Lots of smiles and hugs, laughter and tears filling the Kennedy Middle School gymnasium Sunday afternoon for a farewell celebration.  KMS will close in May, leaving just one public middle school in Hays.

Longtime principals Eric Harfmann and Lee Keffer welcomed the crowd, which included a few families who’ve attended Kennedy for three generations between 1969 and 2012.

Michelle Hertel Schlyer, class of 1993, took the audience along memory lane, showing a boxful of special treasures she’s kept since she attended KMS 20 years ago.

Schlyer er also  gave recognition to a number of Kennedy staff who guided her through those sometime traumatic years.  Today,  Schlyer teaches a class in “Succeeding in College” at Fort Hays State University and is the campus switchboard Tiger Info Supervisor.

Be watching for more this week on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.