The Eastside High School Alumni Association (EHSAA) was established on the 50th anniversary of the school, to allow alumni an opportunity to connect with each other, and to give back to the Eastside High School community through service and charity.
EHSAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the students, staff, and community of Eastside High School, a licensed school in the Alachua County Public School System.
EHSAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the students, staff, and community of Eastside High School, a licensed school in the Alachua County Public School System.
EHSAA HISTORY
The idea of the Eastside High School Alumni Association began after Cathy Norman '83 made a social media post about a need for such an organization on May 1, 2020. A few weeks later, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the events following the death of George Floyd compelled Tarcha Rentz, Ph.D. '90 to contact Cathy about starting such an association. In early June of 2020, Jeff White '90 joined Tarcha and Cathy in the conversation, and launched a website to collect contact and interest information from alumni.
On June 27, 2020, the first EHSAA interest meeting took place virtually. In early July, a steering committee consisting of 16 additional Eastside High School alumni formed to continue to work of bringing the organization to fruition. On August 9, 2020, the EHSAA Articles and Bylaws were formalized. Led by Cathy Norman, the EHSAA nominating committee formed in early September of 2020. On December 8, 2020, the $50 for 50 Inaugural Membership Drive launched, as one last campaign to establish the founding members of the association. The EHSAA board officers include: Tarcha Folston-Rentz '90 (President), Carl Cooper '83 (Vice President), Dana Self-Powers '78 (Treasurer), Fred Hutchinson '88 (Scholarship Chair), Sheila Waldon '74 (Board Member), and Johnnie Taylor '92 (Hall of Fame Co-Chair).
EHSAA became a 501(c)3 organization on February 26, 2021.
On June 27, 2020, the first EHSAA interest meeting took place virtually. In early July, a steering committee consisting of 16 additional Eastside High School alumni formed to continue to work of bringing the organization to fruition. On August 9, 2020, the EHSAA Articles and Bylaws were formalized. Led by Cathy Norman, the EHSAA nominating committee formed in early September of 2020. On December 8, 2020, the $50 for 50 Inaugural Membership Drive launched, as one last campaign to establish the founding members of the association. The EHSAA board officers include: Tarcha Folston-Rentz '90 (President), Carl Cooper '83 (Vice President), Dana Self-Powers '78 (Treasurer), Fred Hutchinson '88 (Scholarship Chair), Sheila Waldon '74 (Board Member), and Johnnie Taylor '92 (Hall of Fame Co-Chair).
EHSAA became a 501(c)3 organization on February 26, 2021.
OFFICERS
Tarcha Folston-Rentz
President Class of '90 |
Carl Cooper
Vice-President & Hall of Fame Chair Class of '83 |
Dana Self-Powers
Treasurer Class of '78 |
Fred Hutchinson
Scholarship Chair Class of '88 |
Johnnie Taylor
Hall of Fame Co-Chair Class of '92 |
Sheila Waldon
Board Member Class of '74 |
FOUNDING MEMBERS
|
CARL COOPER '83
TYRELL EDWARDS '95 KENYA HAYES '92 BROOKE HOBBS '91 CARRESSA HUTCHINSON '91 FRED HUTCHINSON '88 CHANAE JACKSON '97 ELEANOR (BURKE) JEAN '83 KARLA (HOLCY) JONES '84 CATHY NORMAN '83 |
MARY (GAINEY) PITTS '80
CHIP POWELL II, '87 TARCHA (FOLSTON) RENTZ, PH.D. '90 JERRI RICHARDSON '84 BIRGETTA (BAILEY) STEPHENS '85 TIA (WHALEY) STOVER '91 JOHNNIE TAYLOR '92 KATRINA WALKER '87 JEFF WHITE '90 |
