Mike Elston, key founder of TDHS Alumni Association, retires
Alumni associations help bring former students together, build connections and create networks for alumni - but most of all, they help support schools.
Mike Elston’s yearbook photo.
By Stephanie Bowen
Alumni associations help bring former students together, build connections and create networks for alumni - but most of all, they help support schools.
Over the last decade, there has been one man at the heart of the TDHS alumni Association. In fact, for many, his name has quite literally been synonymous with the association itself. That man is Mike Elston. A 1965 graduate of The Dalles High School, Elston was instrumental in the creation, oversight and continued sustainability of the TDHS alumni group.
Despite the thousands of graduates of TDHS through the decades, Elston saw that the connection and camaraderie between the school and community post graduation could be strengthened. He wanted students to continue to engage and feel connected to our schools, no matter the year inscribed on their diploma. Seeing a need, and possible solution, Elston dove in head first - officially founding the TDHS Alumni Association in 2013.
Mike is a longtime fixture in the community, from local fundraising with the Education Foundation, monthly meetings, social visits and reunions, Mike is there. Which is why it may come as a shock to some that he now longer lives in The Dalles at all! Instead, Mike has spent countless hours on the road traveling back and forth from his home in Gresham. Despite the miles involved, you would never hear Mike complain, steadfast in his commitment to our students and our community.
True to his nature, Mike was very active in schools in his ‘new’ home too. Living in a different community gave him the opportunity to see what worked for other schools and to bring those ideas back to D21. And he didn’t stop there, Mike has even been known to write letters to legislators and advocate at the state level for increased awareness and attention to rural schools, like North Wasco.
Past D21 Superintendent, and current Education Foundation Board Member, Candy Armstrong worked on numerous projects with Mike over the years, “If something needed to be done to help our students or our schools, you could count on Mike to do all he could to support the efforts. He always kept his promises and was a true champion of North Wasco Schools.”
Thanks to Mike’s dedication, the alumni association has helped financially support numerous educational opportunities to advance the education of D21 students. After years of dedication, Mike is stepping away from his role, but it's easy to say that his name will continue to go on, hand in hand, with the TDHS Alumni Association.
As alumni and, or friends of the school community you are critical to helping us fulfill our mission through your involvement and support. Please consider supporting The Dalles High School Alumni Association in honor of Mike. They are an independent, not-for-profit, 501(c) (3) organization.
