of Excellence Award
RAPID CITY, SD — On August 14, 2025, Rapid City Central Class of 1977 officially received their Acts of Excellence
award in a public ceremony in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The South Dakota Hall of Fame first announced the list of 2025 Acts of Excellence recipients in
April 2025, and has been honoring individuals and organizations throughout South Dakota with
award ceremonies in each act’s hometown.
About Rapid City Central Class of 1977
What started as a desire to “do more” for their 35th reunion has grown into a remarkable legacy
of service. The Rapid City Central High School Class of 1977 has redefined what it means to
come home, transforming reunions into engines for real community change.
Since 2012, this alumni group has completed three major projects, each one more impactful
than the last. For their first endeavor, they partnered with Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity
to build an entire home over one reunion weekend for a single mother and her family. In 2017,
they shifted focus to building raised bed gardens for assisted living facilities and schools,
planting both food and connection.
Their most ambitious effort yet came in 2022. Teaming up with the nonprofit, Sleep in Heavenly
Peace, the Class of ’77 set out to build and deliver 77 complete beds for children without one of
their own. They exceeded that goal, constructing and equipping over 800 beds with mattresses,
quilts, sheets, pillows, and even a Huckleberry Hound stuffed mascot. But they didn’t stop there.
They created their own volunteer delivery team and continue to support the organization
year-round.
Beyond the tangible results, their generosity has sparked a movement. Other alumni classes
have followed their lead, launching projects like school clothing closets, prom dress giveaways,
and lunch debt relief funds–all inspired by the Class of ’77’s example.
These acts are not only thoughtful, they are transformative. They reflect deep community roots,
a sense of shared responsibility, and a belief in giving back with heart and humility. From
housing to hunger, comfort to confidence, the Class of ’77 continues to show what’s possible
when connection leads to compassion–and compassion leads to action.