OHS Class of 1971 gifts bench to school as part of 55th year

Joanne Williams
Editor

(Joanne Williams/TCJ – Members of the OHS Class of 1971 present a bench to the school to celebrate their 55th-graduation anniversary.)

When is a bench more than a bench?

When it’s made in Mulliken and donated with love from grateful alumni.

The Olivet High School Class of 1971, celebrating their 55th year, gathered at Eagles stadium on Friday, Sept. 18 to present the bench, tan-colored with OHS Class of 1971 engraved in green. The dozen or so classmates came from around the country to celebrate together and witness Olivet football’s thrilling 21-20 win over Lansing Sexton.

Before the game, the graduates gathered, hugs and kisses and hellos, around the bench, just to the side of the stadium’s inside entrance. Superintendent Bob Vaught was on hand to represent the schools.

Wendy Morgenstern Hoekje helped plan the presentation and the get-together. She said classmates came from as far as California and Florida. One said, “I never miss anything.” Another chimed in, “I make every effort to attend every gathering,” which takes place every five years for this class.

The gatherings now include those “marrying into the class” one alum said.

Andy Weaver read a statement as they gathered, and said, “As we celebrate 55 years since our graduation, we felt this was an appropriate time to remember our years at Olivet Schools and to recognize the lasting impact this school and its staff have had on our lives.”

Weaver thanked Adam Harris of Polly Products in Mulliken for helping to bring the project together.

Harris wrote, “This bench is being made here in Mulliken from 100% recycled HDPE, so something that was once part of the waste stream is being turned into something that can stay in the community for decades.”

Polly Products can be seen all over Eaton County, from benches to tables, planters and bike racks in schools, parks and communities, here and across the country.

The Class of 1971 hopes people look at the bench as a statement of the importance the high school still holds in their lives.

As Weaver read, “While our journeys have been different,” he said of his classmates, “we remain thankful for the education, encouragement, guidance and support we received during our years at Olivet.”

And with that, the group headed to the stands to sit together and cheer on the alma mater.