GHS Alumni and Friends Association
On August 16, 1992 the Girard High School Alumni and Friends Association became a reality through the vision of its founder Gene Cushman (class of 1941). Gene always reminded the association "Our purpose is Scholarships". The primary purpose of the Association was to establish and maintain a Scholarship Fund for graduating GHS Seniors and to continue that scholarship for the student for his or her 4 years of college. The Association is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of 12 to 15 GHS Alumni who are each elected to a three-year term of office.
Gene Cushman remained the President of the Association until his death in early 1996. At that time James Matuska (class of 1964) became the President in May 1996 to July 2012 when David Richardson (class of 1973) became President to the present time.
The Board meets 4 times a year. The annual Alumni Dinner is held on the last Saturday of July at noon the St. Patrick's Hall in Girard.  This is also Girard Festival Days Week-end. Membership is open to everyone and the $10 annual membership fee entitles a member to all Association correspondence, including newsletters, and notification of the Annual GHS Alumni Dinner. If a person wants to be a Lifetime member the fee is $125. Members come from all over the United States to attend the Alumni Dinner each year.
The current Board is as follows:
Term Ending July 2024
• Michelle Bearden, Director (Class of 1990)
• Tracy Bertolino, Director (Class of 1988)
• Jim Cherry, (Class of 1972)
• Karen (Boston) Dowell, Director (Class of 1963)

Term Ending July 2025
• David Richardson, President & Director (Class of 1973)
• Richard Hazelwood, Vice Pres. & Director (Class of 1975)
• Shelley Burgess Lewis, Secretary (Class of 1986)

Term Ending July 2026
• Lorranine Hart (Class of 1966)
• Jeanette Early (Class of 1973)
• James Matuska (Class of 1964)
• Lynn Walden (Class of 1972)
GHS Alumni and Gene Cushman Scholarships
The first 4 year GHS Alumni Scholarship awarded in 1993 was $4,000.  The recipient received $1,000 per year. The first two year Gene Cushman Memorial Scholarship awarded in 1997 was $1,000. The recipient received $500 per year. The Alumni continued awarding 2 scholarships and increased the value through the years.   In 2012, the two year scholarship was cancelled. The four year scholarship is now the Gene Cushman Memorial Scholarship and has increased from $12,000 to $20,000 in 2020. Generous support from the membership and investments has allowed the yearly Gene Cushman Memorial Scholarship to increase to its current value of $20,000. The recipient receives $5,000 per year.  In 2020 the Alumni added a $6,000 2 year Career Technical Scholarship.  The Recipient will receive $3,000 per year.

Beginning in 2019 two Dohm Scholarships have been added.

The scholarship committee of seven people who are GHS graduates and President David Richardson reviews all of the applications submitted by the current North Mac four-year graduates. The student must live in the old Girard School District and attend all 4 years at North Mac.

Scholarship Recipients

YEAR

PROGRAM

AMOUNT

RECIPIENT

2023

George D. Dohm

4yr $30,000

($7,500 per year any Illinois College or University)

Olivia Thoroman

2023

George D. Dohm

4yr $30,000

($7,500 per year any Illinois College or University)

Mick Downs

2023

GHS Alumni and Friends Assoc Career Training

2yr $8,000

($4,000 per year)

Matthew Starks

2023

Gene Cushman

4yr $20,000

($5,000 per year any University)

Max Allen

2022

George D. Dohm

4yr $30,000

($7,500 per year any Illinois College or University)

Sophia McWard

2022

George D. Dohm

4yr $30,000

($7,500 per year any Illinois College or University)

Andrew Mulacek

2022

GHS Alumni and Friends Assoc Career Training

2yr $8,000

($4,000 per year)

Colt Cherry

2022

Gene Cushman

4yr $20,000

($5,000 per year any University)

Clayton Waldeck

2021

George D. Dohm

$20,000

Alexis Drury

2021

GHS Alumni and Friends Assoc Career Training

$6,000

Tucker Damn

2021

Gene Cushman

$20,000

Grace Vincent

2020

George D. Dohm

$20,000

Saje Erwin

2020

Goerge D. Dohm

$20,000

Will Downs

2020

Career Technical

$6,000

Gavin Starks

2020

Gene Cushman

$20,000

Reagan Lewis

2019

George D. Dohm

$15,000

Madalyn Robinette

2019

George D. Dohm

$15,000

Matthew Burgess

2019

Gene Cushman

$15,000

Kailey O'Neal

2018

Gene Cushman

$12,000

Bryce Trojcak

2017

Gene Cushman

$12,000

Tyson Bouldin

2016

Gene Cushman

$12,000

Sarah Watson

2015

Gene Cushman

$8,000

Marissa Jones

2014

Gene Cushman

$8,000

Demeri Adams

2013

Gene Cushman

$8,000

John Roller

2012

Gene Cushman

$8,000

Matthew Murphy

2011

Alumni

$6,000

Ryan Leonard

2011

Gene Cushman

$3,000

Akita Fugate

2010

Alumni

$6,000

Alyssa Cole

2010

Gene Cushman

$3,000

Ashley Roller

2009

Alumni

$6,000

Ryan Myers

2009

Gene Cushman

$3,000

Brittany Crump

2008

Alumni

$6,000

Meaghan Karaffa

2008

Gene Cushman

$3,000

Danae Smith

2007

Alumni

$5,600

Amanda McClain

2007

Gene Cushman

$2,800

Morgan Murphy

2006

Alumni

$5,600

Staci Trojcak

2006

Gene Cushman

$2,800

Andrew Hinds

2005

Alumni

$5,200

James Tyler Joslin

2005

Gene Cushman

$2,600

Craig Gripp

2004

Alumni

$5,200

Hope Renee Shelton

2004

Gene Cushman

$2,600

Joshua Scott Trojcak

2003

Alumni

$5,200

Saralyn Scott

2003

Gene Cushman

$2,600

Kelly Boston

2002

Alumni

$5,200

Casey Karaffa

2002

Gene Cushman

$2,600

Jacob Daugherty

2001

Alumni

$5,000

Corey Bridges

2001

Gene Cushman

$2,500

Joshua Drake

2000

Alumni

$4,800

Tenika Beard

2000

Gene Cushman

$2,000

Clint Fetter

1999

Alumni

$4,000

Tara (Hays) Berghold

1999

Gene Cushman

$1,500

Alicia (Walden) Pierson

1998

Alumni

$4,000

Paige Wheeler

1998

Gene Cushman

$1,000

Matthew Hinds

1997

Alumni

$4,000

Laura (Wise) Collins

1997

Gene Cushman

$1,000

Sarah Horrighs

1996

Alumni

$4,000

Susan (Nichols) Klug

1995

Alumni

$4,000

Chad Rice

1994

Alumni

$4,000

Jennifer (Barnard) Buckman

1993

Alumni

$4,000

Troy Creasy

Through the vision of Gene Cushman in 1992, the Girard High School Alumni and Friends Association has been a success in helping young men and women further their education and to graduate from a college of their choice. May his vision continue in the future to help future Girard High School graduates further their education.
Mailing address:
GHS Alumni and Friends
David Richardson
45 Margaret Court
Pawnee, IL 62558
via email at ghsdave@yahoo.com