Over half a century has passed since they walked the halls of their alma mater, but the first graduating class of Anthony ISD's history gathered recently to look back on the formative years that seem as distant as the desert that once surrounded their singular school building. According to Anthony ISD, the alumni from the Class of 1965, who were once 20 classmates strong, reunited to marvel at the changes and growth their humble school has undergone.
For the Anthony High School Class of '65, going to school meant sharing close quarters, learning homemaking in addition to core subjects, and forming friendships that would last a lifetime in the lone facility that housed their educational pursuits. "We were so amazed to see the growth, that it’s now actually a school district," Elva Bustamante-Holguin, a member of the Class of 1965, told Anthony ISD. Christine Morales recalled a landscape far different from the current one, saying, "Where the central office is now, that used to be the building where we had our classes. That was the only building that existed. Everything else was pure desert."
The district, now vast enough to host a range of activities and educational programs, provided the returning alumni with experiences they never had as students. The graduates, during their time at the school, had never seen a football game on a district field nor had the opportunity to eat in a school cafeteria, demonstrating how much the school has evolved since their last time in its corridors. Bustamante-Holguin expressed her amazement at the improvements, noting, "There have been so many improvements from when we were here," as per Anthony ISD. Superintendent Dr. Oscar A. Troncoso showcased the modern facilities to the visitors, highlighting the strides the district has made.
