By Stephanie Solis and featured in our September 13th Print Edition
It’s that time of year again – the Back to School season! A time for book bags, school supplies, busy schedules, fresh haircuts, new class timetables, stylish outfits, and brand-new kicks. And the overwhelming excitement that comes with it! Was I the only kid who could NEVER sleep the night before the first day of school? It didn’t matter how early I was sent to bed or how well-prepared I was (including laying out my outfit for the next day), my mind would race, I’d toss and turn, and honestly, I’d only manage to fall asleep about an hour before my alarm went off. I often find myself reminiscing about what school was like “back then.” So, let’s take a step back to the year 1993. Can you believe it was thirty years ago? I caught up with an alumna who graduated that year, and she shared some fantastic memories of our good old NL!
Student: Joann Graybill
Class Size: 172
Elementary School: East Hanover
Graduation Gown Colors: Yellow & Black
Lunch Price: $1.20
Transportation: 1988 White Ford Escort
Gas Price: $0.99/gallon
Activities: Flutist in Marching/Concert Band, Chorus, and Musicals
Favorite Teachers: Mrs. Schlaybach (Computer Room), Mr. Neuhard (Algebra)
Favorite Lunch: French Bread Pizza
Favorite Musical: Annie
Senior Year Musical: The Pajama Game
Homecoming Song: “Love Is On The Way” by Saigon Kick
Prom Song: “Heaven In Your Eyes” by Loverboy
Fashion: For girls, it was cuffed and rolled jeans, stirrup pants, MC Hammer pants, blowout bangs, and so much hairspray. For boys, it was spiked hair on top with gel, Adidas soccer shoes, side parts only (no feather hairdos), and the look was a T-shirt with jeans or sweatpants, often paired with NIKE high tops.
Popular Music: The top hits of the year included “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, “Whoomp! There It Is” by Tag Team, “Creep” by Radiohead, “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum, “Rhythm Is A Dancer” by Snap!, “Slam” by Onyx, “Hip Hop Hurray” by Naughty by Nature, “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, “What Is Love” by Haddaway, “Hey Jealousy” by Gin Blossoms, “Livin’ On the Edge” by Aerosmith, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty, “Whatta Man” by Salt & Pepa, “All Apologies” by Nirvana, “Daughter” by Pearl Jam, “Ain’t Goin’ Down till the Sun Comes Up” by Garth Brooks, “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” by Toby Keith, and “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson.
Athletes: Among the standout athletes were boys like Brett Kozlowski (football), Charlie Grimes & Nate Hillegas (soccer), Jim Gross & Jon Wells (golf), Charlie Grimes & Tony Burke (tennis), Duane Kline (bowling), Charlie Grimes, Gary Bouchette, Tony Burke (basketball), Nate Hillegas & Chris Beaver (track), Daryl Spitler (baseball), and Ray Phillips (wrestling). For the girls, notable athletes included Jess Emerich & Lawanda Shuey (field hockey), Ann Schneck & Jen Mease (basketball), Kim Spittle & Jen Mease (softball), Anita Hess & Ann Schneck (track), Teri Lyn Shuey & Tricia Keller (cheerleading), and Jodi Buffington (tennis).
Band/Chorus: In the world of music, talented individuals like Josh Steiner, Scott Boltz, Jess Emerich, Jodi Buffington, Andrea Long, Joann Graybill, Elizabeth Lindenburg, Maria Caporaletti, Tricia Keller, and Alicia Norris were part of the band. In the chorus, the voices of Duane Kline, Michael Jackson, Scott Boltz, Richard Seibert, Jess Emerich, Elizabeth Lindenburg, Alicia Norris, Joann Graybill, and Maria Caporaletti filled the air.
I want to extend my personal thanks to Joann for her time. We had a blast strolling down memory lane. At the end of our interview, Joann mentioned she was going to dig out her senior yearbook! As of now, Joann resides in Elizabethville. After graduating from NL, she attended the Thompson Institute and earned her medical assisting degree. For the past twenty-three years, she has been working as a 911 emergency dispatcher for Dauphin County.
