"We do not see alumni as a part of Franklin’s past, but as an integral part of Franklin’s present and its future. Students do not just pass through Franklin; they are Franklin and always will be. Being a Franklin alum is an unchangeable, lifelong relationship."

– Delores Winfield

• Give to the Franklin Future Fund
• Sculpture electrifies school
• Buy Office Depot, Support Franklin
• Franklin Reunion Updates

• Link to Franklin High School site

Riverbend Review book signing

Barnes and Noble’s Metairie location is hosting a book signing and fair on Sunday, September 14th at 3:00. Buy some books, mention that you want your proceeds to go to Franklin, and the school will receive a portion of the sales from that weekend.

Franklin Alum performs at Carnegie Hall

Seventeen-year-old pianist and Benjamin Franklin Charter High School graduate (2007) Ronald Joseph performed at Carnegie Hall in July for the program From the Top at Carnegie Hall, which captures performers aged 8-18 in their first performances at the venue. The episode featuring Joseph, entitled Music Is Where The Heart Is, will air on WYES-TV/Channel 12 Sunday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Ronald Joseph's aptly chosen performance piece is Mardi Gras, the second movement from Richard Danielpour's The Enchanted Garden. This last year Mr. Joseph also completed his studies at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), which has an exclusive relationship allowing Benjamin Franklin students to take creative and performance arts courses there. Mr. Joseph studied at Julliard during the post-Katrina diaspora and plans to attend Syracuse next year.

Benjamin Franklin High School names new principal/CEO

Benjamin Franklin High School’s governing board, Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Timothy G. Rusnak as the new Principal/CEO effective July 1, 2008. Duris L. Holmes, President of AAEE, said, “Our search committee did a tremendous job in identifying a stellar pool of talented educators from which Dr. Rusnak emerged as the unanimous choice of the committee and the board of directors. Dr. Rusnak brings exceptional experience, enthusiasm and commitment to this position. We believe that he will be an asset not only to Ben Franklin, but to our public school system and community as well and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

Read the full press release (PDF) >>

Franklin alum commits to create links between deaf communities in Austin, Texas and Mali

Elizabeth Dupont’s Mali project with UT Reed was highlighted at the University Conference for Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) at Tulane in March. She was asked (the only student) to present at the CGI Mid-year meeting in New York where she met with Bill Clinton and the Nobel Peace laureate winners from IPCC.

Read about the CGI initiative >>Read Lizzy's Mali Blog >>

Is it time for your REUNION?

The Alumni Association provides $200 seed money to get you started. In return the Alumni Association asks for two things:

• That your class provide an updated address, phone and email list for your classmates to our database chairman, Heidi Charters ’75, following your reunion.
• That someone from your class write an article about the reunion to be published in the Alumni Newsletter. The article should be emailed to Carl Indest ’79.

To request the seed money, email the treasurer, Diane Allison ’79. To have your information put on this website, email the information to the Development/Alumni Director, Christy Cowart Read ’89.

Also, the school will pay for the printing and mailing of one invitation or postcard for your reunion. Email the Development/Alumni Director, Christy Cowart Read ’89 or call (504) 286-2615 for more information.

Give to the Ben Franklin Future Fund

Since we are now a charter school, which is essentially an independent public school, the financial disparity between our state revenues and what it actually costs to run our school is even more apparent. CLICK HERE for more information about the fund and for ways you can contribute.

New Sculpture Brings Electricity to School

Charlie Brown could never get his regulation kite to fly, but your Alumni Association has succeeded in placing Ben's Kite, 40 pounds of stainless steel, aluminum, and brass twenty feet above and behind Hiram Power's 1860 marble sculpture of Ben Franklin in the school's atrium, despite the lack of any upward lift by the school's air conditioning system.

Three years in the planning and execution, Ben's Kite (2007) was sculpted by Carlos Zervigon, a former teacher at the school. Sam Charters '75, a marine engineer, took time off from work to design the hanging of the sculpture as well as to help manually roll a lift across UNO's campus when the delivery truck broke down with time ticking down towards the school's 50th anniversary celebration.

Thanks also to Sacha Clay '79 who was able to secure Mr. Zevigon's talents for us, to Christie Read '89, who arranged for a contractor and the lift, to Mr. Zevigon, who also assisted with the kite's hanging and placement, to Coach Firnino, who went so far as to lend us his nylons while making certain the installation was an uplifting experience, and to all the alumni who contributed to the sculpture through the "10 for Ben" program.

The kite is a wonderful complement to Ben. It is a permanent reminder of the alumni's appreciation for the school. It is especially impressive at night, so drop by the school when an evening function is being held, and take a look for yourself. This summer we plan to add a permanently lit neon lightening bolt, so don't forget to add another $10 for Ben with your dues payment.

Now, you can choose electronic distribution of the Benjamin Franklin POST. technical questions

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