by Alisha Rosas
Managing Editor
For many students, high school is held close to the heart, yet far from the memory. Too many times the person that one had lunch with everyday, simply becomes “that girl” or “what’s his name,” due to lack of communication.
The new website www.highschoolalumni.com was created to keep alumni from all over the country in contact with each other all within the reach of a computer’s keyboard.
The website began after members of a high school in Columbia, SC, wanted to keep in contact with one another after graduation. In a short time, this concept expanded to include over 22,000 high schools throughout the United States. The service is provided free of charge.
All one needs to do to get involved with www.highschoolalumni.com is visit the website and register as a student from any American high school. The database used can send out alumni-related information, newsletters and the achievements of former classmates.
Senior Darla Franklin, a diversified major, said that she has managed to maintain a friendship with a classmate from high school and can see the benefits of the website.
“[It is beneficial] for example, my friend moved and I can’t see her everyday and it’s good that I can talk to her through the Internet.”
“I think it would be good especially if your coming up on your 10-year reunion, so people can get in contact with each other,” Franklin said.
There is also another website, www.classmates.com, that provides a similar relationship between members of a graduating class. This website has the largest directory on the World Wide Web for both the United States and Canada. There are currently 5 million self-registered alumni at this website.
To register is simple. Visit the website and enter one’s graduation year, first and last name and email address and view the list of registered fellow alumni.
To email or contact a former friend, however, one must become a member of www.classmates.com.
There is a $25 fee that provides membership for two years and offers unlimited access to the website. With the membership, one is able to send email to friends and read the personal profiles of fellow students and have the opportunity to add “then” and “now” photographs to one’s personal profile.
Like www.highschoolalumni.com, this website also provides privacy for all of its registered members. A password is selected for identification and both sites claim that privacy is guaranteed. However, it is suggested that one not post personal information on the Web.
