Dear Vandalia Community and Alumni,

As I write this welcome for our annual Alumni Issue, I'm struck by something Jay Smith shared in these pages: "I've learned more from my students than they ever learned from me." After reading the remarkable stories featured in this issue, I find myself feeling the same way about our entire community.

These profiles—spanning from Mark Miller's 63 years of service to recent graduate Jarrod Eckard's discovery of purpose in accounting—reveal a truth about Vandalia that goes far deeper than test scores or budget numbers. They show us a community where learning never stops, where service defines success, and where the connections we build become the foundation for everything that follows.

Lisa Robbins understood this when she told her kindergarteners, "Now that you're in this room, you're my kid for life." That sentiment echoes through every story in this issue—from John Campbell's 53-year connection to our schools, to Donna Johnson's open-door policy that made her house the gathering place for an entire generation, to Tom Cocagne's unbreakable spirit that transforms every challenge into wisdom worth sharing.

What strikes me most is how our alumni continue to serve—whether it's Steve Stombaugh engineering our school systems, Jon Keck building our girls golf program from the ground up, or David Dugan creating memorial light displays that bring healing to our entire community. They understand what Theresa Knebel captured so beautifully: "Choose your influences wisely and harvest the lessons they have to share."

In these stories, I see the heart of Vandalia education. We don't just prepare students for careers—we prepare them for lives of meaning, connection, and service. We teach them that success isn't measured by how far you travel from home, but by how much light you bring wherever you choose to shine.

To our current students: you walk the same halls, learn from the same caring teachers, and benefit from the same "family" atmosphere that shaped these remarkable individuals. Their stories are your inheritance—and your inspiration.

To our alumni: thank you for showing us that a Vandalia education creates not just graduates, but lifelong learners, servant leaders, and community builders who understand that home isn't just where you're from—it's where you choose to keep making a difference.

With gratitude and Vandal pride,

Dr. Jennifer Garrison
Superintendent, Vandalia CUSD 203