Benicia High School’s 1997 graduating class will be hosting reunion events in June. Tickets can be purchased at bhs1997reunion.brownpapertickets.com. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Let us go back to the second week of June 1997. Puff Daddy’s “I’ll Be Missing You” was blasting out of millions of Americans’ boomboxes, car radios and CD players. Other Americans were going to the multiplexes to see “Speed 2: Cruise Control” (a decision many would probably regret, if the critical consensus is any indication). Additionally, the U.S. Treasury department unveiled a newer $50 bill, the Detroit Red Wings had won their first Stanley Cup in 42 years and hundreds of Benicia High School seniors walked on to the stage to receive their diplomas and take their first steps into the adult world.

Wow, would you believe that was all 20 years ago?

Benicia High’s Class of 1997 is currently working to put together its 20-year reunion for the summer. Every graduating class at Benicia High has had its share of very talented students who went on to do great things, and the ’97 class is a great example of that, having produced a lot of notable alumni in Benicia and beyond. Among these names are Manny Rivera, the assistant head athletic trainer for the San Francisco 49ers; Jeff Sloniker, a writer and comedian with the Upright Citizens Brigade; and Nicole Johnson (nee Quatrone), the principal of St. Aloysius Gonzaga School in Los Angeles. Others went on to become big names in the community, including Teddy Allen, the pastor of Cityscape Church in Vallejo; Lindsay Dalske (nee Fleming), one of the vice principals of Benicia Middle School; Andrea Jenest (nee Henry), who has taught science at Benicia High and Benicia Middle School; Garrett Small of Alonzo & Small Insurance; and Brianna Kleinschmidt, the principal of Benicia High.

“The class of 1997 was an inclusive group with many different interests and talents,” Kleinschmidt, who is also co-coordinating the reunion, said. “Many lifelong friendships were started during high school and continue today.”

As Kleinschmidt describes it, Benicia High School was very different in those days. The M and N wings had just been constructed in the 1996-97 school year, and the B, F, H and O wings would not see any construction for at least a few years. Even the gym was a lot smaller.

“The upper parking lot was added while we were attending so that we were among the first to use that,” Kleinschmidt said.

Kleinschmidt noted that there were other major differences and at least one big similarity to the current crop of high schoolers.

“This was the pre-cellphone era, though we did have pagers, and the Class of 1997 had a lot of school spirit,” she said.

Now, 20 years later, the same group of graduates is ready to get back together and share memories. The reunion will consist of three events on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24. The first event is an optional tour of the Benicia High campus on June 23 to showcase all of the changes in the last 20 years. That evening from 7 to 11 p.m. will be the reunion celebration at the Benicia Veterans Memorial Hall. This event will feature hors d’oeuvres catered by First Street Cafe as well as beer, wine and dessert. This event is for adults 21 and older. The third event will be a family potluck picnic at the Benicia Community Park on June 24 at noon. Alumni are encouraged to bring their families, and there will be games and possibly a bounce house provided for children.

Kleinschmidt said that more than 100 people are following the class reunion page on Facebook—including one alumna from all the way out in Japan—, but organizers are hoping to get in touch with all of the graduates from that year. Interested alumni are encouraged to visit the reunion page at http://beniciahighschoolclassof1997.weebly.com or the Facebook page at facebook.com/BeniciaHighClassof1997. Tickets can be purchased at bhs1997reunion.brownpapertickets.com. The first 25 people to buy tickets will be entered into a raffle where they can win various prizes, including BHS Panther gear. Alumni are also encouraged to post high school pictures of themselves to the Facebook page to be used in decorations at the reunion. For more information, visit http://beniciahighschoolclassof1997.weebly.com.

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