In conjunction with the administration of Marian Catholic High School, located in Hometown, a committee has announced plans to resurrect the Marian Alumni Association with the start of the 2019-20 school year.

William O’Gurek of Summit Hill, a member of the Class of 1973, is heading the initiative and will serve as chairman of the effort.

Along with Michele Palko, Marian’s director of advancement, their work will be aimed at “making the Marian Alumni Association a key and integral part of providing a Catholic education for the next generation,” O’Gurek said.

“It is our belief that by forming a strong Marian Alumni Association, graduates can help the school to flourish and be available to young people in the Schuylkill-Carbon-Luzerne County region for decades to come,” he said.

Plans to form the association were recently made during a meeting with Principal Jean Susko and Stan Dakosty, the school’s retired longtime football coach and current athletic director.

A mailing to over 8,000 graduates took place earlier this month.

“The goal is to make the Marian Alumni Association a legitimate organization whose resources will be a valuable tool in helping to promote Marian Catholic High School, not only in revenue, but as a liaison between alumni members and the advancement of potential benevolence,” O’Gurek said.

“The association, as a fundraising organization, would direct its proceeds directly to the school to be used for tuition assistance and facility improvements,” he added. “However, the association will be much more than a fundraising organization. We hope Marian Catholic High School graduates will feel strong enough about the education they received here that they would be willing to join the association for a nominal membership fee of $10 per year. That, in and of itself, could provide a lot of money to help the school, but, more than that, we want to establish a network of graduates and association members who have a lot to offer.”

O’Gurek provided an example of linking graduates in a certain profession with current students who are considering that particular career choice, so that they can share their experiences with them.

That endeavor began earlier in the school year when 2008 Marian graduate Vinny Vella, a Pulitzer Prize winner, visited the school to address current students on setting goals and pursuing them.

Dakosty said, “We began what we call our ‘Legacy Series’ of alumni speakers where we hope to have Marian graduates come back to share their experiences with students.”

An alumni Facebook page is expected to be launched in the near future, as has been an alumni email account.

O’Gurek said he is interested in hearing from every alumni member, especially graduates who have been instrumental in organizing reunions for their individual classes, who can contact the association at alumni@mariancatholichs.org.

“In an era when Catholic private schools are facing continuous challenges that have prompted many to have to close their doors, we want Marian to be there for the next generation for years to come, and so it’s important that we do whatever we can do to help that cause,” O’Gurek said.