Over 170 family and friends gathered at Marian High School recently for the third annual “Distinguished Alumnus Award” and “Hall of Fame” Celebration in the John P. Malarkey ‘51 Gymnasium.

The recipients of the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” were former Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Rep. Keith McCall ’77, P ’16, ’19 of Summit Hill and Dr. Richard J. O’Donnell ’81, formerly of Summit Hill, and now of San Francisco, Calif.

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was established by the Board of Directors in 2023 to recognize and honor alumni of Marian High School, Saint Ann’s High School, Saint Jerome’s High School, Saint Mary’s High School, Mauch Chunk Catholic High School and former students who are noted in their field of endeavor or recognized for their expertise and good works. The award celebrates those accomplished role models who inspire today’s Marian students to follow their own pursuit of excellence.

Marian also welcomed seven people and one Marian family into the Class of 2025 Hall of Fame including:

1. Rudy Bednar ’69 of Peru, Vermont. (formerly of Lansford)

2. Robert Stanek ’70 of Elverson, formerly of Hometown)

3. Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. Orsulak ’80 of Reading (formerly of Lansford)

4. Dr. Megan T. Valentine ’93 of Goleta, California (formerly of Tamaqua)

5. Patrick and Pam Reilly, P ‘98, ’02, ’11 of Jim Thorpe

6. Sr. Bernard Agnes, IHM, of Malvern, and former principal of Marian

7. Larry ’44 (Posthumously) and Ann Kilroy ’49 Furey, GP ’04 of East Dennis, Massachusetts and their six children: Mary Pat ’75, Kathleen ’76 (Posthumously), Ann ’78, Larry ’79, Patrick ’83 and Michael ’83

The Hall of Fame was established by the Board of Directors in 2023 to honor and recognize alumni from Marian Catholic High School, Saint Ann’s High School, Saint Jerome’s High School, Saint Mary’s High School and Mauch Chunk Catholic High School along with faculty, staff and special friends, who are distinctively dedicated to serving their community in a way that upholds the tradition and teachings of Marian Catholic High School and its mission. The Hall of Fame honors people who have had significant lifetime achievement and service to Marian, the Catholic church and their communities.

Rev. Msgr. Thomas Orsulak, Class of 1980 and Pastor of Saint Peter Parish in Reading offered the Invocation and Sr. John Evelyn DiTrolio, IHM, a member of the Leadership Council for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary offered closing remarks and a closing prayer.

Over 20 members of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community traveled from Malvern to attend the event, many of who served at Marian as members of the school faculty.

Leo Marzen ’79 of Stamford, Connecticut and Ashley Shickora ’03 of Glastonbury, Connecticut, both members of the board of directors at Marian, shared the master of ceremonies duties. This year’s event raised a record $145,000 for the school’s Scholarship Fund and Facilities Improvement Fund.

One of the highlights of the evening was a $25,000 gift presented by Keith McCall ‘77, his family and the Speaker’s Foundation.

Christopher J. Hagerty of Erie, a friend of the Furey family and the President of the Loyal and True Foundation, challenged the attendees that evening to a matching gift of $25,000 from the Foundation if they would pledge $25,000. At the end of the evening, it was announced that the attendees pledged collectively $26,550