Alumni Reunion History

Annie Marie Press Edwards started the Northampton County High School Class reunion in 1974 with her classmates meeting in her home in Philadelphia, PA.  Subsequently, in 1976 the reunion expanded to the classes of '38, '39, and '40.  As this venture was a tremendous success, the classes of '35 to '54   were invited to be participants.  The Reunion was held in Philadelphia, PA five times and in Virginia five times.

 

     In the early eighties Baltimore and Washington held its first reunion in Hunt Valley, MD.  From then on Alumni '36 - '54 reunions were rotated biannually between three Alumni Chapters:  Philadelphia/New Jersey, Virginia, Baltimore/Washington, DC.

 

     In 1989 classes '55 - '70 held its first reunion in Virginia Beach, VA.  The success of the reunion and the increase of the committee deemed it necessary that the Northampton County High School Alumni become incorporated.  The incorporation included the entire Northampton County High School Alumni and Tidewater Institute Alumni.

 

     The purpose of the Association is to enhance the opportunities for success for African American youth in Northampton County by encouraging students to become actively involved in the educational process and assisting students monetarily to assist students in bringing into fruition their dreams and aspirations.  Thus, the W. H. Smith Scholarship Fund was established, ultimately it became the W. H. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.  As a consequence of the merger meeting, the name of the scholarship became the Banks-Downing Memorial Scholarship.

 

     Currently, all the chapters have merged as a single entity, the Northampton County High School Alumni Reunion, Inc. with mutual goals and objectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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