Saturday Spotlight: Pat(ricia) Kohlmeyer Taft, Class of 1963 🎓

A Shift in Career Plans

Pat originally planned to pursue Interior Design, but a summer experience as a Camp Director for low-income kids changed everything. That experience inspired her to switch majors in college and dedicate her career to social work.

Her career in Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services was both impactful and rewarding, allowing her to support families and communities for many years.

Embracing Retirement and Community Involvement

Now happily retired, Pat enjoys traveling, spending time with friends, dabbling in watercolor, and reviewing foster care cases. Even in retirement, she continues to give back to her community, proving that service and compassion are lifelong values.

MHS Memories: Senior Prom and Simple Traditions

📚 Favorite Teacher: Coach Clancy Norris
💭 Fondest Memory: Senior Prom, beautifully decorated by the junior class, followed by unforgettable after-prom parties!
🎯 Career Aspiration Post-Graduation: Interior Designer (before she found her true calling in social work).
🍽 Favorite Cafeteria Food: Actually, we didn’t have a cafeteria! Students brought lunch from home and either ate in the gym bleachers, downtown, or at home.
📺 Defining TV Show of High School: Friends—a timeless classic.
📅 Day She’d Relive: Homecoming 1962—a special time filled with school spirit and lasting friendships.

A Summer of Pranks at the Pool 😆

As a lifeguard during the summer, Pat recalls a group of junior high boys who loved to pull pranks on the guards. Though harmless, their antics often earned them a timeout on the bench—a small price to pay for a little summer mischief!

Looking Back and Moving Forward

From her early dreams of design to a career in social work and a lifelong commitment to helping others, Pat’s journey is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the greatest rewards.

Want to Be Featured in a Future Saturday Spotlight?

We’ve worked through our backlog, and we need YOUR story next! If you’re an MHS alum, we’d love to hear about your journey. It only takes a few minutes—just fill out our Alumni Spotlight Questionnaire 

Let’s keep celebrating the amazing alumni of MHS! 🎉

#MHSAlumni #SaturdaySpotlight #BulldogPride