Although the school district was created nearly 100 years ago with the opening of Lovejoy Elementary School, the Lovejoy Alumni Association is still a work in progress having formed in May of 2012.

Open to students that attended any school in the district, the number of alumni is still relatively small, those involved with the association believe there’s a need for the organization.

“The Alumni Association will be able to help Lovejoy graduates to find jobs, and help them to gain grants, scholarships and internships at local companies,” teacher and Class of 1988 Lovejoy Elementary School Graduate Ray Cooper said.

The Lovejoy Foundation, which started the association, hopes that this will prove true.

“One of the goals of the association is to provide a link between businesses looking for interns and recent Lovejoy graduates looking for internships,” Lovejoy Foundation member Vicki Deerman said. “We have forms on the website for business or students to fill out and send in.”

Current seniors, and future alumni, look forward to the prospect of remaining in the Lovejoy community after graduating.

“I think that the idea of having the community of an alumni association would be really beneficial to the graduating classes,” senior Ashley Welch said. “Especially as we’re trying to get a footing for ourselves in the world and as we’re learning to support ourselves.”