A Hall of Fame is “an establishment commemorating the achievements of a particular group of people.”
Bethel Park High School recently added a new Hall of Fame, inducting its first class of members on Friday, January 19th at halftime of the Boy’s Varsity Basketball game. But this Hall of Fame is different from Bethel Park’s other Hall of Fame (Athletic Hall of Fame). It focuses on achievements besides sports.
The Bethel Park School District’s website says, “The Bethel Park Great Alumni Hall of Fame was created to recognize and honor Bethel Park High school alumni who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments either personally or professionally after graduating from Bethel Park High School. Honorees are selected because they significantly improved the lives of others, contributed significant volunteer or community service, or achieved significant advancement in their professional field.”
The creation of the Great Alumni Hall of Fame marks an important moment in Bethel Park history; a moment when graduates of the high school were recognized not only for their athletic achievements but also for their work in the community around them and for their personal accomplishments.
According to Dr. Jansante, his sons, Carmen and Luke, came up with the idea of creating the Great Alumni Hall of Fame as a service project for the Bethel Park chapter of the National Honors Society. Once the idea received approval, the principals worked together with NHS to come up with a plan.
They had to figure out a way to publicize and get people to send in applications. The selection committee was made up of teachers, administrators, students, and parents. They had no set number before the selection process but came up with seven inductees, including LT Kenneth “Buzz” Beyda, Class of 2003, William Brucker III, Class of 2000, Dr. Grant Hammond, Class of 1962, Barbara Bowman Pierce, Class of 1962, Admiral Thomas Replogle, Class of 1947, Thomas Watjen, Class of 1972, and Dr. Roger Zelt, Class of 1972. To read more about the inductees, visit http://www.bpsd.org/hsAlumni.aspx.
Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, an interview was conducted with Dr. Rodger Zelt. When asked if he was always set on going into the department of ophthalmology, he replied he always wanted to be in a service profession like ministry, teaching, law, or medicine. He explained that as an ophthalmologist he gets to minister to people, teach medical students, deal with legal issues of a business owner, and still be involved with the aide of people who require medical eye care. Dr. Zelt was also asked about his advice for upcoming high school students. His advice states for all students to prepare themselves and to take advantage of the amazing staff and facility that they have access to. Dr. Rodger Zelt is an exceptionally wise man and is well deserved of his induction to the Great Alumni Hall of Fame.
To be eligible for the Great Alumni Hall of Fame, nominees must have been a BPHS graduate and have done something of great importance after graduating, such as a professional achievement or significantly changing people’s lives. In an interview with co-founder Luke Jansante, he said, “We created the Bethel Park Great Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize the graduates of Bethel Park who went on to do significant accomplishments either professionally or through community service.”
Next, the committee had to decide when to host the event, and eventually decided on the Boy’s Basketball game. When asked why the committee decided to host it at a basketball game, Dr. Jansante responded, “The presentation was held at the basketball game so that both community members and students could be there. The purpose is to bring the community and school together and show the remarkable things people have done after receiving a Bethel Park education.”
Dr. Jansante also indicates that this will be a yearly induction, and will be run by the Bethel Park NHS and the High School Principal’s office.
During the halftime presentation, the description of each inductee’s accomplishments was read and they stood together in the middle of the gym floor. All of the inductees received a medal and a plaque during the presentation. Also, a new display case has been put up in the main lobby of the High School. A picture, duplicate medal, and plaque have been placed in the display case in the main lobby.
The Bethel Park Great Alumni Hall of Fame was a great success, with a large crowd present and inductees receiving loud cheers from all present, and looks to remain as a success with upcoming yearly inductions for many years to come.