Survivors continue to survive
Jeanie Henkens thought this year’s Survivors’ luncheon might be the group’s final one. But her notion was overwhelmingly set aside and the group will continue its annual get-togethers that take place the Thursday before homecoming at Chadron State College.
The Survivors are products of the Great Depression and World War II. They attended Chadron State when times were tough. But they survived and then thrived as members of the nation’s “Greatest Generation.”
About 20 of them attended this year’s luncheon at the Country Kitchen Café.
Dr. Janie Park, the college president, spoke to the group and noted they were helping CSC kick off its Centennial celebration. She also said their alma mater is also “a survivor,” with some ups and downs, but overall it has remained steadfast.
While times have changed since they attended the college, Park said it has continued many of the traditions that the Survivors knew. She said it still provides a quality education, the faculty and the students still get to know one another and students can receive individualized instruction if that is necessary.
Park admitted that the cost of attending the college has risen. One of the Survivors, Lois Putnam of Oelrichs, said she paid just $1.50 a credit hour for tuition when she was a student in the late 1930s. Park said tuition is now $125 a credit hour, but it is still one of the lowest in the nation at a four-year college.
After Henkens asked if the members wanted to continue meeting and received near-unanimous affirmation that they did, Tom McGill of Custer, S.D., disclosed that he had brought along the bottle of wine that the group had purchased in 1999. It was to be drunk at the group’s final gathering.
Following the vote, McGill suggested that the cork be popped on the bottle and its contents be used to toast the Survivors’ founder, Hope Booker Anderson of Chadron, who died Aug. 30 at age 91. That idea was readily accepted and McGill said he will purchase another bottle to replace the one that was emptied.
Henkens said Anderson began the Survivors about 25 years ago by calling her old schoolmates and inviting them to meet to recall “the good old days.” A tradition was begun. Now, no one is anxious for it to go away.
The last order of business was the election of someone to replace Anderson as the main organizer for the next reunion. Henkens was overwhelming chosen for the job. She said that at age 90 she’s trying to get rid of such duties. Others promised to help.
The Survivors continue to survive.
Category: Campus News