The City Of Great Bend announces the 14th-annual City Youth Academy Reunion Celebration has been scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Walnut Bowl.
Any students (seventh grade through seniors in high school) who have ever participated in a City Youth Academy are invited to attend. Free cosmic bowling, video games and food will be available. Weather permitting, go- carts and miniature golf will also be available.   
Past students need a notarized parent’s waiver to drive the go-carts.  Waivers are available at the reunion or at the Police Department. 
According to Howard Partington, Great Bend city administrator, the event is a way to celebrate the youth’s involvement in the academy as well as various special projects.  Throughout the past fourteen years, over 1230 students have participated in the City sponsored classes.
This summer’s Academies brings a total of 38 different Youth Academy Classes the city has conducted over the past 14 years, representing over 1,230 seventh- and eighth-grade student participants. The youngsters are gaining a behind the scenes glance at the different city departments, Partington said.
The students participate in training exercises with the Police Departments Tactical Team, shoot fire hoses, are involved with a mock medical emergency at the Fire Department, drive high loaders, ride 35 feet in the air in bucket trucks at Public Work, and also make stops at the. Waste Water Treatment Plant and Park Departments before being treated to lunch with Mayor Mike Allison and City Council members.
Partington said an important aspect of the academy is an idea exchange with City Leaders. The exchange insures that the youth have input into their city government. Many city projects have been completed as a result of this important session.
For additional information on the reunion, contact officer Jefferson Davis at the Police Department, 620-793-4120.