Alumni

"Whether we are male, female, short or tall – we are Union. Whether we play sports, attempt to play sports, join a spirit squad, sing in the choir, act in productions, play in the band, produce artwork, do all or none of these things, we are Union. Whether we are first in our class or last in our class, we are Union. Whether we are staying close to home, attending college out of state, getting a job out of high school or enlisting in the armed force, we are Union."

Union High School Motto

Celebrating More Than 100 Years!

Welcome back, Union alumni! Union Public Schools invites you to reconnect with your alma mater, former classmates and old teachers. We also would love for you to visit, watch our games and shows, participate in activities and volunteer your talents.

Union offer offers a number of ways for you to reconnect and we keep making improvements.

Class Reunions

Class reunions are coordinated by alumni, who plan reunions, special functions and maintain contact information of former classmates. Organizers are often students, who held class offices during high school.

Union does not plan or organize reunions; these events are overseen by former students.

However, Union Public Schools will help promote events and may post additional information as it becomes aware of them, either on the website or social media. Union does not oversee or plan reunions.  Union will work with alumni for special arrangements, such as providing tours of school buildings, for reunions, but it does not always know when reunions may be scheduled unless someone contacts the District or plans to hold reunion activities on Union property. Contact Communications about your event.

Visit our Alumni Facebook Page! In many cases, alumni stay in contact with former classmates through Facebook, where alumni are encouraged to stay in touch and share news and accomplishments with other alumni.

History

Union’s proud tradition began with its formation in 1919 when four rural communities – Union, Central, Sunnyside and Alsuma – consolidated. There were only four students in its first graduating class. Union’s original borders were much broader, extending as far northwest as 21st Street and South Yale. Those portions, however, were annexed by the Tulsa Public School District in the 1950s, making Union’s current northwest border 31st and Mingo Road.

Enrollment gradually increased and new programs were added. Then, Tulsa’s development rapidly spread toward the southeast, leading to new office and home construction and a burst of growth for Union. In 1968, there were 800 students in the entire district. In 1995, that number grew to 11,500 and to about 15,000 in 2023.

History of the Alma Mater

Did you know this piece of history about the Union Alma Mater?

The original tune is from "Annie Lisle," an 1857 ballad by Boston, Mass., songwriter H. S. Thompson.  The tune was later used as the Alma Mater for Cornell University, and has since been used by colleges and high schools all over the country including ours.

It took the work of a few people to rediscover the original lyrics and the tune for the Alma Mater used by Union High Schools in the early half of the 20th century.

Shortly after Denise Vaniadis, retired director of Student Life, came to Union in 1992, she worked with then Principal Dave Stauffer and Kenille Elmore, then director of Union Choirs, to bring back the Alma Mater which had not been sung in decades.

“Denise and Dave were instrumental in wanting to bring back the Alma Mater,” explained Linda Blythe, an administrative assistant at the High School. “Kenille was the choir director at the time. I know we were singing the Alma Mater in 1994-95. We have sung the Alma Mater in all assemblies, retreats and graduations since then.”

Elmore found the lyrics.

“The words I found in an old Union yearbook,” Elmore recalled.  “I think it was the 1921 yearbook.  Then, I found the tune that was used.  Doug Henderson arranged two tunes for my choir.  One was too contemporary sounding, the other was more traditional.  That is the one I started using and is still being used to this today. Hopefully, this history will never get "lost" again.”