BVCAA seeks volunteers for this year’s banquet
Boyer Valley Class of 2006 won’t host annual alumni banquet
BY JILL SCHABEN
For the Harrison County Times-Reporter
Officers from the Boyer Valley Class of 2006 have announced they will not host this year’s Alumni Banquet (2026), citing limited participation and engagement.
In a statement to the community that was posted on Facebook by Elizabeth Davie, unidentified class representatives said the decision was not made lightly but concluded it could not organize and host the event “with the spirit and quality that our community deserves.”
Following that announcement, the Boyer Valley Community Alumni Association issued a statement expressing disappointment while encouraging community members to step forward to keep the tradition alive.
“We were saddened by the situation with the banquet this year, just like I’m sure many were, because the community has a lot of tradition tied up in the alumni banquet,” said Davie and Austin McDonald, who helped form the association in 2023.
The association was created after organizers found that banquet planning materials and procedures lacked consistency from year to year. Davie and McDonald said early efforts to plan under the new structure revealed the need for standardized systems and ongoing support.
Since its formation, the BVCAA has developed tools to make the 20-year hosting tradition easier for classes to manage. Resources now include a dedicated email and Google account, standardized budget amounts, payment tracking documents, a banquet planning guide, access to a Facebook group with more than 700 members, decor to reduce annual costs and troubleshooting support.
“The life that is happening for someone about to celebrate their 20-year reunion is incredibly busy,” Davie and McDonald said. “We created the association to hopefully make the experience as easy as it could be, while still honoring that tradition.”
The association also established a scholarship for graduating seniors, expanding the organization’s focus beyond the banquet itself.
“Ultimately, what is the goal of an alumni association if not to support those launching into their ‘alumni’ years of life?” the statement read.
Recent organizers say the additional structure has helped.
Jake Schaben, who helped coordinate the 2024 banquet, said Davie and McDonald were “instrumental” in ensuring a smooth transition between hosting classes.
“They went out of their way to help in any way possible,” Jake Schaben said.
Randi Stephens, who also assisted with planning in recent years, said the process was both meaningful and manageable with BVCAA’s support.
“Planning the reunion was a fun opportunity to reconnect with old friends,” Stephens said. “The support we had from the BVCAA made it simple and straight forward.”
The association is now seeking volunteers willing to take the lead on organizing this year’s banquet. Officials say funds, decor and planning support are already in place, but a lead coordinator is needed.
Looking ahead, the Class of 2007 has committed to hosting in 2027,
Association leaders say they hope the banquet tradition can continue, even if it evolves to meet the changing realities of alumni life.
Community members interested in volunteering may email – boyervalleyalumni@ gmail.com.
