Sitting in the familiar uncomfortable auditorium chairs from their teenage days, the graduates of 1994 listened to Principal Nancy Rousseau reminisced about their high school teachers as laughter filled the room.

The groups walked down the halls they frequented 30 years ago, but Sept. 21, they admired the new posters, awards, and artwork that plastered the walls. They went into their old classrooms, noticing how the time had changed with new furniture such as smart boards instead of chalkboards.

After their class photo, the alums slowly dispersed, already making plans to reconnect off campus to revive old memories.

“Walking up the steps, my heart was fluttering a mile a minute, nearly having a panic attack.” Ron Hanks said, a graduate of the class of 1994 and current television director and producer based in Los Angeles.  “When I got into the journalism room though, it was just like a breath of fresh air. I felt like this is where I belonged.”

When Hanks was in high school, he challenged the boundaries of student journalism. After getting censored his senior year, Hanks helped in the development of legislation that prevents student journalists from being censored. Now, after spending years away, he felt comfort in returning to his hometown.

“I think there’s still a rebellious spirit that I garnered here,” Hanks said. “And that rebellious spirit is built upon the feet of the Little Rock Nine.”

After his experience as an editor for the school’s newspaper, The Tiger, and the restrictions he overcame to spread stories he believed in, Hanks continued to use that spirit in his career.

Hanks used his experience on campus to finally push past those limitations. He was even a part of Walt Disney’s “The Ernest Green Story” as one of his first jobs, which showed the story of Ernest Green as a part of the Little Rock Nine. The film was created while Hanks was still in high school. Students were used as extras in the production, exposing Hanks to the world film.

“I am still holding that flame alive and accepting no boundaries,” Hanks said.

Hanks continues to push boundaries, traveling the world and telling the stories that matter through his shows. Coming back to the school, roaming the hallways and visiting the newsroom, allowed Hanks to remember where his passion began.

Graduate Clay Reed, Like Hanks, used his high school experience when getting a job, working at the Pentagon and as a presidential appointee at the White House. His student government experience inspired him to work for these positions. 

“I don’t know how it is now, but back then, we had a lot of pride going to Central,” Reed said.

“[Central] was sort of a great microcosm of the world,” Reed said. “It helped prepare me for life after high school. Everything I did the first five years after I graduated was a direct result of what I saw and became interested in at school.” 

His experiences have continued to guide him through the real world, like his current job in Los Angeles. Reed returned to his hometown to see the changes made to his alma mater and meet old friends.

Another graduate, Carey Sellers is currently an 8th grade English teacher at Forest Heights STEM Academy. She thrived in her senior year on campus, getting involved in many organizations, including student government and the cheerleading squad.

“It was a ton of fun, being a senior at Central.” Sellers said. “I just felt so much school spirit.”

After graduating, Sellers traveled around the country and gained experience working with and raising kids in Montana, Georgia, Iowa, and Oklahoma. Eventually she came back to Little Rock because of the positive impact she had from the district wanting to carry that on.

“I’m really glad that I became a teacher here [Little Rock], and that I had gone to Central. Because I knew the positive impact it had to offer its students,” Sellers said.

Working in the same school district as her high school allows Sellers to interact with the families of people she went to school with. 

“Most of the people that I saw at the reunion I’m still in touch with, but a lot of my friends are coming in from out of town,” Sellers said. “I know that once I see my classmate’s faces I’ll be overjoyed.”

Sellers experience as a high school student inspired her to stay close-knit with the community, even sending her kids to school here years later. 

“Being a Central graduate makes you feel like you’re a part of a larger story.” Sellers said. “That’s never gone away, that pride. I carry that with me in the classroom now.”

As the graduates walked down the front steps of the building, someone yelled from the crowd, “Let’s sing the alma mater.”

And for the first time in 30 years, the Class of 1994 sounded like one voice. Even though this class preceded the current students by three decades, they sounded exactly like their descendants, albeit with fewer voice cracks.