School News
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 January 2023 17:12
The West Jefferson Hills School District is proud to announce the members of the district’s inaugural Hall of Fame classes. A total of 29 Thomas Jefferson High School graduates and two athletic teams are set to be inducted in March.
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The district re-launched its Halls of Fame program last fall, re-opening the nomination process. West Jefferson Hills had announced it was starting the Halls of Fame program during the 2019-20 school year, but the first class of inductees were never announced or recognized due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Jefferson High School graduates who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academics, arts or athletics, as well as staff and community members, are eligible for induction, if they meet the established Hall of Fame criteria. Nominees included former students, teachers, staff and community members who have made unique and lasting contributions to the district and the West Elizabeth, Jefferson Hills and Pleasant Hills communities.
“As a District, we are excited to honor those that graduated from the West Jefferson Hills School District,” said WJHSD Superintendent Dr. Janet Sardon. “The nominees are people who have forged a path of success while making a difference in the world around them. They are role models and mentors for our current students and a strong representative of who we are and who we want to be as a school district. I am excited to be a part of the Hall of Fame program, bringing recognition and positivity to our schools and community.”
Committees in each of the three areas - academics, arts and athletics - considered the nominees and recommended selections for induction to the entire Hall of Fame Committee.
The inaugural HOF classes will be inducted at the WJHSD Hall of Fame banquet on March 4, 2023 at the Georgetown Centre in Pleasant Hills.
The members of the inaugural classes of the WJHSD Hall of Fame are listed below.
(Additional biographical information will be posted on www.wjhsd.net in mid-February)
Class of 2019-20
Academics Arts Athletics
Dr. David Dausey ’93 Eric DeFade ’83 1980 TJHS Football team
Dr. William Edmonds ’81 Ray DeFade Richard Costanzo ‘04
Robert Horn ’64 Karen Suszynski ‘68 Kelli (Miller) Dimidjian ‘89
Edward Miller, P.E. ’85 Mike Kopinski
Dr. Mark Onaitis ’89 Karri (Miller) Lockhart ‘89
Matt Onaitis ’89 Baptiste (Bap) Manzini
Nancy Stokey ‘68 (posthumous)
Marla Puryear ’89 (posthumous)
Class of 2022-23
Academics Arts Athletics
Dr. Edward DiCarlo ’73 Sandra Barker 2001 TJHS Girls Volleyball team
Gregory Earnest ’66 (posthumous) Robert Beckjord ’67 Bill Arre ’05
Dr. Douglas Natelson ‘89 (posthumous) Jimbo Cramer ‘72
William (Joe) Schlitt ’60 Dom DeCicco ‘07
Dr. Peter Wu ‘83 Leo Giel ‘94
John Harchar ‘73
John Zeiler ‘01
