Summer is the season of class reunions! If your graduating class has a reunion coming up, make sure you advertise it through Mighty Cardinals Nation and we’ll be happy to share the information across all of our channels.

For those of you who might be attending a reunion this summer, it’s understandable to have some mixed emotions, especially if you haven’t seen classmates in some time. There is always going to be some awkwardness associated with getting back into an environment where you’re surrounded by former classmates. However, if you keep an open mind you’ll likely find it to be a great time.

Here are a few tips for you to help you get the best experience out of your reunion:

A heartfelt congratulations to everyone who recently graduated from Chippewa Falls High School as a member of the class of 2022! You have now officially joined our ranks as fellow alumni!

High school graduation is one of the biggest milestones of anyone’s life. It is a significant transition from childhood into adulthood, and a symbolic moment of transition. Some graduates may stay in the area, others might leave and never return. Some graduates might go on for additional education, others might enter the workforce, others might pledge themselves to the U.S. armed forces.

Whatever lies ahead, this is the commonality for the entire class of 2022: you all shared this moment and experience together, and this is where your paths diverged.

This is what makes alumni associations so special. While you’ll never have your entire class gathered together at the same time again, these organizations do offer you the chance to reconnect with people who shared the same formative experiences as you. There’s something special about having that shared experience that propelled you into adulthood and helped mold your decisions that followed your high school years!

Here are just a few reasons why you new graduates should consider joining our organization:

• Stay connected: Don’t lose touch with your roots! Getting involved with your alumni association allows you to stay connected to the school and the people who helped form the person you’ve become.

• Network: You’ll soon find in adulthood that connections can be critical to unlocking opportunities. Alumni associations provide great networking opportunities that could help you find internships and jobs and make new friends. 
  
  
• Have fun: Alumni associations give you plenty of opportunities for fun while you’re visiting home, with a variety of events that you’ll be certain to enjoy. 

Once again, a huge congratulations to the class of 2022, and we hope you’ll consider joining us here at Mighty Cardinals Nation!

Class of 2022 Graduation

Seniors voted to have a graduation "drive-in" parade instead of the traditional ceremony. The celebration was broadcast live on 103.1FM, WOGO.com and Cardinal TV. See graduation photos, watch/listen to the recorded event and see slides of each Class of 2022 alumnus.

See Facebook photo gallery:

It may be hard to believe, but there’s only about a month left of the school year. As the summer approaches, life slows down in most school districts. However, there are still a lot of ways you can be an active alumnus and stay involved in the Mighty Cardinals Nation community!

Here are just a few examples of how you can continue to support your alumni association and alma mater even throughout the summer.

• Attend reunions: Class reunions aren’t technically alumni association events, but they are a great opportunity for you to stay plugged in to your alumni community. In addition, many members of our organization are also likely to attend reunions, giving you additional opportunities to catch up and network. The summer is the most popular time of year to hold reunions, so if you’re in a potential reunion year, check and see if there are events happening and make plans to attend.

• Continue to advocate: Keep spreading the word about our organization! Encourage other alumni to get involved, and they’ll start getting information in plenty of time for fall events like Homecoming celebrations. Share news on social media or via email, have conversations with fellow alumni, and spread the news about how much you enjoy our alumni association.

• Donate: There’s never a bad time to financially support your alumni association! We will graciously accept any donations you are willing to provide in addition to membership dues. 

• Attend events: Keep an eye out for our summer plans, and consider attending events as they come up! The more people we get at these events the more fun they are. These events help us to continue to maintain a great alumni culture and keep a buzz around our organization and our work in the school community.

Just because school’s out for the summer doesn’t mean we’re no longer working on things with our alumni association! Contact us today to learn more about how you can stay involved with Mighty Cardinals Nation throughout the upcoming summer break.

Give Students a Tour of Your Business

Would your employer be interested in giving students a tour of your business and information about your industry? Another way alumni can stay involved is to offer student tours and career insights. 

In April, Chippewa Falls Middle School 7th and 8th graders received a first-hand look at the world of manufacturing by participating in the Manufacturing Schools2Skills tour. Students toured Wisconsin Metal Fab and Advanced Laser and Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) Manufacturing Campus in Eau Claire before heading to Chippewa Falls Senior High School to explore the Tech Ed wing and new Fab Lab space. A special thank you to our business partners, the Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce, CVTC, and students at the Chippewa Falls Senior High School for making this event possible!

If you're interested in hosting student tours, please see the district's Partnership brochure and contact Laura Bushendorf, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator [email protected] or 715.726.2406 ext. 3016.

  

Over the last decade or so there has been an increased push to enhance investment in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educational initiatives. This is extremely important, as many of the most rapidly growing careers are found in these categories.

Of course, one cannot forget the importance of the arts and humanities in a well-rounded education. For many people, their involvement in music and the arts produced some of their fondest memories of their high school experience, both in school and as extracurriculars. 

If you want to ensure future generations of students are able to enjoy the same caliber of arts opportunities as you had, the opportunities that helped shape you, you are in a unique position as an alma mater to be an advocate for arts education. Here are just a few ways you can support the arts in Chippewa Falls schools!

• Attend events: If you’re in the area, this is one of the simplest things you can do to help keep arts programs successful. Even if you don’t have children involved, you can attend events like art shows, music concerts and theatrical performances. Your presence means a lot to the students and faculty involved and helps give a boost to the programs.

• Volunteer: If you want to take the next step, consider volunteering your time. Get involved in parent or community groups or booster clubs. Offer to volunteer to sell tickets or concessions at events or serve as an usher. Ask where you can be useful and volunteer when you are available to do so.

• Contribute your talents: If you have a particular talent that might be of use to the department, consider offering your services! You might give musical lessons or conduct some sort of art workshop. Your skill and experience can be valuable in instructing current students and showing them that they can continue to be involved in the arts into their adulthood.

• Be an advocate: Spread the word about arts programs and events and encourage others in the community to attend. Speak up at school board meetings when arts-related issues arise, and defend the programs from cuts or harmful changes. Talk to administration and school leaders about the importance of the arts.
  
  
• Encourage your children: Whether your children attend Chippewa Falls schools or not, you should encourage them to pursue the arts and follow their passions throughout their school experience. 

The arts have a major impact on the lives of students. Take advantage of your position as an alumnus and be a strong advocate for these programs whenever possible!

Enjoy Chi-Hi student artwork at the Pablo Center at the Confluence through April 24, 2022!

Congratulations to Brett Jochum, Faith Wren, Heather Ryan, Clara Peterson, Sarah Zwickel, Bradley Dorwin, Miljun Russel Cadullo, Natalie Powell, Sydney Zimmerman, and Shelby Peloquin for having their artwork selected and on display! #MightyCardinals

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In a few months, the class of 2022 will be graduating and will officially be eligible to join our ranks as alumni of Chippewa Falls and members of our organization.

But recruitment for an alumni association is a year-round effort. While it might kick into higher gear around graduation time, we encourage our members to be advocates for our organization all year round. If you have friends or family members who you think would enjoy becoming a part of Mighty Cardinals Nation, consider inviting them personally!

Of course, convincing someone to join an organization can be a challenge, especially when they’re already busy. But there are a few ways you can increase your chances of success. Here are just a few:

• Talk about it regularly: Whenever you go to Chippewa Falls alumni events, make sure you talk about your experience and how much you enjoyed yourself. If your friends know you’re an active member of the organization and have had positive experiences with it, they’re more likely to be open to joining themselves once you make the ask.

• Invite them to events: Any time there are alumni events, invite them along. You don’t need to pressure them to officially join the organization, but it is a good opportunity for them to get plugged in to what’s happening in the district and with the alumni community without having to make any sort of commitment. In this way, it allows them to ultimately make the decision to join for themselves.

• Show them how they can make a difference: Alumni associations aren’t just social and networking opportunities -- they’re also an outlet to make a difference in your alma mater and in the lives of current students. Examples such as scholarships, mentoring, volunteering and other such meaningful connections with the schools and students are great ways to show your friends that they can use a membership in our organization to be a positive influence on the current school community.
• Make the ask: Don’t feel like you have to dance around the issue. You can just be straight up and ask your friends to join the organization. The best way to get people to take an action is to ask them to do so!

We’re looking forward to welcoming many more new members to Mighty Cardinals Nation this year, and we hope your friends are among them!

DID YOU KNOW? 

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly visited Chippewa Falls Senior High School in February to learn about our Career and Technical Education programming for students. Chippewa Falls Fire Department Firefighter/EMT Brook Sommerfeld and Lt. Justus Buss also recently visited the Middle School to talk about their careers as part of the district's "What Do I Want To Be?" Career Series. An area soil conservationist and a quality engineer also recently presented about their careers. #MightyCardinals

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It’s February, and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. We thought we’d get in the spirit a bit and discuss all the reasons why we love being a part of our alumni association! 

Here are just five reasons why being a part of this organization is so special.

• The community: This is the best thing about being involved in any alumni association--you get to connect and interact with fellow alumni of Chippewa Falls schools of all years and ages. It may be people you went to high school with, or people who came long before or after you. But we all have our love of our alma mater in common, and all care about doing what we can to support the school and its current generation of students.

• The events: Whether it’s a football tailgate, a fundraising gala or any kind of meetup throughout the year, it’s always great to get together with fellow Chippewa Falls alumni and have a great time!

• The news: Even for people who don’t live in the area and can’t easily make it out to our organization’s meetups, being able to easily keep up with everything happening at our alma mater is a big benefit of membership. Our time in high school impacted all of us in different ways, and being able to maintain some sense of closeness even years after involvement is special. 

• The influence: As alumni, we have a unique ability to be a positive influence on current and future generations of students. This influence can come in different forms, such as volunteering, mentoring, donating or general advocacy. But no matter what method we choose, we have the ability to support positive initiatives in schools and help today’s students have the same great experiences and opportunities we did (and new and exciting ones too!).

• The nostalgia: High school might not necessarily be “the best days of your life,” but it’s still always fun to reflect and reminisce about those days, especially with fellow alumni. There’s something special about seeing old traditions continue to go on, and having the opportunity to connect with other alumni and share our stories and memories.

If you haven’t joined Mighty Cardinals Nation yet, there’s never been a better time! Become a member of our organization today.

To get more into the Valentine's Day spirit, check out these #MightyCardinals love stories shared last holiday on our Facebook page!

It’s the start of another year, a time when people around the world set goals for themselves and pledge various ways in which they will make a difference in their communities.

Whether you’re already a member of Mighty Cardinals Nation or are looking to join, you may decide that 2022 is the time for you to take action and get more involved in your alumni community. The great news is that no matter where you live and how much time you have, there are always ways for you to get involved and show your support.

Here are just a few examples of how you can spend 2022 as a more active member of your alumni association.

• Volunteer: There are always opportunities available to volunteer both with our organization and within the school district. Reach out any time to learn more about these opportunities, and where the need for volunteers intersects with your interests and talents.
  
  
• Events: We host alumni events whenever possible, and always love to see a great turnout from people of all ages and years. Make it a point to show up at a few events this year to get more plugged in and really feel the benefits of being involved in this community.
  
  
• Donate: If you’re too far away or lack the time to volunteer or participate in events, you might consider donating instead. In addition to your membership tiers, there are plenty of opportunities to donate to the organization or to various educational initiatives within the district. Your donations will help current and future generations of students enjoy many of the same formative experiences you enjoyed in your time in school.
  
  
• Advocate: Regardless of your available time or money, this is a big way you can help the organization. Be proud to be a member of your alumni association and spread the word to other fellow alumni who might be interested in getting involved. Share posts on social media, share photos of your attendance at events, forward newsletters, bring up your experiences with the organization in conversation--whatever you can do to be a strong advocate for our community.

Happy New Year and hope to see you around at our events this coming year!

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Like us on Facebook and keep abreast of all the great things happening in our district. Just one recent example:

What a musical feat!

Our Chi-Hi Wire Choir had the honor of performing with world-renowned electric violinist Mark Wood at the Pablo Center at the Confluence!

     

With the holiday season in full swing, you’re probably focused on making sure you have all of your gifts for your loved ones taken care of. But don’t forget to treat yourself as well!

Now is a great time to become a member of Mighty Cardinals Nation. There are so many ways in which membership in our organization is a gift not just for you, but for others as well.

Here are a few examples.

• You get a number of perks: Membership with our organization comes with a variety of perks depending on your membership tier. You can check out a full list of these perks on our website.
• You will stay updated: Members of our organization will receive regular email communication about everything happening in school and in our organization. If you want to stay connected with your alma mater, this is a great way of making that happen.
• You can access the alumni database: Our alumni database is one of our biggest perks for members. You can use the database to search for fellow alumni of all ages and reconnect with them.
• You’ll get invited to alumni events: We regularly schedule alumni events throughout the year and directly invite all of our members to attend. These events are great opportunities to reconnect, network and share your school spirit. If you’re looking for more social outlets and opportunities, this is exactly the thing for you.
• You get to give back to your school: Alumni memberships help support not just the alumni association itself, but also various initiatives within the school district. Giving back through a membership and additional donations is a great way to ensure current and future generations of students receive the same quality opportunities you had when you were a student yourself.

You often hear the quote around the holidays that it is better to give than to receive. Well, with a membership to your alumni association you can do both. So what are you waiting for? Register today and get all the benefits of joining your alumni association!

Happy holidays to all of our fellow alumni near and far!

Another way you can stay connected to your alma mater is to watch livestreams of district and school sporting events, concerts and more. Check out the CFAUSD livestream here!

Our own Chi-Hi students help produce the livestreams. Read all about the CFHS Media Class on page 8 of the district's fall newsletter. Kudos to all budding multimedia journalists and videographers!

Thanksgiving is coming up in a hurry, and with it comes a reminder to think of all the things in our lives for which we are grateful. 

For members of Mighty Cardinals Nation, that may include the time you spent in Chippewa Falls schools!

Many people are shaped by their time in high school, so even those who graduated decades ago likely can still think of formative experiences from their teenage years in school or in extracurricular activities. 

If you want to take some concrete steps to give thanks to your alma mater this year, here are a few ways you can do so.

• Reach out to a teacher: If you are still able to get in touch with any teachers you had in high school who influenced you, consider reaching out to them to let them know the impact they had on your life. Teachers are truly the people who make schools special, and they do not get nearly enough appreciation for everything they do. Practice giving thanks by showing them your gratitude.

• Donate: There are plenty of opportunities for you to give back to your alma mater through donations. These could include donations to our alumni association, donations to specific school initiatives or organizations, or donations to in-class fundraisers. Whatever method you choose, this is a way to make a tangible impact and communicate how thankful you are for your alma mater.

• Volunteer: Giving your time and energy through volunteering may be the ultimate way of showing your thankfulness to your alma mater. There are all kinds of ways to get involved as a volunteer, so find something you’re passionate about or experienced with and use the skills and gifts you have to help the school and its students.
  
  
• Be present: If you’re still in the area, come to school events like sporting events, concerts, plays and more. Having a physical presence and supporting everything happening at the school is a great way to showcase your gratitude.

We’re thankful for all of our members and supporters, and we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Alumni and supporters - have you seen this highlight reel from Chi-Hi football? It is an amazing video produced by Orange Impression marketing.
Watch it HERE!

The next couple months are the biggest time of year for nonprofit organizations to fundraise. There’s always a big push to get more donations in before the end of the year for tax purposes and for achieving goals, and that coincides with the holiday giving season.

We hope you will consider giving to Mighty Cardinals Nation this year, as you start to think about your end-of-year giving. Your money and support as an alumnus can have a significant impact on our organization and what we’re able to accomplish.

Here are the five biggest reasons for people to donate to their alumni associations: