized as one of the best officials in California Tom and his wife, Vicki, reside in San Jose, CA.

The next honoree was Dale Strom. The star centerfielder for the Spartans in 1960 and 1961, and team conference title winners both years, Dale went on to play four years for Augsburg College as an outfielder. After the Army, Dale came to RHS in 1967 as a Social Studies and Physical Education teacher, coached the East Junior High baseball team from 1967 to 1987, and coached men’s soccer from 1967 to 1990. As Dean of Students at RHS from 1990 to 2000, Dale was able to make dramatic strides in building a strong and well rounded athletic program by hiring 20 teaching faculty who also shared advisory and coaching expertise. Seven of those became head coaches. Dale is still married to his high school sweetheart, Ellen, who is also a graduate of RHS.

In high school, Dale Thielman participated in football, wrestling, and track, earning an amazing ten letters and ran on three State Championship relay teams. In college, he held three different positions on the football field during his years at the University of Minnesota – Morris. First, he was a linebacker, then a fullback, then an offensive tackle. Dave went on to coach football for 33

Dave Reiner (1972) played on championship teams in football and baseball. As a running back for RHS, he won All Conference and All State honors. As a junior, Dave was an infielder and a .325 hitter. His team won conference, district, and regional titles, and won the state title with three straight shutouts. As a senior, Dave was an All-Conference and All State shortstop for RHS’s repeating state champs, batting .383. He was co-captain in both sports. At the USAF Academy, he lettered as a

The final 2003 inductee to the RHS Hall of Fame is Mindy Grafing, a 1984 graduate of RHS. Unfortunately, Mindy was unable to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony but she was honored as one of the finest all-around female athletes to ever attend Richfield High School. As a three sport athlete, she played softball, basketball, and soccer, and was named to the All Conference and All State teams in both softball and soccer. She won the prestigious Athena Award, and went on to the University of Wisconsin where she became an All American soccer goal keeper. She now lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Award Recipient		Site		"Extra Mile" Contribution(s)
Gail Brown		Centennial		Nurse Assistant
Bill Fennert		Centennial		Volunteer
Lois Flynn		RMS		Volunteer
Peter Flynn		District		Volunteer
Bob Gorski		Garage		Dispatcher
Marc Jenkins		District		Volunteer
Susie Johnston		RIS		Volunteer
Barbara Kraker		District Office		Supervisor Personnel Services
Cynthia Lindgren		RHS		Volunteer
Joan Pelfrey		Lincoln Hills		Instructional/Managerial Assistant
Mary Rue		RMS		Senior Clerk

MORE INFORMATION IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!

Richfield Schools has a wonderful web site with lots of information about the school district, individual schools and various departments, programs, and activities. Check it out at www.richfield.k12.mn.us. If you would like to receive a periodic e-mail update regarding current issues relating to the Richfield Schools, you may subscribe at issuesbulletin@richfield.k12.mn.us. Finally, if you would like more information about RHS alumni, go to http://deckernet.com/rhs/.

FINE SONG EARNS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP

2003 RHS graduate Fine Song has qualified for a National Merit Scholarship and will be attending Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to his academic success, Song represented RHS in the 2002 Minnesota All-State Band, earning the position of first chair clarinet. Song is interested in a career in medicine.

RHS French teacher Trina Keller reports with pride that all of the RHS 4^th year French students passed the Minnesota Language Proficiency Assessment, qualifying them for placement in an intermediate level class in college. Two students, Thuy Nguyen and Julie Young, received a "high pass", earning an even higher placement and "free" college credits.

The Richfield Marching Spartans earned repeated honors during their 2003 season: Grand Champion of the Buffalo Days Parade; first place in parades at Blaine, Brooklyn Center and Albertville; second place in Champlin and Fridley; and fourth place in Winona.

One reason for the band’s success is student participation. RHS band director Colleen Fischer observed, "Four years ago, about 80 students participated in marching band, compared to 123 students this year." Other factors include a marching technique workshop in 2002, paid for by a mini-grant from the Richfield Foundation / Richfield Public Schools Fund, and the addition of professional choreographer Joey Babay to work with the band and color guards. Drum Major Alison Drummond observed, "We’ve changed our style. We’re less traditional now." Drum Captain Jonathan Peasley added, "Our choreography looks a lot better." Babay has choreographed many Richfield High School musical theatre performances in addition to his work with the marching band.

Sixty RHS students, including captains of athletic teams, participated in an 8-session summer leadership workshop. Through presentations, activities, and discussions, students examined the characteristics, ethics, and behaviors of positive leaders and explored key leadership skills, including effective communications, decision-making, problem solving, conflict management, and team building. The students have responded positively to the sessions, as indicated by their comments:

"The sessions are inspirational, and encourage me to be a better person." – Elliot Heil, Grade 11

"The workshop will help us be better leaders in the school." – Tom Brown, Grade 11

"The training enhances our ability to become leaders, and we’re having a good time!" – Heejin Han, Grade 11

"We’re learning characteristics of good leaders such as leading by example, being positive, and work ing hard." – Kris Pulford, Grade 12

"The training will be beneficial to us, and we’ll be able to bring that knowledge back to our athletic teams." – Greta Rittenhouse, Grade 12

RHS Principal Jill Johnson told the students, "We are investing in you so you can help make a positive difference at Richfield High School and beyond."

RHS teacher and coach Kyle Inforzato is enthusiastic about the program. "I would like to see participation in this training be a pre-requisite to being a team captain." Inforzato added that he and other teachers hope to share key aspects of the training with RHS classes the first week of school. Athletic Director Jim Baker stated, "We hope to make this training an annual activity at Richfield High School."