I am a senior at Penn State University, studying Mechanical Engineering. During my time at Penn State, I have had the opportunity to do multiple internships and co-ops. I spent three semesters on a co-op assignment with MSA Safety in Cranberry Township. There, I was on the Supplied Air Respirators New Product Development team. The main product I worked on was the G1 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). This is the air pack that firefighters wear to protect themselves while entering hazardous environments. I also worked on multiple types of air purifying respirators, which are used in industrial and health care environments. During the pandemic, I had a direct impact on the company’s response to increased demand from the health care sector. Now I am an intern at Boeing, working as a manufacturing engineer on the P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine program.

 

Being promoted to Engine Company Lieutenant with the Alpha Fire Company in State College, PA. There, I am in charge of emergency scenes and have to make decisions in high stress environments. I am also responsible for teaching new members the skills necessary to be an effective firefighter. When home from school I also volunteer at the Wexford Volunteer Fire Company.

 

My time at OLSH prepared me well academically for life as an engineering student and intern. I still use many of the skills from the math, physics, 3D modeling, and programming courses that I took at OLSH in both coursework and in the workplace.

 

The lasting friendships that I made at OLSH are my favorite ongoing memories of OLSH. I still communicate and hang out with these friends on a regular basis.

 

 

I am the Director of Athletics at Lynn University.

 

Ensuring that Christ is the center of my family’s life is the proudest aspect of my life. Marrying my beautiful wife, Cindy, in 2001 is another proud moment of my life. Professionally, at Lynn, we have won two NCAA championships, played in the national championship final six times, and 31 Lynn University teams have been selected to the NCAA Championships in five years.

 

To this day in 2021, I continue to share OLSH’s impact on my life with anyone willing to listen. The culture of excellence balanced with care for the student’s soul, academics, and athletics is the foundation of OLSH’s success. The culture of OLSH taught me that sincere care and compassion for humanity is the most valuable asset for any organization. I’m thankful to God for meeting Sister Christopher and Sister Francine in 1992.

 

Winning the 1993 WPIAL 400 meter championship and placing 2nd in the PIAA 400 meter finals was a fond memory for me. Though Mike “MAC” McDonald deserves these trophies. He advocated to the WPIAL on my behalf to enable me to represent OLSH as a one-man track and field program in the spring of 1993.

 

I’ve been a proud Our Lady of the Sacred Heart graduate since 1993 and my passion for OLSH will never waiver.

 

You can learn even more about Devin and his career here.

 

 

I am a retired Aerospace Materials and Process Engineer.

 

The recognition of my Girl Scout Service years. I am currently the Service Unit Manager for my area and a girl scout leader as well.

 

A good science background at OLSH set me on the path to major in science in college, as suggested by Sister Pulcheria.

 

Playing piano for the Glee club and performing with my friends on stage. We were the last all girl graduating class – remembering fondly all of my classmates and the fun times we had together.

 

Fun Fact: Claudia was the class historian tasked with creating a memory book of her class' four years at OLSH. That book is currently housed with others like it from years past in the OLSH Advancement Office.

 

 

I am a teacher in the Fox Chapel School District.

 

I have worked hard to obtain both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Duquesne University. I am currently in my 21st year of teaching.

 

The teachers at OLSH helped to form me into the type of teacher I am. They cared about their students and made me feel important.

 

The time I spent on the playing fields (basketball, softball, and cross country) is my most memorable at OLSH.

 

Nowadays, Maria is usually behind the camera as opposed to in front of it, so here's a throwback picture of her in her senior year at OLSH!

 

 

Retired Army Military Officer; Currently working as a Senior Contract Analyst for Scientific Application International Corporation (SAIC), in support of NASA’s Integrated Communication System (NICS). Essentially my team and I are responsible for all of the electronic acquisitions that enable communication between the ground, space shuttle, and space center.

 

Staying married and raising four children, Billy (18); Avery (16); Hudson (7); and Aviana (5). A mentor of mine once defined a successful military career in terms of working through the stress, anxiety, and the trials & tribulations which are thrust upon your family while serving your country, and not getting divorced. Being in a marriage and also having the privilege of being a parent requires immense hard work and sacrifice. I was fortunate that my wife (Christina Parone ‘97) was strong willed. She was primarily responsible for raising four compassionate, bright, high achieving kids while I served on six deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan; multiple trips to Africa; and in military exercises throughout the world. Not to mention we moved a total of nine times in 18 years, to include living in Italy and Alaska. Christina ensured that we all capitalized on every opportunity that was presented to us. She always made the best of every situation, and she enabled us to grow as individuals, as well as a family.

 

OLSH provided stability for me in a world of chaos. My home life was not well, I did not have positive individuals around me until I began my days in high school. The institution, albeit largely unknown to myself at the time, developed my communication skills, introduced me to organized activities, created a base of professionals that I could count on for mentorship, built my confidence, provided a solid foundation in God, introduced positive people in my life who later became good friends, and of course… I met and began dating Christina here. It is important to note that I was ignorant to the significance of everything I just mentioned, I was oblivious to my personal growth during the four years I was there. My academic career was abysmal, I graduated second from the bottom of my class, and a few trees were cut down to provide paper for all of the demerits I received. But through the opportunities that I was afforded by OLSH, and because I amassed a lifetime of experiences, and most of all because God looks out for me, I have an amazing family; completed a stellar military career; finished my doctorate degree in education leadership; and work for NASA.

 

I often reflect on my high school days, and many memories pop into my mind that I am fond of. However, my best memory was seeing my wife for the first time in the commons, I knew we were meant to be together.

 

Thank you. I did not like school as a teenager, nor did I understand the significance of hard work and sacrifice. I always looked for the easiest way to accomplish something, even if it ended up being harder than the original task. I learned through suffering, and this education began for me at OLSH. I specifically remember a time at the end of my sophomore year in which I had received over 100 demerits. Mr. Finnegan (Tony) and whoever else was behind the scenes, were considering not welcoming me back for my junior year. He, or they, decided to give me one more chance and I was able to turn it around. I think of that often, and I would like to say thank you.

 

 

I teach computer skills, media and communication at several universities in Japan. Before that I had many, many other jobs including but not only: steelworker, radio DJ, TV director, actor and working with an international volunteer group.

 

In 2007, I climbed Mount Fuji on national TV! It was a pretty hard challenge itself, but then the show came on a few weeks later, and everyone saw it, so it was a little bit of fame for me at that time.

 

The academic achievement awards in 1996. I won an award for excellence in drama class. The teacher, Debbie Mendoza, is sadly no longer with us, but she really believed in me. When I won the award I was so shocked. I can't imagine what everyone else was thinking when they saw me up on stage with all the good students. I still have that award and there's a photo in the yearbook of Mrs. Mendoza and me from that night. So that memory will live forever!

 

These days I run a YouTube channel. Its pretty popular, almost 15,000 subscribers. I'll also most certainly live the rest of my life in Japan.