50 Years After Graduating, Summit Class Gives Large Donation For Students Across District

SUMMIT, NJ — Fifty years after graduating from Summit High School, members of the Class of 1975 are giving back to the schools that shaped their lives, raising more than $53,000 to support students across the district.

The donation was made to the Summit Educational Foundation as part of the class’s 50th reunion celebration. The funding will support grants and programs benefiting students in all nine schools in the Summit public school system.

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For many alumni, the milestone gift reflects a long-standing connection to the district and a desire to support today’s students.

"Some of my fondest memories, and many of my closest friendships, go back to my time in the Summit school system," class member Angela Ross Valenziano said in a statement released by the foundation. "The teachers at Summit High were passionate in their vocation, encouraging all of their students to pursue their dreams."

Organizers said the idea for a class gift first came up around the group’s 40th reunion and gained momentum as classmates approached their 50-year milestone.

The Class of 1975 set a fundraising goal of $50,000 and ultimately exceeded it, raising more than $53,000.

"Our Summit school experience touched our young lives in lasting ways, and that connection is still meaningful to us all these years later," class member Eric Hillenbrand said. "This gift reflects both our gratitude for what we received and our hope that today's students will benefit from the same strong foundation."

Class leaders said the Summit Educational Foundation was selected because of its districtwide impact, supporting programs across all schools rather than a single building or initiative.

"The Summit Educational Foundation was the first choice as the recipient of our class gift because of the breadth of programs it supports," said Larry Lauer, president of the Class of 1975.

The donation follows a similar effort by the Summit High School Class of 1973, which raised $73,000 during its 50th reunion.

Several alumni said a recent visit to Summit High School helped reinforce their decision to contribute, offering a look at how much the school has changed and expanded its programs over the years.

Foundation leaders said the gift will help continue funding classroom grants and innovative educational programs for students, teachers, and staff throughout Summit’s public schools.

For the Class of 1975, the reunion milestone became not just a celebration of the past, but an opportunity to invest in the students who will follow in their footsteps.