MUNCY–Coronavirus not only altered the academic school year for students in the district, but the ripple effect has stretched to squash a tradition many alumni anticipate every year–the alumni banquet.

Last week, committee members of the Muncy Alumni Association remotely convened using Zoom, an Internet web platform that enables video conferencing in order to discuss this year’s traditional banquet.

“Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and because all schools will remain closed for the rest of the academic year, the MHS Alumni Association has made the difficult decision to cancel the banquet for 2020. The safety of our graduating seniors, alumni, volunteers, and the event staff was our top priority in this choice, said Lee Ann Stump, recording secretary.

Next year’s banquet, to be held Saturday, May 29, 2021, will include invitations to this year’s reunion classes (graduating in years ending in 0 or 5). “We also plan to include the 2020 graduating seniors in this invitation,” Stump said.

At the banquet, two graduating seniors are awarded $1,000 from the Sara B. Poust Memorial Alumni Award, which assists in a senior’s educational needs. Current seniors may still electronically submit applications for the award, Stump said. The winners will be notified as part of the official MHS scholarship announcements on May 29, 2020. The application and criteria were mailed to the 2020 Senior Class on Monday, April 13. Those who have already submitted their application need not reapply and will be considered as a potential

candidate.

Following a “call to the clan” by an interested and foresighted group of graduates on April 27, 1898, the Muncy High School Alumni Association was organized at a May 3rd public meeting in Education Hall.

That call was not only the institution and organization of an Alumni Association but the inception of the custom of holding an annual banquet, according to the group’s history.

Although the first banquet was held at the Muncy Valley House on Friday, June 10, 1898, Memorial Day weekend has traditionally been the association’s choice for hosting the event.

To contact the Association with any address changes, contact them through their Facebook page or by emailing mhsalumnimemsec@gmail.com.