Along with the excitement of the anticipated opening of the new Lancaster High School comes the bittersweet farewell to the old school building. On April 18th nearly 800 people from the Lancaster community gathered for a closing ceremony to mark the end of an era. The ceremony started with LHS Principal, Scott Burre and other notable school officials addressing the highlights, traditions, and significant memories made in the school’s nearly 70 year history. 

Lancaster High School alumni toured the building and reminisced over the memories they made during their high school careers.  In the course of the school’s history, 63 graduating classes earned their diplomas here.   Zachary Shick, who graduated more than a decade ago, said he wanted to visit the old building before it is demolished.

“I graduated back in 2013 and thought it’d be kind of cool to come in and see the high school one last time before it actually dies,” said Shick.

Shick said his favorite memory of being in the current building was time spent with his friends.

“Mischief – all the stuff my friends and I got into. We were kind of like the rebel kids, so it was kind of nice getting into it,” said Shick.

Shick had some advice for the students who will occupy the new school this fall.

“Definitely enjoy it. It’s kind of like a… cliche thing for the old heads to say, but like, it goes by really quick and before you know it you’re gonna be like in your 30s and be like whoa what happened?” said Shick

Zach Boch, a former athlete and Coming Home king, also attended the ceremony to relive old memories and see the building one last time.

“I’m at the ceremony because this is a place where I grew up. This is where I went to school at, and it holds a lot of dear memories with me and I just wanted to visit one last time before the school shuts down,” he said.

He went on to  say that some of his favorite memories were playing sports and being with friends.

“I think running cross-country with all my teammates definitely made it more impactful when I grew relationships here and just coming to school every day again to see their faces,” said Boch.

Like Shick, Boch suggested that when students start at the new building, that they should appreciate the experience and make memories.

“Really enjoy the time you have at the high school. Soak it all in because – It’ll be gone one day, so just really enjoy the new school,” said Boch.

Another LHS alumni Jack Campbell who graduated in the 1970s commented on the demolition of the current building.

“It’s old. Yeah, I know,” he said.

When asked about his high school memories, one, he said, was especially significant.

“Competing at the track down at the far end of the field. Well, [students today] will have a chance to go through [their own memories] when they get older,” he said.

Lancaster City Schools Superintendent Nathen Hale said that the closing ceremony was a good way to close out

the final year of the LHS building. He said that he is anticipating a positive reaction when the students finally walk into their new school.

 “It’s incredible. I hope when they walk through the door the first time, the first word out of their mouth is, wow, because it’s an incredible space, and the kids here in Lancaster deserve that, “ said Hale.

Hale said the memories he has of the current building are very special.

“Both my kids graduated from Lancaster High School and [I] got a chance to spend time watching them on the basketball court and the volleyball court and spending time with them. That’s probably my favorite time,“ he said.

Principal Scott Burre said that the meaningful part of the closing ceremony was hearing what alumni said about their high school experiences.

“The most significant part was all of the memories shared with me by so many people of the great times and most memorable times they had at LHS and where in the building that they had them,“ said Burre.

Video of some activity during the closing ceremony was taken by a local resident and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f5Ie0KnJ7A.  Various photos and interviews with alumni can be found on the LCS social media sites such as Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2614955532233911.