The following is a brief of the story. For the full version, see the Tuesday, June 30 print edition of the BDN.

Identity and how identities will live on was the topic of John Hopkins’ speech to the Boonville High Schools Alumni Association on Saturday evening.

The 45th annual celebration brings together alumni from BHS, Sumner and Boonville Catholic. This year’s event, held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, honored graduates of classes ending in “4” and “9.” Hopkins graduated from the class of 1964.

Since graduation, Hopkins has found himself as senior lecturer in American Language and Culture at the University of Tampere, Finland, where he also directs the FAST Area Studies Program, which studies the United States, England, Ireland and Finland from linguistic and intercultural perspectives. Hopkins has been all over the world, but his speech stems from a trip home to Boonville two years ago.

While walking down Main Street, Hopkins was approached by several people. Hopkins said that he didn’t remember all of them, but that they knew him through the context of his family.

“My identity was clear to them from that of my family. My grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sister had established models which I had then followed. I was first known as a reflection of them, as each of us is first identified in terms of those we follow,” Hopkins said.

To contact Amber Christian, email amber@boonvilledailynews.com