The St. George Academy Preservation Society held the first homecoming for the School, Sunday, September 3, 2023. Past students, teachers and their families and community came together for a covered-dish luncheon, program, games, prizes and exploration of the school and the historic items and information it now holds.
Michael Shaffer, Vice President of the Academy Society, served as Master of Ceremonies and lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and announcements.
Matt Poling read a poem, ‘It Couldn’t Be Done” by Egar Guest and Ellen Shaffer read a second poem, “Moving the St. George Academy Building” by Londa Rigney. Bud Parsons spoke on repairs that had been made to the school and other repairs that need done as soon as possible. Donation boxes were placed throughout the school.
Michael Shaffer then offered prayer for the awesome covered-dish lunch and instructions were to eat at their leisure, renew old friendships with classmates and teachers, play games, explore the old school, and return at 2:30 for pictures and prize drawings.
It had been decided that there should be a queen for the Homecoming and a committee chose Alice Phillips as the queen for the First Annual St. George Academy Homecoming. Alice graduated from the school in 1950 and has many fond memories of her classmates and teachers. She also has been an active leader and worker in the school’s restoration since it was moved in 1985 to property donated by her mother, Freda Parsons. Paul Mauzy, President of the Academy Society, crowned Alice queen of the First Homecoming.
Prizes were given to the oldest student present who was Alice Phillips, youngest student present was Josh Poling and student or teacher who came the furthest was Jane Poling Wright from Virginia. Many other prizes were given out from the guest list and a good time was had by all.
Quartet of Becky Poling, Michael & Sandy Shaffer as well as Priscilla Flanagan closed with the song, “May Those Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful.”