The Case for Alumni Associations in GPISD
Facebook groups aren’t enough. Our schools need real alumni associations that mentor, volunteer, and show up.
As of today, October 18, 2025, none of our GPISD high schools have active alumni associations.
So what is an alumni association?
An alumni association is a group of former students who regularly and purposefully engage in activities that support their alma mater — through volunteerism, financial contributions, mentoring current students, fostering school traditions, and advancing the institution’s mission and growth.
In the past, GPHS had an alumni association, and SGPHS has tried multiple times to start one. But for some reason, none of these efforts have been able to sustain themselves. We have active Facebook pages, and small groups of graduates who meet for breakfast or dinner throughout the year. Yet, despite all of that, Grand Prairie ISD alumni seem to struggle when it comes to organizing lasting, active associations with paid memberships and regular meetings.
Why is that?
As an SGP alumna myself — Class of ’98 — and the daughter of two Gophers, Classes of ’71 and ’72, I think I can offer a hypothesis: “Grand Prairie is the armpit of the Metroplex.”
Growing up here, I heard that phrase all the time — and still do, mostly from people who haven’t been back in years. There was a strong sense of pride among graduates from the ’70s and earlier that seems to have faded in the decades since. For many of us, the goal after graduation was simple: get out of Grand Prairie as fast as possible, and maybe don’t admit too loudly where you were from.
Did we like each other as a class? Absolutely. My graduating class still loves getting together and has well-attended reunions. But like every other class, we don’t have a lasting presence in the community. That doesn’t mean GPISD alumni aren’t still here — in fact, there are more of us than most people realize. Many of our city’s businesses are owned or operated by GPISD graduates. Our mayor and the president of our school board are both proud Gophers.
But for some reason, we aren’t fully stepping into that pride — the pride of being from Grand Prairie — by forming associations that support our schools. We have opinions about everything: the uniform colors, the mascots, the scores, the educational policies. Yet too often, we share those opinions from the comfort of our couches, typing comments on social media instead of putting our money, time, and effort where our mouths are.
The truth is, our schools need — and want — our support.
Our current administrators are working hard to build campus cultures that teach values, character, and pride. But they need alumni associations who care about their schools and show up to support them.
Facebook groups, while fun and social, aren’t a substitute. They lack a purpose, a mission, or direction for fundraising and volunteerism. They offer connection — but it stops there.
Our city, now more than ever, needs active alumni associations for all high schools — ones that show up, invest in our schools, and help strengthen the legacy of Grand Prairie.