Kathy Staskal has been the communications director for the Mount Vernon Alumni Association since the group’s inception in 2005.
Staskal has been one of the voices that promotes the accomplishments and events happening in the district each year, connecting alumni via newsletter and communications throughout the school year.
“Over the last twenty years, 18 with the Alumni Association, I’ve enjoyed the interactions I’ve had with staff at Mount Vernon schools and the many wonderful alumni that I’ve met from classes in the 40s through current graduates,” Staskal said. “Many whom I can call my friends. This position has made me grow personally and professionally — I love to keep learning and I love to ‘do’, so this has fit me perfectly.”
Staskal said one of her favorite days of each school year is Alumni Hall of Fame Day, which is always part of Mount Vernon’s homecoming festivities and gives current students opportunities to learn lessons from alumni.
“I am truly amazed at the graduates of Mount Vernon, and every year the inductees astound me,” she said. “The Association is 15 years in with the Hall of Fame, and there is no end to the inductees worthy of this award. Staff and parents should be so proud.”
Outgoing Alumni association president Andrew Morf said that Staskal does the majority of the heavy lifting for the Alumni Association.
“One example is the Alumni Association newsletter that is published monthly during the school year,” Morf said. “That’s been published 17 years, and it is the benchmark for other alumni associations in the state.”
Staskal said she will definitely miss working on that newsletter and the fun of helping the alumni board of directors plan and pull together alumni events throughout the year.
But she’s also wanting to spend more time with her grandchildren.
“I love Mount Vernon and have a lot of family and friends in this area, so I hope that means I’ll be around as much as possible,” Staskal said. “But my children are in New Hampshire and North Carolina, so I’ll be spending most of my time in these locations.”
Staskal has always had a fantastic impression of the teachers she worked alongside at the Mount Vernon Middle School during her first year, including Dennis Gondek, Adrienne Coffeen, Karen Stewart, Steve Benson, Bill Meyer, Glen Helble, and new-at-the-time teacher Jo Ann Gage.
“A period of time that I treasure are my first years when I worked with superintendent Jeff Schwiebert, Carol Woods, and Matt Burke,” Staskal said. “They were so invested in our school district and helped me fit in.”
Staskal said that Woods work as district secretary and alum guided her life in so many ways she couldn’t relate them all.
“Her care and knowledge of all things Mount Vernon is incredible. I’ve relied on her knowledge and her willingness to team up with me countless times,” Staskal said. “Even when we were both under pressure for one reason or another, I knew she was always there for me and had my back. I will always treasure those good times; it’s rare to have such a loyal, good friend.”
Staskal said that board member Susan Fisher has constantly worked alongside her at alumni events. Board presidents Lisa Squiers White (Class of 1988), Dennis Jordan (class of 1987) and Andrew Morf (class of 1994) have also “guided the Alumni Association into a successful organization that any school district would be proud of.”
She also commended district secretary Amy Weber for help on a multitude of tasks and projects and the custodians, buildings and ground crew, the summer crews, which includes Marty Williams and retired Roger Pitlik.
Mayor Tom Wieseler and former school board president noted that when Staskal took the position of alumni communications director, the district was in a transition period, with outgoing superintendent Ade Ringgold and school board president Dean Borg leaving at roughly the same time.
“We were ready to take the next steps for the alumni association, and one of our first steps was hiring Staskal as director,” Wieseler said. “Thanks for making so many of those decisions look good.”
“I want to thank former superintendent Jeff Schwiebert for giving me the opportunity to work with the fantastic people in our school district, and with the Alumni Association,” Staskal said. “Thank you to the school board, foundation board, alumni board, school district administration and staff, alumni, school district friends and community, who through the years have impacted either me or the Alumni Association in some way.
“I am excited for the next twenty years of the Alumni Association. Julia Andrews, along with incoming president Cathy Hufford and our current board members who I can only describe as fantastic, will start it off. Again, thank you to everyone who has been a part of my life with the alumni family and the school district. It has been a rewarding opportunity not many people get.”
Kathy Staskal (center left) with incoming communications director Julia Andrews (center right), and incoming alumni foundation president Cathy Hufford (left) and outgoing alumni foundation president Andrew Morf (right) at her reception.