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50 years after graduating: Alumni celebrate in Bad Neuenahr!
Former PJG students celebrate an emotional meeting in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler 50 years after graduating from high school.
50 years after graduating: Alumni celebrate in Bad Neuenahr!
On July 17, 2025, a very special event was celebrated in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler: the 50th anniversary of the 1975 graduating class of today's Peter-Josef-Garbrecht-Gymnasium. Former students came together to exchange memories, renew old friendships and reminisce about times gone by. Particularly noteworthy was the participation of former classmates who had left school before graduating from high school, which impressively demonstrated the cohesion of the year group. According to a report by blick-aktuell.de The last meeting was three years ago, so the five-yearly rhythm of the class meetings was disrupted by the flood damage.
There was already great excitement when the guests arrived. Participants, some of whom had come from Bavaria and even France, quickly recognized each other. The former teachers Manfred Schröder and Rainer Müller and their wives were also there and contributed to the nostalgia and joy of the meeting. It was a beautiful evening, and the last participants made their way home around 1:30 a.m., illuminated by the memories of their years together.
The search for old friends
The idea of a meeting was sparked by a variety of initiatives. A particularly inspiring anecdote came from a class reunion that Uschi visited in Texas last year. Old slides and photos from school days provided nostalgic moments and allowed classmates to reminisce about vivid memories. Finding contact details for some of my classmates proved to be a challenge as not all of the information was up to date. Only a few contacts could be found through StayFriends, which led to the development of a pyramid scheme for contacting people wordpress.garbracht.de describes. Bernd Speckin was also active and was able to reach many former classmates, which increased the anticipation of the meeting.
A meeting of this kind not only reminds you of your own school days, it also strengthens the connections among the alumni. As in many private schools and boarding schools, former students play a crucial role as brand ambassadors. Through their networks, they can not only attract new students, but also offer insights into everyday school life, as expert Kristine Brandenburg points out kristinebrandenburg.de turns out. Regular events and the development of an alumni network are essential for the long-term success of a school and help to integrate contact with former students as well as their experiences and feedback.
The 50th anniversary of the 1975 graduating class shows that the solidarity and memories of their school days remain over the years. Even if we only meet in person once a year, the active cultivation and commitment of the alumni ensures that these valuable relationships are not forgotten.