Upper St. Clair High School
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Upper St. Clair High School Halls of Fame September 23, 2016 Criteria For Student Inductees A former student must meet the following criteria to be considered for the three halls of fame. The individual must be a graduate of Upper St. Clair High School and must be away from the high school for at least five years. The individual must have made a positive contribution during high school as well as significant achievements after leaving USCHS. After the initiation of the Halls of Fame in 2000, the students will be nominated by members of the high school staff, the Upper St. Clair alumni, or the Upper St. Clair community. Each Hall of Fame Committee will include representatives of the high school staff, of alumni, and of the community. The nominees must earn a 75% vote of a quorum of the committee. During and after high school, the student could have excelled in one or more of the following: Academic Arts Athletic Activity Service and/or Leadership Art Award Athlete of the Year (USC) Citizenship Recognition Band Award Citizenship Class Officer Benefactor of the Arts Collegiate Recognition Collegiate Recognition Chorus Award Media Athlete Contribution to Society Collegiate Recognition Multiple Sport Athlete Leadership in Field Contribution in Field National Recognition National Honor Society Director’s Award PIAA Champion National Merit Recognition National Recognition of Work Post Season Recognition Overcame Obstacles Orchestra Award Professional Accomplishments Post Graduate Recognition Post Graduate Recognition School Record Professional Accomplishments Professional Accomplishments Service and/or Leadership Publication of Work Service and/or Leadership WPIAL Champion Special Scholarship or Academic Honor Thespian Society Student of the Year USC League of Arts Award Valedictorian Criteria For Administration/Staff Inductees A staff member or volunteer must meet the following criteria to be considered for the three halls of fame. The individual must no longer be employed by Upper St. Clair School District. The individual must have made a significant and positive contribution during his/her association with USCHS. After the initiation of the Halls of Fame in 2000, the staff members or volunteers will be nominated by members of the high school staff, the Upper St. Clair alumni, or the Upper St. Clair community. Each Hall of Fame Committee will include representatives of the high school staff, of alumni, and of the community. The nominees must earn a 75% vote of a quorum of the committee. The individual’s association with USCHS could have been as one or more of the following: Administrator, Teacher, Activity Adviser, Coach, Support Staff Member, School Board Member. During his/her association with USCHS, the individual could have contributed in one or more of the following ways: Gave Outstanding Service in His/Her Position Made Impact on Students’ Lives Made Innovative Contributions Initiated New Programs Provided Leadership in the Development of Facilities, Curriculum, Programs, etc. Earned Local, State, and/or National Recognition Represented USCHS in Local and/or National Educational Groups Published Work Superintendent’s Greeting Dr. Patrick O’Toole The Upper St. Clair School District is proud to welcome the 2016 Halls of Fame Induction Class, along with their families and friends, for this special recognition ceremony. On behalf of the Board, administration, faculty and staff, I congratulate the Induction Class of 2016 for this honor. The name of each inductee will be placed on plaques in the respective Academic, Arts, and Athletic wings. These honored names remind our students and community of the unlimited potential of Upper St. Clair graduates. My thanks to everyone who contributed to planning this special occasion and to those in attendance for showing their support for our newly elected members to the Halls of Fame at Upper St. Clair. Program Master of Ceremonies: Student Emcees 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Tours of the High School 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Reception 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. Induction Ceremony in Theatre 5:45 – 7:15 p.m. Dinner in Nutrition Center 7:15 p.m. Parade of Honor to Panther Stadium 7:45 p.m. Kick-Off – Upper St. Clair vs. Fox Chapel Mission Statement To identify and to honor those who have distinguished themselves in academics, the arts, or athletics at the high school, collegiate or professional level and who, in so doing, have contributed to the pride and prestige of Upper St. Clair High School. Steering Committee Dr. Timothy M. Wagner, Chair Mr. Jim Bennett, Arts Chair Mrs. Angela Petersen, Acting Arts Chair Ms. Jane Hollman, Academic Chair Mr. Jim Render, Athletic Chair Academic Hall of Fame Staff Inductee Todd Ollendyke Hall of fame Committee • ACADEMICS • Jane Hollman, Chair Bill Brandtonies • David Brewton Bob Brosnahan • Ed Callahan Kathy Kirsch • Bill Pope • Jim Saunders Mr. Todd Ollendyke Todd Ollendyke was graduated with Honors with a B.S. in Biology from Pennsylvania State University in 1978. He was first hired as a middle school substitute and then as a high school science teacher. In the early 1980s as the USC student enrollment declined, Todd shifted his attention to computers. He became the first computer teacher at USCHS. From that point on Todd focused his attention on being a Computer Science Teacher. In this capacity he changed the acceptance and the use of technology for the students. In addition to training the students, he also taught the faculty and staff through a variety of in-service programs. Todd extended his services and became the Grade Book Administrator for the high school. Early in his career, Todd was the Rifle Coach for three years. Then he developed the Computer Programming Club, which he sponsored for fifteen years. The last nine years of his tenure, Todd was the adviser of the Clairvoyant, the high school yearbook. He led the staff to design and layout the pages strictly on the computer. Mr. Ollendyke valued the opportunity that he had to work with students, teachers, and administrators and to make them comfortable with the use of technology. In his time away from USC, Todd was an active supporter of the Central PA Food Bank and the Huntingdon S. D. Backpack Program. Todd lives with his wife in Upper St. Clair where they reared their two daughters. Student Inductees Karen Ho, Class of 1988 Mahesh Krishnan, Class of 1988 Joseph J. Plecs, Class of 1988 Karen S. Ho Mahesh Krishnan Karen S. Ho, Class of 1988, had such a sterling record in Mahesh Krishnan, Class of 1988, was a member of the high school that she was named a United States National Honor Society and salutatorian of his class. Presidential Scholar. Some of the achievements that He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Clairvoyant and very earned her this honor were being the Editor-in-Chief active in the National Forensic League. Mahesh won of The Montage, being a member of National Honor numerous awards in the fields of chemistry, physics, Society, being a valedictorian, and National Merit and computer competitions though the PA Academy of Scholar. When she was graduated from USCHS, Karen Sciences and the Westinghouse Science Program. He was named the Compton Scholar which meant that was a National Merit Scholar. Mahesh went to Penn she had full tuition for all four years at Washington State and enrolled in the Jefferson Six Year Accelerated University. She was an Elie Wiesel Essay Competition Medical Program. Mahesh was the president of the Finalist, the Harrison D. Stalker Prize winner, and she Medical Student Support Society, an officer in the was named to Phi Beta Kappa. Karen was graduated Summa cum laude with a BA American Medical Student Association, and a co-founder of the Jefferson Association in Biochemistry and she was awarded the British Marshall Scholarship for graduate of Indian Students. He volunteered in a homeless shelter and in a clinic for the study. Karen chose to study Genetics at Cambridge University in England. After indigent. He became a resident in nephrology at Georgetown University Medical earning her MS in Genetics, she moved to Stanford. In 2002 she earned a Ph.D. in Center. He also earned a MS in Public Health and a MS in Business Administration Developmental Biology. For the next three years, Karen was at the University of from Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. Since his formal training ended, Pennsylvania doing postdoctoral studies on sleep and on neuroscience. She has Mahesh has become a recognized expert in Anemia of Renal Disease, End-Stage written extensively about the genes associated with autism, developmental delay, Renal Disease Payment Policy (US), and Medical Data Analysis and Systems. Mahesh and other neuropathies of children. Karen’s interest was piqued when both her has been a member of the National Kidney Foundation, on the Board of Directors of sons were born premature and had to overcome some typical challenges. Karen the Kidney Health Initiative with the American Society of Nephrology, and the FDA. currently is a Principal Scientist and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the He has published over fifty-five peer-reviewed articles and three books. Currently, University of Utah. Karen is the Chief Officer of the NGLY 1 Foundation, a non-profit Mahesh is an International Chief Medical Officer and Group Vice President for organization to help children with a rare genetic disorder. Karen Ho describes her Research and Development for DaVita Healthcare Partners, which oversees medicine roles as a wife, mother, and scientist. in 12 countries. Mahesh lives with his wife and two children in McLean, VA. J.J. Plecs Joseph J. Plecs, Class of 1988, was a member of the National Honor Society and valedictorian of his class. He was a class officer, and a member of the rifle team, fencing, and the Westinghouse Science Program.