A Look Back at Vail Pride Day
VPD Celebrates 25 Years
It is hard to believe, but it is true. It has been twenty-five years since the first Vail School District’s Vail Pride Day.
It was 1999 when Rosemary McCain and Anne Gibson, the first co-chairs, began to weave the plan to develop a program that would keep Vail unified under the leadership of then Superintendent, Calvin Baker. Who knew it would grow into what was to become a national award-winning program and one selected to be present by Vail at state and national conferences and conventions?
“The seed for Vail Pride Day (VPD) was planted during a time of great growth in our “little” school district, and there was concern we would lose that special sense of community that made Vail a truly unique place. Our idea was to bring us all together under one roof for student performances and exhibits making sure that didn’t happen.” VPD Co-chair Rosemary McCain said.
Vail Pride Day Cheerleaders
“Over the years, that seed germinated and took on many forms as literally hundreds of volunteers worked to perfect this celebration that honors students, staff, and community members,” Rosemary McCain continued.
For the past ten years, the team of Linda Kubiak and Heather Stough have been the superb leadership for Vail Pride Day. They took and grew the VPD Committee from 30-members to close to 100 with each new addition adding their own special skills and talents to the programing. They developed an executive committee of seven members to assist with the administration of the three-day event.
Serving on the executive committee are VPD Co-chairs Linda Kubiak and Heather Stough, Sarah Bates, Virginia Graves, Chris Harms, Peggy Benston Runyon, and Mark Tate.
The final attendance at VPD, before public events had to be curtailed due to a world-wide virus, exceeded 15,000 people. A new record. And then, along came Covid and shut down public events.
A Pandemic could not stop Linda and Heather though. The two ladies’ creativity thinking found them thinking out of the box, turning to technology, making VPD ceremonies virtual, and holding drive-through events. It kept VPD going!
But students, staff, and community members were relieved when in 2022, many of the previous VPD programs were revitalized at the Pima County Fairgrounds.
There is no doubt that Vail Pride Day 2024 was bigger and better than ever. It is an event that has stood the test of time.
“Even though growth continues, one thing hasn’t changed — the most important thing of all. And that is the feeling of reconnection, closeness, and accomplishment. It is the unmistakable realization that we are all part of this amazing Vail Unified School District family, where education truly is a community effort,” said Rosemary McCain.
“I started my journey in Vail first as a community member attending Vail Pride Day. I was in awe, after teaching in other districts, at the sense of community Vail possessed, and knew I wanted to be a part of it! Fast forward two years later, Anne Gibson called me at my house and asked me to be a part of this amazing tradition. I was honored to say the least!!! Now 23 years later, I am still on this fabulous committee, making enough traditions and memories to last a lifetime,” said veteran Vail School District teacher and VPD volunteer, Jill VanAsdlan.
“I am so proud to call Vail my home!” said Jill VanAsdlan, as she summed up her experiences with VPD. The public Day of Vail Pride Day was held on Saturday, February 17.
By Anne Gibson
