Three SVHS alumni shared their perspectives on how student life has evolved over the past three decades.

Winston Patterson, Class of 1991, and Brady Taylor, Class of 1993, and Kaylin Schwab, Class of 2011, discussed the changes they’ve observed between their time as students and today’s high school experience.

Perhaps the most striking difference the Patterson noted was the role of technology in academics. “We couldn’t use AI,” Patterson recalled with a laugh. “We used to have to pay our friends to write our essays.”

Patterson added, “Now you can use AI so you don’t have to spend all that money to have your friend write your essay.”

Mr. Patterson is impressed by today’s students. “Students are way better than when I was in high school. I feel like kids are really respectful. We were respectful too, but I feel like we were more mischievous.”

Kaylin Schwab, who graduated in 2011, remembered a significant milestone in the school’s athletic program during his time at SVHS.  The jump to 4A classification meant SVHS was competing against larger schools, presenting new challenges for the athletic program.”When I came to high school is the first time we switched to 4A,” he said. “So it was kind of fun playing the big teams. Not as fun losing to them.”

Brandy Taylor, who graduated in 1994, remembers “playing sports, winning state championships.”

Taylor was a standout two-sport athlete, playing both volleyball and basketball. Her teams achieved remarkable success, winning one state championship in volleyball and two in basketball during his high school career.

As Patterson, Schwab, and Taylor wrapped up their visit, it was clear that while technology and student culture may have evolved, the pride and spirit of Star Valley High School remains unchanged across generations.