Thirteen distinguished alumni chosen for Williamsville School District Wall of Fame

The Williamsville Central School District will honor 13 distinguished graduates who have gone on to successful careers in academia, medicine, business, entertainment, music, broadcasting, and public service.

The 2007 Wall of Fame Induction includes alumni from the District's three high schools as well as the original Williamsville High School, which dates back to the early 1900s. They will be honored at a breakfast celebration sponsored by the Williamsville Education Foundation, Inc. on Friday, Nov. 9 at Westwood Country Club, 772 N. Forest Road.

Afterwards, the newly inducted Wall of Fame alumni will return to their respective alma maters where they will attend special assemblies and speak with students.

"These outstanding alumni are an inspiration to all of our students and a great source of pride for our community," said Superintendent Howard S. Smith. "Our schools helped prepare them for their life's journey and through hard work, education and a strong desire, they have achieved great success and have made a significant impact on the lives of others."

The 2007 Wall of Fame honorees are:

Williamsville East

High School

• Samuel Joseph Savarino (Class of 1976), president and CEO of Savarino Companies, Buffalo

• Cathleen Schmidt (Class of 1977), president and CEO of Citizens Bank, New Hampshire

• Paula Vertino, Ph.D. (Class of 1980), co-director of Cancer Genetics and Genome Instability Program, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Ga.

• Eric Jordan Young (Class of 1989), professional entertainer (Broadway & Television)

Williamsville North

High School

• Michael Barz (Class of 1988), Fox Television News correspondent, Chicago, Ill.

• Gary Malvern, DMA (Class of 1976), professor of music, Furman University; Principal Trumpet, Greenville, S.C. Symphony

• Ronald Markezich (Class of 1985), vice president of Managed Solutions, Microsoft Corporation

• Mitchell Spoth (Class of 1982, deceased), volunteer firefighter killed in the line of duty

Williamsville South

High School

• David Handel (Class of 1982), director of Bolivia National Symphony

• Marsha Henderson (Class of 1966), vice president of External Affairs at University at Buffalo

• Peter Lansbury, Jr., Ph.D. (Class of 1976), professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School

• Jan Marshall (Class of 1966), genetic research scientist; chair, of Scientific Advisory Board, Alström Syndrome International

• Dr. Sandra Schorr (Class of 1966), pediatric hospitalist, Park Ridge Hospital, Hendersonville, N.C.; former chair of pediatrics, St. Luke's Health Center Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Tickets for the Induction Breakfast are $25. Sponsorship opportunities are available at $1,000 (Platinum), $500 (Gold), $250 (Silver) and $100 (Bronze) levels. Proceeds from the breakfast event will go to support the District Planetarium and Space Lab, which provides unique learning opportunities for students across Western New York, and to the Foundation's teacher mini-grant program, which funds specific classroom-based programs.

For ticket information or to make a reservation, please call the Amherst Chamber of Commerce at 632-6905.