Foundation selects three for Distinguished Alumni Award!

Raymore-Peculiar School District News

Sept. 16, 2022

Volunteers with JSTLV work together to frame a house. Pat Harris, a 1971 graduate of Ray-Pec High School, helped found the non-profit organization following the death of his son. (Photo from jstlv.org website)

Ray-Pec Public School Foundation selects three Distinguished Alumni Award recipients

The Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation announces three recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award: Pat Harris, Lauren Dobson Peter, and Justin Petersen.

Each of the award recipients have excelled in their careers and given back to their communities. They will be honored at a special luncheon on Sept. 16, at a tailgate party sponsored by the Foundation, and at the Homecoming football game.

Foundation honors 1971 grad Pat Harris

Pat Harris graduated from Ray-Pec High School in 1971. During high school, he was involved in football, basketball, and track. He was in Future Teachers, was President of the Varsity Club, was a member of the Panther Club, played trumpet in the concert band, and was in the Foreign Language Club.

After high school, he attended Central Missouri State University for one semester, worked a variety of jobs, and later finished his degree at Ozark Christian College and became an ordained minister.

Pat and his wife, Carol, married in 1975, and had four children. Tragically, their son Shane was killed in 2006 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pat and his family chose to honor Shane’s life by creating a non-profit foundation and giving back to others by building houses for the needy. The Just Love Foundation has helped build or renovate homes in 12 different states, on the Navajo reservation, and in Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

Foundation honors 1998 Ray-Pec grad Lauren Dobson Peter

Lauren (Dobson) Peter graduated from Ray-Pec High School in 1998, and graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2002 with a degree in Special Education. She became a dedicated educational professional for the Blue Springs School District, a career that began in 2002. In addition to teaching, she mentored student teachers, and was a coach for the Blue Springs Special Olympics Team.

Lauren was vice president of the Peculiar Charitable Foundation working to fund projects in Cass County. She was an officer of her neighborhood’s homeowner association and organized special events. She was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in 2012, and endured many surgeries and rounds of chemo. As a cancer survivor, she participated in support groups, and personally counseled patients who had received a cancer diagnosis. Sadly, Lauren passed away in December 2019 at the age of 40.

She was married 18 years to Thomas Peter, and they have one son, Caden. Lauren's parents are Larry and Mary Dobson. Both have longtime ties to the community and the school district. Her brother is Scott Dobson, Ray-Pec Director of Facilities.

Foundation honors 1995 Ray-Pec graduate Justin Petersen

Justin Petersen is a 1995 Ray-Pec High School graduate. In addition to being recognized by the Foundation, he is also scheduled to perform the National Anthem before the Homecoming football game.

Justin is a Boston-based voice teacher, vocal coach, writer, and researcher. He has a passion for working with damaged voices and helping to bring them back to health. He is also the Head Vocal Coach for My College Audition and prepares high school students for their college auditions in musical theater.

He received his Master of Music degree in Opera at the University of Kansas, and his Bachelor of Music degree at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa. His career includes performances with the Des Moines Metro Opera, Kansas City Lyric Opera, Opera North, Sarasota Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera.

He has been on the Voice Faculty of Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts, the New England Conservatory Preparatory Program, and the Stoneham Theatre. He was recently certified as a music theory teacher with the Ultimate Music Theory Certified Teacher program.

Homecoming Football Game

The Homecoming football game is at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Panther Stadium. The Panthers will host the Blue Springs South Jaguars. Admission is $5 for adults, and $3 for students with I.D. Fans ages 55 and old may show identification for free admission. Reminder: Students in 8th grade and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Watch the games online

Can’t make it? Watch the game on the Ray-Pec Activities YouTube Channel. The live stream is staffed by Ray-Pec High School students.

Alumni/Staff Homecoming Tailgate

Ray-Pec Alumni: Are you missing those "Friday Night Lights"? The Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation will host a pre-game tailgate party from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, outside the stadium. All alumni and staff are invited to stop by the Foundation's tent for a hotdog/hamburger, chips, and beverage before the game. An RSVP is helpful for numbers, but not required. RSVP here Hamburgers and hotdogs are provided by Midwest BBQ Equipment Co.

Reminders:

No school on Monday, Sept. 19, to allow for staff planning and collaboration.
Parents of high school students: Important information about PSAT, ACT, and Advanced Placement exams can be found here.

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