My parents sent one to our local paper when I finished law school. I think it was much more common then, before everyone was connected through social media. Putting it in the paper was the best way to keep up with all their friends and relations without calling say, my old 3rd grade teacher that they see at the grocery store once a year. I still see their local paper when I'm home to visit and now it has really tapered off and is mostly just wedding announcements if anything at all.

Mainly I was curious. Now I understand, and see how it is good advertising for the schools. I see the lists and think, "I didn't know so many kids from around here go to Bucknell, or Denison, or wherever. Maybe we should check it out." But I still think the parent who sent in the story about his/her adult daughter's first job was a bit over the top! Thanks.

I think OP is a bit jealous.

I don't think helicoptering means what you think it means.

I scan them. I don't think individual parents send them in - I think it's the school. Quite often I'll see X school send in 20 names of local kids who made dean's list. One parent wouldn't have that kind of access. It's good press for the school and puts the school's name in front of whatever McLean/BEthesda/Great Falls families who might read it. Same with Eagle Scouts. That's followed by the local representatives (political) so often featured not because johnny is in the photo but because delegate so-and-so is. It's nice feel-good old-fashioned notices.

My daughter was in the community paper three times. I sent in all three announcements.

My friends picture ended up in that type of paper and she said the photographer sent it in... Without asking her.

My son was in the paper, the school sent a picture of an award he received, I guess I signed something at the beginning of the year.

Also my other son was in for sports, his coach sent it in.

Anonymous wrote:My college sent out that information for our graduates. They sent to all of our home town papers.

+1. It's part of how they market and get their name out there, usually done by the public relations office (at my school it was a work-study position...we would write these "hometown news" releases whenever anyone did anything remotely newsworthy and send them off).

My college sent out that information for our graduates. They sent to all of our home town papers.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the PP. This is old-fashinoned. It was the norm 20 years ago.

Me again - I don't think it's any worse than a wedding/engagement announcement.

I agree with the PP. This is old-fashinoned. It was the norm 20 years ago.

Wow. You mean someone actually reads this stuff then...

Actually I think of this type of announcement as more old-fashioned or small-town than helicopter-ish--think pre-Facebook and email...

Out here in the burbs we have local papers (eg the Sun Gazette) that are mostly real estate ads but also have some local "news." There is always a page on whose kids made the dean's list at, or recently graduated from, various colleges. Some stuff about awards kids win in k-12 too. I get that they might have relationships with the local k-12 schools and want to highlight young kids' academic achievements. But how do they know about the colleges, including out of state? Do parents actually send this stuff in? I even saw an announcement recently that so and so's daughter had just graduated from such and such grad program and accepted her first job at such and such place. Takes helicoptering to whole new levels!