JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa.; February 14, 2023 – The inaugural classes of the West Jefferson Hills School District Hall of Fame will be inducted March 4 and the WJHSD community is invited to attend the festivities.
A total of 29 Thomas Jefferson High School graduates and two athletic teams will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 4 at Georgetown Centre in Pleasant Hills. The induction banquet reception begins at 6 p.m.
Public tickets for the banquet are $60 and can be reserved online through February 28 at: bit.ly/3HcaneJ. Members of the community also can register at the WJHSD Administration Building, which is adjacent to TJHS, at 830 Old Clairton Road, Jefferson Hills, weekdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Checks should be made payable to WJHSD.
Members of the community also can support the WJHSD Hall of Fame by providing a gift basket or gift card/certificate for the pre-banquet raffle, making a donation or placing an advertisement in the banquet program. To donate or for more information on being a sponsor, please contact Heidi Karcher at: hkarcher@wjhsd.net. The deadline for program ads and/or to be recognized as a supporter of the Hall of Fame is Friday, February 24.
The district re-launched its Hall of Fame program last fall, re-opening the nomination process. West Jefferson Hills had announced it was starting the Hall 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 members of the inaugural classes of the WJHSD Hall of Fame are (brief biographical information follows; additional bio information will be posted on www.wjhsd.net in late February):
Class of 2019-20
Academics
Dr. David Dausey '93
Dr. William Edmonds '81
Robert Horn '64
Edward Miller, P.E. '85
Dr. Mark Onaitis '89
Matt Onaitis '89
Nancy Stokey '68
Arts
Eric DeFade '83
Ray DeFade
Karen Suszynski '68
Athletics
1980 TJHS Football team
Richard Costanzo '04
Kelli (Miller) Dimidjian '89
Mike Kopnski
Karri (Miller) Lockhart '89
Baptiste (Bap) Manzini (posthumous)
Marla Puryear '89 (posthumous)
Class of 2022-23
Academics
Dr. Edward DiCarlo '73
Gregory Earnest '66 (posthumous)
Dr. Douglas Natelson '89
William (Joe) Schlitt '60
Dr. Peter Wu '83
Arts
Sandra Barker
Robert Beckjord '67 (posthumous)
Athletics
2001 TJHS Girls Volleyball team
Bill Arre '05
Jimbo Cramer '72
Dom DeCicco '07
Leo Giel '94
John Harchar '73
John Zeiler '01
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