In the process of renovating Rolla High School, many necessary updates were made to accommodate the growing school’s needs. From the roomy lecture hall, veterans’ hall, and overall the much needed space for the large incoming freshman class, it is safe to say the addition is nothing short of impressive. Other than the small hiccup in some students not quite understanding which side of the hall to walk on, the change has been widely appreciated.
However, as some students walk through the newly added entrance, they have noticed something interesting on the pavement, that being a display of bricks that is not quite finished. As the year wore on, a few questions were raised about the empty space.

However, as some students walk through the newly added entrance, they have noticed something interesting on the pavement, that being a display of bricks that is not quite finished. As the year wore on, a few questions were raised about the empty space.

These are of course mostly around why the space is still ending and what is going to fill it. But before getting to that, Mr. Smith had some answers as to why the space created in the first place.

“It’s through the Alumni Association, which we just started last year. The Alumni Association was made to connect alumni back to the school, let them know what’s going on. We also want a way to let them give back to the school.This is a good way [to do] that, they can purchase a brick, it goes into a fund that we use for our students. It’s a commemorative thing for them, plus it also affects current students,” Smith said.

The Alumni Impact in Education was made to connect past Rolla High School graduates to the current school and honor their memories of the school. But buyers do not have to have already graduated to buy a brick.

“Really, anyone can. Seniors who are going to be graduating, it’d probably be a good gift from a parent. If students
want to do it we wouldn’t keep it from them,” Smith said.

In order to buy one of these bricks, it is as easy as filling out a form and sending it in. This can be done online, with the QR code below, or with a form students can pick up in the main office. The paper one includes pricing for two different types of brick and space to write out what is desired to be carved, as well as an example of the final product. Keep in mind, though, the bricks have to be school appropriate before sending it and the money for it off.

With so many bricks to be laid, it is understandable why some would wonder where the money is going. Funds accumulated will be going back into the school, upgrading it for current and future students.

“The current project that’s being worked on is the library. There’s options that people can just donate to the library also, which is how the Art Gallery downstairs happened. That happened through the Alumni Association. Someone made a large donation to create the Art Gallery. The next thing is, our library needs to be updated,” Smith said.

It will not be too much longer before the empty space is filled, so students can look forward to seeing the final product soon.

“We started planning for this and then they started building it this summer and we’re awaiting bricks,” Smith said.