By
Ron Paglia
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 23, 2010
They're not the new kids on the block by any
means, but the Brownsville Area Schools Alumni Association has started a
renewed effort to bring graduates together.
"We've been here for 10 years, but many
graduates aren't aware of our existence and what we do, and are trying to
do," said Kevin Fortuna, president of the association's board of
directors. "Our organization represents an alliance of thousands of
Brownsville Area graduates across the United States and worldwide. With a
growing base of graduates, our mission is to cultivate stronger bonds with and
among alumni and enable them to be involved in an interactive, customized
experience ... become involved in school and class events." One of the major ways the association is
doing this, Fortuna, a 1978 Brownsville graduate, said is with the new website:
http://basalumni.org.
"The names of our schools may be different,
but we share a long and distinguished heritage of pride in the excellence of
education, athletics and other facets of school experiences," Fortuna
said. "There are no geographic boundaries within our organization. BAS
Alumni is open to everyone past and present." He lauded the current
Brownsville Area School District administration for its "considerations
and cooperation" and noted that students at Brownsville Area High School
are actively involved with the group. "We're very grateful to the school
district for their help," Fortuna said. "And we're pleased with the
input of the current students; they provide great insight." Dennis (Denny) Matteucci, a 1956 Brownsville
High graduate who serves as executive director of the alumni group, offered
similar sentiments. "It's important that we recognize the achievements of
those who preceded us and the generations that follow, no matter where they went
to school or where they lived," Matteucci said. "They are symbols of
what can be accomplished and they serve as inspirations to our present
students, incentives, if you will, to the idea that your dreams can come
true." Fortuna and Matteucci also called attention to
the efforts of Lenora Byrd, Class of 1958, as administrator of the new website.
"Just as she does with everything, Lenora has poured her heart and soul
into the website," Matteucci said. "It's state-of-the-art with great
information, news and links to even more of the same." Profiles of
graduates also are featured and members can update their information by
registering for a fee. "So many graduates have their profiles
posted on such sites as MySpace, Classmates, Alumniclass, Facebook and others,
and they provide good biographies and contact information," Byrd said.
"But the basic tenet of the website is to bring all of that to one central
location for the convenience of everyone concerned."
Fortuna, a longtime educator currently serving
as associate principal at Wilkinsburg High School and Middle School, said the
enhanced website is designed to provide a conduit specifically for active
participation in traditional class and multi-class reunions, meeting classmates
and alumni, assisting in funding scholarships, and enhancing and preserving the
traditions of the Brownsville Area School District. He also emphasized that the
association is open to all alumni, staff, faculty and friends from Brownsville
High School, Brashear High School, Redstone High School and Brownsville Area
School District.
