The PHSBronco97 Reunion Committee crafted the perfect evening on June 24, 2017 to join together after 20 years since high school. More than 100 Alumni & Guests took pleasure in an evening of entertainment, dining, and socializing at our twenty year reunion. This event was invitational to any Alumni that was enrolled as the Class of 1997 for any period of time between grades K-12 at Parkrose School District.

McMenamins Kennedy School served as the fun location to experience a pint in a classroom, enjoy an aged whiskey and a cigar in detention, and enjoy a movie in the old auditorium.

The evening included a Gymnasium private function space and courtyard where the relaxing summer evening could be felt. Centerpieces themed to facets of high school: Sports/Cheer/Dance Team, Pop Culture, Band/Choir/Drama, and Academics (including the infamous "REDO" stamp). A volunteer staffed check-in table provided a cool magnetic nametag and Cheers! two drink tickets to pre-lead the cheer team red carpet arrivals that opened out the event at 7:00 PM.

A progressive food offering of heavy hors d’oeuvres were lined-up all event long, heating up first with meatballs, salad rolls, spanakopita and Cajun tots. Deli, hummus, and pizza filled Alumni & Guests the rest of the night, along with a clever dessert set-up of cupcakes that sweetly spelled “1997.” The private cash bar was well stocked with Hammerhead, Ruby, Hard Cider, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Black Rabbit Red & Pinot Noir, Coffee, Hot Tea, and a selection of Well, Call & Premium Liquors.

Social entertainment came to life with social conversation cards, cornhole, drinking games, a photo booth with reunion props, and memory tables packed with high school nostalgia. Alumni returned to the Equestrian newspapers, high school apparel, team photos, and freshman through senior yearbooks.

Upon completion of arrivals and pre-show offerings, the formal presentation of the evening was hosted by Jim Pham. Classmates were remembered in memoriam with Travis Brown and Chris Gutendorf sharing words of celebration and colleagues were honored for serving in the military. Trivia Time awarded Alumni to receive drink vouchers for recalling top three television shows to watch, and named places to hangout in high school? And in Student Government, who was the third vice president? More tough questions with trying efforts from participants consisted of: Who was the coach of the Men’s Varsity Soccer team?, What was the thespian troupe number for Parkrose High School?, Who’s senior quote was “Mr. Eivers, Mr. Worzniak, and Mr. Kirkpatrick are quite possibly the greatest people I have ever met. They are inspirations to us all?”, In the page of the yearbook When I’m 64…, who wrote that they “will be the leading money winner on the Senior PGA Tour, and playing partners with Tiger Woods?”, What was the dumbest thing you did in high school?, What moment in high school would you want to relive?

In just under 30 minutes the formal presentation finished with the group photo recapture of the Class of 1997. Post show regaled the fleeting night with moments to mix, mingle and socialize to familiar decade music until conclusion at 11 PM. Alumni were invited to begin an after event, that explored Kennedy School with former high school mates, which fostered more reconnections to the early morning hours. Should all the planned offerings were not enough for one great event, attendees of the 20-year reunion received the Parkrose High School Class of 1997 yearbook in digitized format on a USB wristband keepsake. .

As another decade moves forward, warmest thank you for supporting this reunion through the attendance of each classmate. The PHSBronco97 Reunion Committee were ecstatic to create a reminder for all graduates to celebrate this lifetime milestone, however significant it meant to each. A sincere pleasure to bring this reunion to life!

The PHSBronco97 Reunion Committee for the Parkrose High School Class of 1997 – 20 Years Reunion Celebration.

L to R: Leslie Abraham (Kirsling), Sharon Chin, Jacie Kurkinen, Katie Henry, Allison Negus Ziarnik,
Bonnie Popia (Wheeler), Jim Pham, (Not Pictured: Kelly Allison (Nienhaus), Molly Johnson)