On June 12, 2026, more than 30 SHP alumni, staff, and friends gathered in at the Lost Way Brewery in Holdrege for the SHPAA Road to 50 Kickoff Event, marking the beginning of our journey toward the Summer Honors Program’s 50-year reunion on June 12, 2027.
The evening was exactly what we hoped it would be: a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet alumni from different generations of SHP, share stories, and begin imagining what our 50-year celebration should become.
One of the highlights of the evening was hearing alumni reflect on why SHP continues to matter so many years later. The program speakers included Jason Glanzer representing the 1980s, Kili (Rikli) Wenburg representing the 1990s, Lauren (Blessing) Bonk representing the 2000s, and Elijah Watson representing the 2010s. Three current SHP students—Victoria Bose, Isa Jiminez, and Kaden Woollen—also spoke. Later in the evening, several other attendees shared their reflections on video. Their stories reminded us that SHP has never been just a two-week summer program. For nearly five decades, it has been a community where curious, creative, and intellectually adventurous students discovered they weren’t alone.
We’ve included a gallery of photos from the evening below, along with two short videos that capture the spirit of the event. We’ll be sharing additional stories and videos over the coming months as we continue the Road to 50.
Help Shape the Reunion
The kickoff event was only the beginning.
As we plan SHP’s 50-year celebration, we want alumni from every era to help shape the reunion.
Already, more than 100 alumni and friends have completed our Road to 50 survey, sharing ideas about mini-classes, SHP traditions, large group activities (Quiz Bowl vs. Talent Show), and other things they’d like to experience during the reunion.
If you haven’t yet completed the survey, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you attended SHP in 1978 or 2026, your ideas will help us create a reunion that reflects the many generations of this remarkable community.
Click here to take the survey.
Save the Date
Summer Honors Program 50-Year Reunion
June 12, 2027
Phelps County Ag Center, Holdrege, Nebraska
Plans include:
- SHP for a Day mini-classes
- Reunion banquet
- Classic SHP traditions
- Opportunities to reconnect with alumni from every generation
More details will be announced throughout the coming year.
Thank you to everyone who attended the kickoff event, completed the survey, shared memories, or continues to support SHP. The Road to 50 has begun—and we’re excited to continue telling the SHP story together.