List the family members’ first names, last names, and maiden names who’ve attended BPS:
DeNell Bradley (great grandmother), Laura Ione Rachielles (grandmother), J. Harrold Blair (grandfather), William H. Blair (father), Angela Blair "Sutherland" (self), Melinda Blair "Newberry" (sister), Jacob R. Sutherland (son), Matthew B. Sutherland (son)

Share your family members' high school graduation years:
DeNell Bradley (great grandmother) 1897, Laura Ione Rachielles (grandmother) 1928, J. Harrold Blair (grandfather) 1924, William H. Blair (father) 1963, Angela Blair "Sutherland" (self) 1988, Melinda Blair "Newberry" (sister) 1990, Jacob R. Sutherland (son) 2015, Matthew B. Sutherland (son) 2018, {My great, great grandfather-Delos Ward Bradley was also born in 1849 in Batavia and lived his life there, but there is no school record}

What inspired your family members to choose BPS across generations? (i.e. traditions, a particular experience, or a shared value):
Our family is very close and values a quality public school education. BPS embodies the values of tradition, pride in our community, and providing students with an high quality, well-rounded educational experience.

How did your time at BPS influence the personal or professional journeys of your family members?
Our educations through BPS gave family members the confidence to reach for and achieve their goals. I remember my grandma, Ione Rachielles, being so proud of the fact that she was valedictorian of her class. She would ride the train to Chicago for work after graduation, and at that time, this was very uncommon for women.

In what ways has attending the same schools in BPS created a stronger bond within your family?
The community continues to bring family members back to the area, even with small periods away from the area for work. The strong school system in Batavia is one primary draws for returning to the area to raise a family. Having that common bond creates a sense of pride and camaraderie between generations.

Any special memories or reflections that highlight the significance of this shared experience?
At graduations, we take generational Batavia Bulldog photos to honor our Bulldog family graduates. We love to attend homecoming parades, reunions, and BPS activities together, as they create a warm sense of belonging and pride for our shared history. I have my lineage of family Batavia High School diplomas hung on an honorary wall in my office (from 1897-2018) from which I gain inspiration, confidence, and determination on a daily basis. I hope to see another generation of diplomas added to the mix in the future. Also, my great grandfather worked for the Challenge Windmill and was a photographer, so his photos of Batavia are cherished and others get to enjoy some of them in the Batavia Depot Museum through the Batavia Historical Society.