Bobcat alumni near and far will soon have a new way of connecting with Brandywine High School, after the Brandywine Community Schools (BCS) Improvement Fund Development Board established a three-phase initiative to do so.

Next year, the board plans to break ground on some of the initiatives, which will include a Brandywine High School Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2019, a distinguished alumni award and creation of an alumni magazine.

“Each of these tactics will engage alumni still living in the area,” said Development Board President Rod Runyan. “And also bring alumni back to Niles for award events.”

The athletic alumni initiative will be kicked off at the Brandywine versus Buchanan football game at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Brandywine High School. During half time, athletic alumni will be honored. These ceremonies to honor athletic honorees will continue athletic events through January.

As a class of 1975 Brandywine alum, Runyan said he saw a need for engaging more alumni in their alma mater.

“We want to reconnect with them and give them a reason to connect with their high school and their alma mater, by letting them know we are celebrating you [Bobcats],” Runyan said. “As an organization, we saw that the school was not doing a great job of staying connected with its alumni.”

The development board operates within the BCS fundraising unit to raise money for the Brandywine schools. In the past, funds have been provided for the replacement of the press box, aided the YMCA summer school program, as well as helped to fund a number of student trips for the history club and high school choir.

The BCS Improvement fund is known for putting on events like the Cat Tracks 5K, golf outings and the former Civil War Re-enactment. Last fall, the Development Board was established and is seeking to build on the momentum of some of these well-known events.

The alumni efforts are free and Runyan hopes to help some fellow Bobcats re-connect with their roots.

“We looked at it from a developmental perspective not a fundraising perspective,” Runyan said. “When we looked at it from a development perspective, one of the key resources for any organization is its alumni.”

Runyan said the Athletic Hall of Fame is expected to launch sometime next fall, honoring athletes from first varsity teams in the 1962 to 1964 and first varsity women’s teams from 1972 to 1974. The board is not yet sure where the Hall of Fame will be placed at this time.

In 2019, the development board plans to honor distinguished alumni with awards.

The magazine is the last of the features to be completed. Runyan said the board is targeting 2019 for its launch. The board does not yet know who would be writing the magazine, but Runyan said the hope is to have both current students and alumni contributing articles that will feature student, faculty and alumni achievements.

“We want to see content created and produced by alumni,” Runyan said.

No matter where they are, Runyan said he hopes Bobcats around the world will still feel connected to their school community.

“Our goal is to see these three things be our triad for connecting with the community,” Runyan said. “Whether they are local or they are living in Santiago, Chile.”

In the next six months, Runyan said the board will continue its work with the school and establish official campaign goals.

The board is hoping to get in touch with athletic alumni who could be recognized during the kick off. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact CatsHOF@brandywinebobcats.org

“We just look it as an opportunity to say, ‘hey, your alma mater is still here and thriving,’” Runyan said. “And have people ask the question, ‘what can I do to support the Brandywine School System?’”