CHS Class of ’62 to be Honored with Carlsbad Community Foundation’s Legacy Award

During next month’s Community Giving Week celebrations, the Carlsbad Community Foundation will present its highest philanthropic honor, the Legacy Award, to the Carlsbad High School Class of ’62. The award recognizes substantial impacts on our community through philanthropic giving and/or service. This marks the first time the award has been given to a group or organization and demonstrates the importance of collective efforts by many to achieve a shared charitable purpose.

Sally Miller, who organized Class of ’62 reunions for many years and is the local contact for the Foundation’s Class of ’62 Scholarship Fund, was the first to find out and was ecstatic about the news.

“I was blown away,” said Miller. “The Class has focused on giving back to our hometown students, but I don’t think any of us would have expected such an honor.”

Those sentiments were echoed by her classmate, Dwight Pitcaithley, who serves as a central point of contact for the class.

“Who knew, in 1962, that our class would be filled with philanthropists, who would be honored sixty years later with the Foundation’s Legacy Award?” asked Pitcaithley. He gives a lot of credit to those who have given so generously to encourage future generations to fulfill their dreams.

Originally spearheaded by classmates Norma Dunn and the late Wendell Lovelis, the Class of ’62 Scholarship Fund was established at the Foundation in 2001, some 39 years after its members walked across the graduation stage. The endowment started with a $1,000 gift, but with generosity and organization, the fund’s balance has grown to more than $220,000 in less than 25 years. Today, the fund is able to award up to five $1,000 scholarships to graduating CHS seniors each year and will continue to support scholarships in perpetuity.

The award will be presented to the Class of ‘62 at the Foundation’s annual Community Giving Week Reception at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at the Pecos River Village Carousel House. The event’s purpose is to celebrate philanthropy and it typically attracts a wide variety of donors, staff and volunteers, all who play an integral role in the local nonprofit community.

Admission is free of charge, however attendees must RSVP by Sept. 16, 2026 by calling (575) 887-1131. More details may be found at www.carlsbadfoundation.org.