Marian Catholic High School, Hometown, has announced the recipients of its 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award, honoring two outstanding graduates whose professional achievements, leadership and service exemplify the mission and values of the school.

The awards will be presented during the 4th Annual Distinguished Alumnus and Hall of Fame Celebration on May 2, in the John P. Malarkey ’51 Gymnasium at Marian.

The recipients will be John P. Lavelle Jr., Esq. ’81, of Bryn Mawr and Sophie A. Kozuch Cuthbertson, Esq. ’91, of McLean, VA.

John P. Lavelle Jr.

A member of the Class of 1981, Lavelle is a partner with the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, based in the firm’s Philadelphia and Princeton offices. He represents clients in crisis management and complex litigation, including product liability, commercial, class action and election law matters, both at trial and on appeal.

Lavelle has served for several years on Marian’s board of directors and chairs the board’s Nominating and Governance Committee.

He grew up in Lehighton with sisters, Marianne ’77 and Jacqueline ’84, and brother, James ’87. John and his wife, Colleen, are the parents of three daughters. He is the son of attorney Marianne Lavelle and the late Carbon County Judge John P. Lavelle.

“Marian was and continues to be a very special place to me,” said Lavelle. “The care, support and encouragement I received there shaped not only my education, but who I became as a person. The faculty and staff helped guide us through a formative time in our lives, and I remain deeply grateful for the friendships, values and sense of purpose Marian instilled in me. It is truly an honor to give back to a school that gave me so much.”

During his time at Marian, Lavelle was involved in numerous activities, including newspaper (editor-in-chief as a senior), Band (president as a senior), senior play, French Honor Society, National Honor Society (vice president as a senior), Marian Youth Corps and the golf team.

He frequently represented Marian in music festival competitions during his time at the school, including Allentown Diocesan, Schuylkill County and Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association District 10 and Region V concert bands.

Lavelle is a 1985 graduate of Princeton University, magna cum laude in Classics, and a 1988 graduate, cum laude, of Harvard Law School. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

He served as a law clerk to the Hon. Thomas N. O’Neill Jr., district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Sophie A. Kozuch Cuthbertson

Sophie (Kozuch) Cuthbertson, Class of 1991, is the managing partner of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP’s Washington, D.C., office and a partner in the firm’s Capital Markets Group.

She is nationally recognized for her work in structured finance, securitization, private fund formation and innovative financial products, advising high-profile clients across the financial services industry.

Cuthbertson is a leader within the legal profession and the broader financial industry, serving on advocacy committees for Women in Securitization and Marketplace Lending and having been recognized by IFLR1000 and named to Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Dealmakers in America.”

“Marian Catholic High School provided me with a foundation of discipline, confidence and intellectual curiosity that has stayed with me throughout my career,” said Cuthbertson. “The school encouraged us to challenge ourselves, lead with integrity and stay true to our Catholic values. I am deeply honored to be recognized by Marian and hope this award inspires current students to pursue their goals with courage and conviction.”

At Marian, Cuthbertson was extensively involved in student life, including Yearbook, newspaper (editor as a senior), senior play, drill team, chorus, Spanish and National Honor Societies (secretary as a senior), youth corps, mock trial, math club, and numerous academic and service programs.

Sophie grew up in Summit Hill and is the daughter of the late James and Elizabeth Kozuch, whom she credits for instilling in her a strong work ethic and dedication to her faith.

She and her husband Doug have three children, James, Ellie and Ian.

Prior to joining Cadwalader, Sophie was a corporate finance associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She received her J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. She is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., and the State of New York.

“John Lavelle and Sophie Cuthbertson represent the very best of Marian Catholic High School,” said the Rev. Robert Finlan ’86 CBHS, principal. “Their professional accomplishments are extraordinary, but even more impressive is the way they live out Marian’s mission through leadership, service and integrity. They are role models for our students and powerful reminders of the lifelong impact of a Marian education.”

The Distinguished Alumnus Award was established in 2023 to honor alumni of Marian Catholic High School and its predecessor schools — Saint Ann’s High School, Saint Jerome’s High School, Saint Mary’s High School and Mauch Chunk Catholic High School — who have distinguished themselves through achievement, service and contributions to society. The award celebrates alumni whose lives inspire today’s Marian students to pursue excellence rooted in faith and service.

“The awards will be presented in recognition of the outstanding and widely recognized achievements of John and Sophie Kozuch,” said Dave Bielen ’69, chairman of the Marian board of directors. “Each exemplifies the standards and mission of Marian Catholic High School through their personal conduct, professional success, and commitment to Catholic education.”

In addition, Marian Catholic High School will welcome eight individuals and two Marian families into the Marian Catholic High School Hall of Fame during the same celebration.

Those honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on sponsorships, program book opportunities, or tickets, contact Dr. Erin Marek, Director of Advancement, at 570-467-3335 or emarek@mariancatholichs.org.

Proceeds from the celebration benefit the Marian Catholic High School Scholarship Fund.