07/23/2026
✨ CO-CHAIR SPOTLIGHT ✨
Saving the best for last...
There isn't a single part of this reunion that hasn't been touched by Zachary Kulsrud's thoughtfulness, humor, or heart. From dreaming up ideas to solving problems to making us all laugh when planning felt a little overwhelming, he's been my partner through all of it. I truly couldn't have done this without him.
One of the things I’ve admired most over the last 15 months is watching Zac pour so much of himself into creating something meaningful for our class. He volunteered for this simply because he believes reconnecting with people matters.
"Planning a reunion, for me, feels like completing the circle. There is a feeling of gratitude that comes with it."
Zac has an incredible gift for writing, and his reflections should remind us that reunions at this age aren't really about reliving high school - they're more about seeing one another through the lens of 30 more years of life.
“During the 2006 and 2016 reunions, I found a feeling of liberation from the crushing social anxiety of my teenage years. The old gremlins—fear of rejection, etc.—just weren't there. That was awesome...and allowed me to connect with people whom I thought I had nothing in common with.”
I think he perfectly captures what this whole thing is really about:
"Helping plan our 30th reunion is part of that big, sprawling story of coming to terms with your own personal growth. High school was full of mixed-up emotions—good and bad—for all of us. But for me, in 2026, the story is deeper and ultimately better."
His answer to what makes this reunion a "can't miss" event:
"It takes a lump of courage to go to a reunion—and that's what makes it great. None of us really know who's going to be there or what glorious or cringe-worthy experiences we'll relive. Yet we're all in it together for one night. We just have to be vulnerable for a bit, laugh at the weirdness, and make the most of it. We don't get long on this earth, and life's too short to let discomfort or imperfection get the best of us."
That sentiment feels especially meaningful knowing some of Zac's own story. He shared openly about growing up with a cleft lip and palate, the surgeries, the braces, the teasing, and the insecurities that shaped him. But even more powerful was what came from those experiences: deep gratitude for the friends and family who loved him exactly as he was, an incredible capacity for forgiveness, and a perspective that reminds us all that everyone is carrying a story we may never see.
“None of it came easy, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but I’m thankful of who I am today because of it.”
One of my favorite stories Zac shared was about a turning point during his senior year. After spending much of his CHS soccer career on the bench, he got a few minutes of playing time at the end of a sectional game. An opposing player started mocking his appearance, and something inside him finally snapped. “No one expected it, not even me” The ref saw the punch and ejected Zac from the game, but as he walked to the sidelines, he was greeted as a hero on the bench.
"I felt a little different after that, like I didn't need any of the BS I was putting myself up to."
After the next game, instead of riding the team bus home, he went to an R.E.M. concert at Deer Creek with a friend.
"It all felt like a turning point and a coming-of-age moment. I was starting to put high school in the rearview mirror and move into a new world that I would create on my terms."
Thirty years later, that's exactly the kind of person we needed helping bring a class back together.
So if you've been on the fence about coming, maybe take Zac's advice... Be a little brave. Lean into the weirdness. Say yes to reconnecting.
Life really is too short not to show up if you can!
And Zac... thank you so much. For your friendship, your steady partnership, your sense of humor, and the countless hours you've put into making this reunion something special for all of us. Carmel '96 is lucky to have you.
❤️ We can't wait to see everyone this weekend ❤️
(And if you or a friend still needs a ticket, we’re keeping them on sale here: www.CarmelHighSchoolClassof1996.org as long as we can!)
Ok - if you’re emotionally invested and still reading, here are some gems I just had to include:
›Who was the Debate Teacher senior year? Zac needs to know! “She made us argue both sides of all the big, controversial subjects. I remember my beliefs crumbling once I applied critical thinking, which she fostered” (It was also the class where Zac got to know Nick Shortle, who he’s fortunate to call a close friend to this day)
›Who else went to get an evaluation by Dr. Fadely? Zac and I both did and we’re both reflecting on where we are now against what Dr. Fadely said we should do. In Zac’s words, “I’m “having a moment” (midlife crisis?) and thinking about changing everything – something I choose with intentionality.” (Anyone else?? 🙋🏼♀️)
›What song instantly takes him back? “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode. “I was full of hormones and easily slayed”
›Something about his life today that would shock high school Zac? Having two kids after 40 – insane! (Who else has kids small enough to need a babysitter for the 30th reunion?🙋🏼♀️)
“My high school self would never have thought the world was so big and complex, or that there were so many temptations to lose focus on what’s important. All seemed pretty simple in Carmel in 1996.”
