UA Alumni Day honors best of the best of retired educators, graduates
The Upper Arlington Alumni Association hosted its annual celebration for alumni and their families - UA Alumni Day - on Saturday, July 6 at the high school. It was a great afternoon of fellowship, memories and fun for Golden Bears of all ages!
During the festivities, the Alumni Association and Upper Arlington Schools paused to recognize five retired teachers and three alumni for their service and contributions to the schools and community. Here’s more about the honors and the honorees.
Upper Arlington Schools Educator Hall of Fame
The Educator Hall of Fame was established in 2007 by former UAHS Principal and current Upper Arlington City Council President and Mayor Kip Greenhill to honor “the best of the best” teachers in the district. The following four teachers were nominated by their peers and selected by a group representing teachers and alumni for induction into the Hall of Fame this year:
Joe Conley
Joe Conley taught in Upper Arlington for 25 years, beginning at Hastings Middle School and then moving to the high school. There, he spent the bulk of his career teaching classes like Mass Media, Broadcast Theory and Broadcast Production. The messages of love from his students still adorn the doorway of WARL.
Bonnie Emery
Bonnie Emery is a legend at Barrington Elementary School, where she spent many years as a 3 / 4 multi-age teacher and a looping third-fourth grade teacher. She is known for nurturing her students so that they could embrace their own unique strengths and talents.
Virginia Gardier
Virginia Gardier was the librarian/media specialist at Burbank Elementary School and later at Greensview Elementary School. Her students looked forward to visiting the library because it was a place to explore and dream big.
Betsy Miller
Betsy taught language arts at all levels at Upper Arlington High School. She also served as a district-wide teacher-leader in the subject as well as being the adviser for the Norwester yearbook, the director of the Artist in the Schools program, and many other extra responsibilities.
Dan Sebastian
Dan Sebastian got his start in UA at Jones Middle School as a teacher, football coach and tennis coach - exactly 20 years after being a student, a football player and a tennis player there. Four years later, he went on to teach and coach at the high school 20 years after his graduation. As a teacher, he was known for challenging and supporting his students in their growth as people as well as learners.
Alumni Association Outstanding Alumnus Award
Mary DeCesaro Cameron, Class of 1979
This award recognizes someone who has generously donated his or her time to the Alumni Association and its mission — and Mary DeCesaro Cameron has done that. She served on the UAAA board for 13 years and still offers support by volunteering on committees and chairing her class reunions.
Alumni Association Distinguished Alumnus Awards
Justice Herbert Brown, Class of 1949
Justice Brown began his career in the Army Judge Advocates General (JAG) office, then moved on to a successful career as an attorney. In 1987, he became the 142nd justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and served until 1993. Since then, he’s published many plays and books and serves as an adjutant professor at The Ohio State University College of Law.
Pete Edwards, Class of 1979
Pete Edwards is currently known around town as “the guy who saved the Columbus Crew.” Indeed, he did lead the investor group that bought the team, keeping it here in Columbus. He is also an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and has 25 years of experience treating elite athletes. He also spent 15 years as a volunteer team physician for UAHS athletics.
Posted: Monday, August 26, 2019