Ashleigh (Eade) Konopski, who graduated from Butler Catholic School in 1998, and John Gianneschi, who graduated from St. Michael School in 1929, represented the two extremes when alumni gathered Oct. 7 to 9 for the school's second annual alumni weekend. The alumni association includes graduates of the former Saint Paul, Saint Michael and Saint Peter schools as well as Butler Catholic.

BUTLER TWP — Butler Catholic School alumni gathered Oct. 7 to 9 to reminisce, see the school as it is today and meet classmates from other generations.

The second annual alumni weekend was attended by about 70 people, the oldest of whom was John Gianneschi, who graduated in 1929 from St. Michael School. The youngest was Ashleigh (Eade) Konopski, who graduated in 1998 from Butler Catholic.

The alumni association, founded in 2009, includes graduates of the former Saint Paul, Saint Michael and Saint Peter schools as well as the merged school, Butler Catholic.

According to Diana Foehringer of Butler, a mother of two Butler Catholic students and a volunteer with the alumni group, the association has contacted more than 3,000 past students.

“My children will one day be alumni, and I love that they will be able to go out and meet people in all walks of life who also are alums,” Foehringer said.

Butler Catholic educates students from kindergarten to eighth grade, drawing from seven school districts in Butler County.

“We formed (the association) because we know Butler Catholic is a valuable resource for the community,” Foehringer said.

“We wanted to hear from alumni and hear their stories about how these schools served as a positive influence in their lives, Foehringer said.

“The stories we heard this past weekend were amazing.”

The association sends out a quarterly newsletter spotlighting an alum’s story.

Alumni who attended the three-day event had an opportunity to watch BCS Saints volleyball, take in a Victorian tea, tour the Maridon Museum and hit the links at Lake Arthur Country Club.

“In December, we’re going to do an alumni basketball game for the younger alumni who couldn’t attend the adult reception,” Foehringer said.

Scott Snyder, executive director of the American Red Cross in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties and a 1985 Butler Catholic graduate, emceed the alumni reception.

After attending last year’s reception, Snyder said he volunteered to serve on the alumni association’s committee to improve the event for 2011.

“In my line of work, I’m accustomed to putting on events,” he said. “I felt I could offer up my skills in some small way.”

Snyder said the something-for-everybody mentality led to a successful event and “a very robust weekend” for alumni.

For information, visit www.butlercatholicalumni.org.