Volume 32 | January 2023

The Bear Facts

Welcome to the official newsletter of the Ballard High School Alumni Association. Our mission is to keep graduates and friends up-to-date on both school and alumni news.

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Be Sure to Join Us on LinkedIn

The Ballard Alumni Association has a page on LinkedIn, to. Please feel free to join the group and use the site for professional networking among other Bruins.

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Comedy Caravan Comes to Ballard February 25 for One Night Only!

Your Alumni Association's Comedy Night show is getting even bigger with the addition of comedy pro Rich Ragains (father of a current Ballard senior) to the show. He joins our current line-up featuring Ballard grads and staff, all to benefit renovations to the Sandy Allen Fine Arts Center. It should be a fun night of "clean and clever" humor, suitable for adults and teens alike.

Tickets are $20 each, with net proceeds to be donated to the project. Showtime is 7pm at the Fine Arts Center.

To buy tickets, just click the link below or the QR code on the poster to buy tickets online with your credit or debit card.

Tickets are going fast! Buy yours today.

Buy Tickets Here

Please Tell Us More About Yourself

One of the goals of the Ballard Alumni Association for 2023 is to build a more complete database of our graduates. Would you help us? Just click the link below and fill in the form that pops up on your screen. This information will allow us to communicate with you by U.S. Mail as well as by email. WE WILL NOT SELL THIS INFORMATION to any third party groups. Thank you for your help and consideration!

Alumni Demographic Information

Ballard Alumni News

Personal Landmarks From Around Bruin Nation

John Handmaker and Christian Bowles Reunite on a New Business Opportunity.

John Handmaker (Class of 1984) and Christian Bowles (Class of 2011) back together again launching Venturus, a specialized lender to small businesses as the SBVA arm of Atlanta-based Tandem Bank. They encourage all Ballard entrepreneurs looking for SBA loans of $25,000 to $5 million to contact them.

Best of luck to our Bruin bankers!

Got some good news of your own you'd like to share? A new baby, a job promotion, an award received or a death to commemorate? Send a quick summary to The Bear Facts and we'll publish it in a future issue.

Group of Diverse People Planting Tree Together

Save Our Herr Lane Trees From Danger

The property across Herr Lane from Ballard is slated to be developed as a townhouse community by Hagan Properties in the months to come. Part of this development will include widening Herr Lane between KY 22 and Wilder Elementary. Dozens of trees planted by and cared for by Ballard students, parents and faculty along this stretch of road could be dug up and removed unless we can persuade Hagan to help move and replant them.

There will be a public hearing about this development on January 19 at 1pm at 514 West Liberty Street. If you are able to attend and support preservation of the trees, please plan on being there. Thank you!

Want to Keep Track of Your Favorite Team Sports at Ballard?

You can check the most recent game score or the upcoming events on the schedule for your favorite Bruin team by simply clicking on the links shown below. Go Bruins!

Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Boys Baseball

Girls Fast-Pitch Softball

Alumni Association Donors, Your 2022 Tax Letters Are On The Way

If you made one or more contributions to the Association of $250 or more during 2022, your tax receipt is on the way to the mailing address we have on file. As a reminder, the Ballard Alumni Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(3)charitable organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. IRS regulations require the Association to provide a written receipt for contributions of $250 or more. If you do not not receive your tax letter by January 31, or if you have received a tax letter that you believe is in error, please contact Paul Fischer. Thanks again for your support, which is pivotal to our success!

Teacher Feature: Chris Osters

Honors Physics and AP Physics

Chris Osters move to Louisville in 2010 after several years of teaching and professional endeavors in Michigan. A graduate of Michigan State and Indiana University, Chris has taught Physics at various levels at Ballard since joining the faculty. While at Ballard, he has served as the sponsor of the Science Olympiad, the Quick Recall team, the Ultimate Frisbee team, the Debate team and the Chess team. He even photographs weddings on the weekends!

Who on the Ballard faculty or staff has had the greatest influence on you thus far?

"My assistant principals over the years have been very influential in my growth as an educator within JCPS. Boyd Gudgel, Jordan Paskitti, Allison Cissell, as well as our principal Dr. Neuss, have all been instrumental in great changes to the building for future classes coming in."

What are your best memories of your time at Ballard?

"My best memories of Ballard are from interacting with current or former students regarding their current or future endeavors. I've had many students reach out to me for advice, but also about life lessons that I teach closer to the end of the semester. I try to teach students some of the things I wish I had been taught as a teen (basic financial literacy, insurance, taxes, etc.) and most of my students agree that they take away a lot more from my classes than just Physics. I love that part of my job."

What can the alumni association do to help you do your job better?

"I really feel like the alumni have taken a much more prominent role in the past few years in decision making and supporting students and teacher day to day. I'd want them to continue to act as stakeholders in what Ballard looks like each day, and that of course includes the systems and policies we have in place to make sure the school runs smoothly between 7:40 and 2:20 as well as beyond the school day. The best thing that alumni can do is to continue to make an effort to push for policy and budgetary decisions that maximize efficiency and student support within our building and our community.

You're a Renaissance man, Chris, and we truly value the many ways you are helping students inside and outside the classroom. Thank you for all of your continued efforts!

Former AD Jim Reuther Celebrated at January 6 Basketball Game

The many years of dedication shown by our former Athletic Director Jim Reuther were officially recognized on January 6. Members of his family were there along with over 120 alumni, faculty and former faculty members to commemorate his many contributions to the school. Alumni Association President Steve Gowers served as master of ceremonies for the event, with commemorative cups presented to members of the Reuther family as a show of appreciation for all Jim did for Ballard.

Upcoming Reunion News. Make Your Reservations Now!

Class of 1973

The Class of 1973 celebrates 50 years in 2023! We are forming a reunion committee to begin the planning NOW. Dates have been set for September 8 and 9. If you would like to get involved, please email Laura Donley King at lauraking2505@gmail.com.

Is your class holding a reunion year?

Or are you a member of the Classes of 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 or 2018 starting to make plans for a reunion this year? Please share any reunion information with us -- we'd love to publish the details in The Bear Facts. We would also like to connect with any reunion organizers to see if we can share any contact information. Our hope is that more alumni will stay connected post-reunion to the Ballard Alumni Association. Please contact Caroline Robinson at ballardalumni@gmail.com.

Save the Date! The Spongebob Musical is Coming April 20-23

The all-school musical coming this spring is "The Spongebob Musical". Our student actors are busy rehearsing their parts, preparing to wow you with their skills. Tickets will be available soon for all shows, but the Theater Department issues a special invitation to all former Ballard thespians to attend the Saturday, April 22 matinee as a theater reunion. More details to follow next month!

Judges Needed for Ballard's 40th Annual Science Fair

Ballard needs your help to serve as judges for the school's 40th Annual Science Fair on January 27 between 8am and Noon. People with science backgrounds or skills at evaluating presentation of projects are encouraged to contact Kathy Cail to join the judging team. Thanks for your willingness to help our budding scientists!

We're Looking for a Landscape Architect to Create a Master Site Plan for the Campus

The Alumni Association is looking for a Landscape Architect (hopefully a Ballard alum) to create a Master Plan to upgrade the appearance of our campus over time. If you are one, or know of someone you could help us, please CLICK HERE to contact Tony Waits for more information.

Coach Renner Retirement Banner to be Unveiled

January 20

As a 'thank you' for many years of service to the Ballard community, a banner commemorating Coach Chris Renner will be unveiled at halftime of the Ballard vs. Eastern game on January 20. All Ballard grads are invited to join the school in recognizing the Coach for his work.

Want to Join a Board Committee or Send Us a Question?

We are always looking for new volunteers for our Board committees. Here is a list of the Board members and committee chairs. Feel free to to contact any of us to get involved or just ask questions.

Steve Gowers Email 502-291-3916 Chairman

Justin Morris Email Vice Chairman 502-537-1419; Student & Staff Engagement Committee

Greg Smith Email 502-773-7920 Special Events Committee

Paul Fischer Email 502-592-3551 Treasurer

Tony Waits Email 502-394-3509 Secretary

Bob Schiavone Email 502-802-1309; Special Events Committee

Elizabeth Cassady Email 502-494-0784 Student & Staff Engagement Committee

Kasie Jackson Email 502-558-9861 Student & Staff Engagement Committee

Linda Fry Mulloy Email 502-419-6555 Student & Staff Engagement Committee

Rebekah Mulloy Email 502-608-0234 Student & Staff Engagement Committee

Caroline Robinson Email 502-551-6316 Membership/Reunions Committee

Kim Barber Email 502-552-8631 School Administration Liaison

Betsy Hultman Wall Email 502-797-5834 Library/Fine Arts Center Renovations

Rudy Moeller Email 502-415-5264 Communications Committee

A Preview of Coming Events

Event Date

Event

For more info, contact:

January 20	Coach Renner Retirement Banner Unveiling	Ballard vs. Eastern Basketball Game 7:00pm
February 6	Board of Directors monthly meeting	School Library 4:30pm

February 25	Comedy Night	Click here for tickets
March 6	Board of Directors Monthly Meeting	School library 4:30pm
March 15	Lunch and Learn Symposium	Rebekah Mulloy - rebekah.mulloy@gmail.com

April 10	Board of Directors Monthly Meeting	School library 4:30pm
May 8	Board of Directors Monthly Meeting	School library 4:30pm
May 30	End of Year Luncheon for Staff and Teachers sponsored by the Alumni Association	Contact Kim Barber to donate or help with the event