What began as a Class of ’67 Tyee Alumni gift, has since morphed into a meaningful community project that continues to support current Tyee students.
Article courtesy of “Friends of Tyee.”
In 2017, as the Tyee High School class of 1967 began planning their 50th class reunion, the planning committee connected with school administrators. In doing so, the Tyee alumni encountered the stark realities of the challenges facing many of Tyee’s students. The committee learned that 10 percent of Tyee’s students at that time were facing homelessness, and 85 percent were living in poverty.
The reunion committee consulted with the school social worker to find out how they could help. The social worker suggested $8,000 for student snacks and to open lunch accounts for the following year. The class of 1967 was able to meet this request. The committee felt that this effort was an important part of the reunion and wanted to continue to support current Tyee students, so they started the process of creating a Tyee High School alumni booster club.
Soon after, other community groups got involved, such as the Angle Lake Shore Club, the Tukwila Rotary, the SeaTac City Council, and neighborhood residents. For this reason, the group changed its name to Friends of Tyee.
Within two years, school staff reported that the group’s efforts had helped create a more positive learning environment, leading to increased test scores and an increase in scholarships awarded.
Friends of Tyee contacted Highline Schools Foundation leaders and now work closely with them. The Foundation created and continues to manage a Friends of Tyee monetary fund that is supported by individual donations, class gifts, and fundraisers.
The Friends of Tyee monetary fund primarily addresses food insufficiency. A regular expenditure is for healthy snacks. This is an important initiative that supplements school-provided breakfast and lunch for growing teens. Since 2020, Highline Public Schools has been able to offer free meals for all students through national or state programs.
For some students at Tyee, the only meals they get on weekdays are the ones they get at school. If students are late to school, they miss breakfast. Another major effort involves providing grocery gift cards prior to school breaks to families experiencing homelessness. Friends of Tyee has also purchased reusable water bottles, academic planners, personal hygiene items, alarm clocks, warm clothing, and Tyee t-shirts for the football players who play on a co-op team for another school.
In addition to providing food and emergency supplies, Friends of Tyee has been involved in such activities as campus cleanup for graduation, painting a room to help students create a freshman welcome center, arranging for alumni veterans to speak at Veterans Day assemblies, and
hosting tables at open house events, back-to-school days, and holiday bazaars.
These activities have helped Friends of Tyee to make connections with current Tyee staff members and students. Everyone is so excited to see the new school being built and can’t wait to walk the halls of the new Tyee in the fall of 2025!
Tyee High School Construction progress 4/14/24 (Burien-News image)The current Friends of Tyee coordinating team consists of Vicki Geiger Long (class of 1965,) Stephanie Knox Nichols (class of 1967,) Robin Foster Adams (class of 1971,) Deana Osborn Anderson (class of 1979,) and Tyee Attendance Specialist Jaimee Shaug (class of 1997.)
How Can You Support Tyee Students?
If you would like to support Friends of Tyee with your time or make a financial contribution, here are some options:
1. Check out our Facebook page: Friends of Tyee High School (FOT) SeaTac WA
2. Online link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/FriendsofTyee
3. By mail: send checks (with “Friends of Tyee” on the memo line) to:
Highline Schools Foundation, c/o Friends of Tyee
15675 Ambaum Blvd SW
Burien, WA 98166
