As I wandered the halls, I came upon this really cool display. It’s an enormous photo of the space shuttle, and it’s signed by astronaut Jim Buchli, a graduate of Fargo Central High School.

The Space Shuttle plays a part in my Mandan High School experience. When the Challenger exploded on the morning of January 28th, 1986, I was in my Business Law class. I think we had one of those AV carts with a TV on it wheeled into our class, but I don’t remember for sure. I just remember that it was in that classroom that I learned of an unthinkable national tragedy.

Coincidentally, Colonel Buchli is scheduled to be presented with the Roughrider Award tomorrow! That’s a pretty fantastic honor for a guy from North Dakota. I hope this photo finds its way to the new school somehow!

When I stopped in for the alumni / open house day last week, several of the hallways still contained pallets of bins. The bins contained the contents of the classrooms, items which need to be moved to the new school. But the most interesting part of these hallways: Well, the lockers, of course! After all, we all had one. Four, actually…one per year. Except I had five…

The old Mandan High School building will be going away. At least, that’s the plan…although, as a Bismarck resident, I have yet to see a school building actually torn down once we’re told that it can no longer house students. They always find a way to reuse it and draw tax money. But enough of that. I figured that if I ever wanted to check out some parts of the school I always wondered about but had no access to, this was my opportunity.

When I decided to take my camera with for this open house event, I determined I was not going to try to do a tour. First, it would be too much work. Second, I just don’t think it would be interesting – for me or anyone else.