Our Mission

Promote excellence at CNHS for students, faculty, and alumni.

Our Renewed Emphasis

Support and celebrate teachers: Great teachers make great Bull Dogs!

The Bull Dog Alumni Association was founded in 2008, and achieved 501(c)3 not-for-profit status in 2010.

Our Major Programs

Student and Faculty Support:

  • Up to 6 Scholarships – of $500 – $10,000 awarded to graduating seniors each year.
  • Faculty/Student Support Grants – $100 – $2,000 awarded to departments or worthy projects that can’t be otherwise funded.
  • Annual Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – for 200 educators and key support staff.
  • Teacher Appreciation and Welcome-back-to-school Program.

Outreach and Communication to Alumni:

  • Regular “True Blue” E-newsletters since 2013 reaching over 4500 alumni and friends.
  • Class reunion assistance
  • Web site and Facebook page

Celebration and Preservation of Bull Dog History:

  • Bull Dog Alumni Hall of Fame – First induction in 2013 – Currently 40 Members.
  • Veterans Memorial Display and Memorabilia Display Case
  • Publication of The Story of CNHS: 150 Years

Over 550 commemorative bricks have been engraved and installed in the Alumni Brick Plaza.

Our Major Accomplishments

Over $200,000 in scholarships, awards, and grants have been given since 2016.

6 ongoing scholarship programs have been funded.

  • $15,000 awarded to 6 graduating seniors in 2024.

8 Dedicated Endowment funds have been established to honor special Bull Dog faculty and/or alumni – and are funding annual scholarships and/or grants.

8 Outstanding Teachers of the Year have been named:

  • 2016 – Laurie Pfaffenberger
  • 2017 – Dale Nowlin
  • 2018 – Mike Spock
  • 2019 – Sue Green
  • 2021 – Jason Perry
  • 2022 – Scott Seavers
  • 2023 – Keith Burton
  • 2024 – Lisa Enneking

$2,000 honorarium awarded each year.

Introduced Emerging Teacher of the Year in 2023:

  • 2023: Katie Shelton
  • 2024: Maria Sanchez-Cisneros

$1,000 honorarium awarded each year.

Examples of Faculty & Student Support Grants

  • Fund substitute teachers to allow off site English Department Curriculum Review
  • Cover AP test fees and subsidize Show Choir fees for students with financial need
  • Support cost of Indiana Poet Laureate presentation at CNHS
  • Buy special materials for Literature in Life Skills program
  • Updated equipment for Weight Training
  • Registration fees for teachers to attend IBEA conference and AP instruction workshops
  • Add options for AP Literature “Female Voice” Unit
  • Subsidize entry fees or transportation costs for Debate, Spell Bowl, Science Olympiad teams
  • Help fund Courtyard Native Plant renovation
  • Help fund Diego Rivera Art Exhibit rental
  • Help fund creation of Immersive Environment for History and Literature classes – 1920’s Jazz Club
  • Support Field Trip to Chicago theatres for Performing Arts students