Quick Reflections on Alumni Weekend 2025
This weekend felt different. Something shifted in Finneytown.
From start to finish, Alumni Weekend 2025 was filled with moments—the kind you’ll remember years from now and the kind that remind us why Finneytown has always been special.
Friday: Golf & Band
We kicked things off Friday morning with a sold-out Jim Dickerson Alumni Golf Scramble—30 teams, 120 golfers, and plenty of laughter. There were moments of surprise, like when the Wildcat mascot made an appearance and when we honored Mr. Jim Dickerson himself. Alumni flew in from New York, California, and even Zimbabwe just to be part of this weekend.
That evening, the Finneytown Alumni Band took the field. More than 50 alumni came back to play together, honoring both Mr. William R. Swartzel and Mr. Rick Canter. One of the most powerful moments came when Rick led the National Anthem at the football game—an unforgettable connection between past and present.
Saturday: Tour & Celebration
Saturday morning, alumni gathered for a campus tour, swapping stories about the classrooms, gyms, and hallways that shaped them. For the Class of 1975 celebrating their 50th reunion, the newly refinished Competition Gym carried special meaning. The foundation was strong, the memories even stronger.
Saturday evening, the Legacy Celebration at The Grove brought everything together. We inducted four new members into the Finneytown Hall of Fame—Brad Alford, Donavon Clark, Jason Gardner, and Rick Canter. Their stories, and the stories told about them, were full of the same theme: moments.
Then came voices from across the community:
Grant Anderson spoke about the school district’s moment, standing at a turning point with new buildings and new opportunities.
Ashley Conrad shared the parent moment, why her family chose Finneytown, and the hope she sees for her children.
Brandon Robinson gave us the sweat and hardwood moment, reflecting on his journey back as an alum coaching basketball.
David Chimusoro told the spotlight moment—his journey from Zimbabwe to Finneytown, and the welcome he found here.
And Jeff Immelt closed with the grit and gratitude moment, reminding us that being from Finneytown is part of who we are—and that same spirit must guide us as we work together to build what comes next.
A Shift Happened
As I said in my closing remarks that night: “The foundation is strong. But foundations aren’t the finish line. They’re the starting point. It’s time to renovate. It’s time to build. It’s time for all of us to leave a legacy.”
Our Legacy Projects—the Competition Gym and the William R. Swartzel Performing Arts Center—are already underway thanks to $2 million raised. Our goal is $3.5 million, with a stretch to $5 million. That’s bold, but it’s within reach when this community moves together.
This weekend, something big happened here. We honored stories, we made new ones, and we felt the ground move a little. The legacy we get to build starts now.
What’s Next
We’ll continue sharing photos, videos, and more reflections from Alumni Weekend in the coming weeks. But for now, thank you. Thank you to everyone who showed up, shared stories, traveled across the country, and reminded us why Finneytown is worth investing in.
The momentum is real. Let’s keep building—together.
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Mike Steel
Executive Director
Finneytown Alumni Network
