Riverside Alumni Reunite to Celebrate the 20 Year Anniversary of Their Alma Mater
Over a year in the making and the vision of Gerald Robinson, the weekend of June 17 will draw Riverside High School graduates from across the nation to celebrate its twenty year existence. Alumni from as far as New York City will converge upon Durham to network and honor one another as well as the educators who help propel them to where they are today.
The first high school built under the merged Durham Public Schools, Riverside alum Gerald Robinson, CEO of Triangle Entertainment Worldwide, will bring together members from the first graduating class (1993) with the most recent graduates to compare memories, traditions, and changes.
Themed, “Coming Together from Yesteryear, Together for the Future”, the celebratory weekend will begin Friday, June 17, 6 p.m. at Riverside (3218 Rose of Sharon Rd., Durham 27712) when the Class of 1996 will unearth their time capsule from that year while honoring their former principal, Marguerite D. Peebles (NC Dept of Public Instruction). Following the ceremony, the Old vs. Young alumni basketball game will follow in Chalmers Gymnasium (at Riverside) featuring past Pac-6 all-stars at 7pm. Halftime ceremonies include several honors of RHS faculty and staff. The excitement will carry over to Saturday at Whippoorwill Park (1700 Rowemont Drive, Durham 27705) where two decades of graduates will bring family and friends for food, fun, and fellowship. Special presentations will be made to the school and Principal Jackie Tobias on behalf of various classes of alumni beginning at 2 p.m. The weekend will culminate at one of their own product of labor and love. Class of 1993 member, Chris Stinett, is owner of Pops Trattoria (605 W. Main Street, Durham 27701) in Durham’s West Village. He will open the doors to all his fellow alumni for the 20-year Gala at 10 p.m.
“As Pirates we came together embracing change as a catalyst for success but we were always taught to stick together and we would witness our success manifest into Pirate greatness. This weekend we celebrate our greatness collectively.” - J.C. Polk, Class of 1996 Senior Class President.
