Fairhaven Alumni Association

 

In the early 1990’s, under the leadership of Mr. Joe Hansen (Class of 1936), the Fairhaven Alumni Association (FAA) was founded for the purpose of organizing and maintaining an association of persons interested in promoting and preserving the memory of Fairhaven High School, and providing higher education opportunities for Fairhaven District students.

 

For more than 14 years, the FAA has been very successful at raising funds and granting scholarships to deserving Fairhaven students.  Money has been raised through membership dues and donations to the Scholarship Fund-a restricted endowment generating interest that is used solely for scholarships.   Two scholarships per year have been awarded, the Lee Rankin and the Gail Aarstol Memorial Scholarships, at $1,000 each.  This year a third award will be established and awarded through a Hansen family endowment for Michael Douglas Hansen, Joe’s son.  Michael and his wife Sherrie were instrumental in the creation of the Scholarship Fund, contributing $10,000 for seed money.  The Scholarship Fund has also been supplemented with another “up to” $2,000 per year through State Matching Grants from the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  Currently, the Scholarship Fund has about $65,000.  In addition, the Association has used unrestricted donations fund projects such as the refurbishment and lighting of the arch, the installation of a memorial plaque for the arch, a special display case near the school’s office, and resource materials for the school’s library, to name a few. 

 

With a gradual decreasing to the number of high school alumni members, now fewer than 200 with an average age of over 85 years, an effort has been undertaken to ensure that the FAA carries on.  Joe and the FAA Board have recruited and established the next generation of leadership, all with close ties not only to FHS, but Fairhaven Junior High/Middle School too.  Greg Cowan, Mike Hall, Mark Muljat, Linda Underhill, Loren Rankin, and Mary Bess Johnson are working to keep the efforts alive by broadening the membership and donation base to ensure that the memory of FHS and scholarship awards are preserved.

 

With the decreasing numbers of FHS alumni, it’s become more difficult to raise funds and meet matching grant requirements.  Fairhaven Alumni Association has expanded its membership to include the broader community associated with the school.  We are asking present and past students and staff of Fairhaven Junior High/Middle School to join FAA and help us carry on what Joe and the others set up and kept going all these years.

 

Dues are $10 annually, which includes receipt of the Aurora Newsletter three times a year.  In addition, donations of $20 or more can be made in memory of a Fairhaven Alumni for the plaque.  The Association has a history of early Fairhaven, the Larrabee Book, for sale for $15.  Donations can also be made and designated to the Scholarship Fund, and every dollar so designated goes to that fund and supports the annual scholarships.  So, if you or anyone you know wants to learn more about the FAA, contact Greg Cowan (cowangl@comcast.net) or Linda Underhill (lunderhi@msn.com).  To join FAA and/or make a donation today, print the membership form, fill it out and send it along with your check to Fairhaven Alumni Association, PO Box 4382, Bellingham, WA  98227.