Grads form GSHS Alumni Assn.

Grads form GSHS Alumni Assn.
Kick-off social Sept. 28 at Big Beach Brewing Co.

By John Mullen
Gulf Shores grads are getting together to form a alumni association to be involved in the school and the community and are planning a kickoff social on Sept. 28 at Big Beach Brewing.
“We decided to form the Gulf Shores High School Alumni Association recently to basically help establish some traditions for the community moving forward,” one of the officers, Johnny Armstrong, said. “We also wanted to be able to have a channel for alumni to give back, mentor current students and alumni and support everything alumni-related. Whether it be business, athletics and just really have an outlet for alumni to go to and voice their opinions on education, athletics and in the business community.”
Armstrong, who is the third generation of family-owned Modern Signs of Gulf Shores, says everything, even the inaugural party, will be alumni focused.
“It’s at Big Beach Brewing which is alumni-owned and operated,” Armstrong said. “We will Green and Grain food truck that will be catering the event and it is also alumni-owned and operated. The band providing the music on Sept. 28 will also have some Gulf Shores alumni playing.
“We want to support and help give a voice to alumni-owned businesses because as alumni get older and we either start or take over businesses here locally we want to be able to support each other. Whether it’s sports teams, events businesses, anything involved with the city. We want to be able to support everything alumni associated.”
With the city recently moving to form its own school system, the first breakaway system in Baldwin County, Armstrong said this is an important time for alumni to step up and be involved.
“Our future plans are to have a better line of communication from the elementary, middle and high schools,” Armstrong said. “We want them all on the same page. We would like homecoming week to involve all three schools. Especially moving into a city school system, we feel like they need equal representation and we feel like we can provide that.”
He said the group has also already made inroads at the high school.
“The principal, Mrs. Cindy Veazey, totally supports it and we feel like building a relationship with the administration and the teachers and staff will give us a bigger platform in helping grow this thing,” Armstrong said.
Dr. Matt Akin, superintendent of Gulf Shores City Schools, said he sees the alumni as part of a community that is dedicated to having quality schools.
“The formation of a Gulf Shoes High School Alumni Association is another great example of the level of community support for our new school system,” Akin said. “Alumni involvement will help raise expectations of our schools and provide encouragement for future success.”
Armstrong said the group is already organizing and setting up the business end of the group.
“We plan to have a tent at future home football games and we’ve already received our federal tax ID number, established a bank account at M&M Bank through another alumnus, Bradley Bell, who is the vice president there,” he said. “We’re also in the in the process of establishing our 501(c)3 status as a nonprofit.”
Other alumni officers are Kristie Wheeles, Kimberly Ray and Clarke Armstrong, Johnny’s wife. For more information, check out the group’s Facebook page.