Our school is progressing throughout the years to become stronger and better fit for the students inside of it. This progression has not only changed the school’s structure, but also the way that the students look back on their attendance post-graduation. 

The experiences that you go through at a school shapes how you will reflect on your time, and the advice that you give current students. From the school’s founding in 1952 to now, we’ve come a long way. 

Starting from the 80s and going up, this series of alumni articles follows the different generations of graduates, and how their memory of the school has changed…or stayed the same. 

The 1980s were a time when cell phones hadn’t come along yet, making it easier to be present in the moment. This point of view is seen through 1986 graduate Bev Whiteford.

During her four years, she was a very active member of various activities: field hockey, basketball, track and field, chorus, K-Dettes, class officer, student council, and yearbook. Of these, she believes that she was most involved with the Athletic Department.

Additionally, Whiteford was titled both “Most Athletic” and “Most Likely to Succeed” in the Senior superlative section of the yearbook. 

Her high school experience was centered around participating in the moment. In fact, when asked to sum it up, she says that the three phrases to describe high school in the 80s are “Inclusiveness, school spirit, and lots of laughter.”

Along with these. Whiteford experienced the typical 80s trends. For girls, puffy hair with big sweater vests were popular. Boomboxes were a must-have, since MP3 players and bluetooth speakers were yet to be invented.

While Whiteford hasn’t been spotted with a boombox in the past decade or two, she continues to play similar music.

 “I mostly listened to country music. Groups like Brooks and Dunn, Alabama, and Reba McEntire specifically. I still listen to them today,” says Whiteford. 

During the 80s, additional popular country music stars were Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and George Strait. 

Whiteford is currently a science teacher here at Kennard-Dale, but this isn’t what she’d always thought that she’d be. 

When she left this school in the late 80s, she had a special interest in mathematics. Her love for this topic led her into the field of engineering at Millersville University. 

However, she only stayed in this area of learning for one year, before she became aware of her true passion: education. 

“I would tutor all of my friends, and that’s when I realized that I loved to teach,” says Whiteford. 

The choice of becoming a science teacher comes from the stellar education that she received from her high school chemistry teacher.

Whiteford believes that in order to make the most of your high school experience, it’s necessary to participate in the moment. 

To follow up with this, she believes that cell phones have taken the treasure that comes from being present away. She has learned that it’s vital that they look up and experience the memories that are happening around them. 

Looking back as a graduate, Whiteford acknowledges the countless opportunities that are up for grabs, if you want to pursue them. She also hopes that current students get involved with an activity outside of the academic setting, because “that’s where the memories are made.”