WEST MIFFLIN — Five graduates of the West Mifflin Area School District received the honor of Distinguished Alumni on Friday evenings during an intimate ceremony inside Alumni Hall at West Mifflin Area High School.
The five inductees into the Class of 2024 were: Ted Debiak (West Mifflin North Class of 1962); Wade Lawson (West Mifflin North Class of 1966); Paul Spudich (West Mifflin North Class of 1968); Heather Stark (West Mifflin Area Class of 2001); and Jerry Tachoir (West Mifflin South Class of 1973).
Mr. Debiak was drafted into the Vietnam War at the age of 22, and lost his arm while serving our country. He recently received the Purple Heart along with a meritorious unit commendation, valorous unit award, a Vietnam Service Medal with one bronze star, and an expert badge with a
rifle star. Later, Mr. Debiak earned a doctorate in nuclear engineering and studied the effects of space radiation on semiconductors. He taught math, physics, and chemistry at the Community College of Allegheny County from 2003 until 2019.
For 32 years, Mr. Lawson served as Deputy Executive Director/Executive for State Transportation Authorities. He began his career as a program coordinator for the Port Authority of Allegheny County, and then moved on to the Chief Bureau of Operations Analysis, New Jersey Department of Transportation. He held similar positions in Saudi Arabia; Baltimore, Maryland; and Atlantic City, New Jersey
before his final stop as deputy executive director for the South Jersey Transportation Authority. His duties included oversight of the Atlantic City Expressway toll operations and serving as a liaison to elected officials, the casino industry, and community groups. Mr. Lawson also took part in several professional organizations, including: American Public Transit Association; National Forum for Public Administrators; and Conference of Minority Public Transportation Officials.
After graduating as valedictorian, the late Mr. Spudich went on to earn his bachelor's degree in physics from Carnegie Mellon, and then his master's and Ph.D. from UC San Diego in earth sciences, with a focus on seismology. Mr. Spudich became an eminent seismologist, recognized internationally for his work in earthquake source physics and ground motion prediction. During his
more than 35-year career at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Mr. Spudich conducted numerous field research projects, authored hundreds of scholarly articles and technical presentations, mentored many doctoral students, and consulted with research scientists and academics around the world. Among his many professional honors and awards, Mr. Spudich was named a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and received a Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award in 2013 and the Distinguished Service Award — the highest honor bestowed by the department — in 2016. His final published paper was presented at an international meeting in Slovakia just weeks before his death.
The late Mrs. Stark danced professionally with the Manassas Ballet Theatre in Manassas, Virginia, and also served as the executive assistant for the Manassas Ballet Theatre and Manassas Ballet Academy. Her dance training including Point Park College, LA Roche, Ballet Met, Ballet Austin, Chautauqua Institution, and summers performing with The New York City Ballet in Saratoga
Springs, N.Y. Mrs. Stark taught and choreographed dance at Spacecoast Ballet, The Dance Zone and King Street Dance in Florida; Manassas Ballet Academy in Virginia; and Shade Sisters Dance Studio in Pittsburgh. In the fall of 2017, she built her own business, officially opening South Hills Dance Academy. During her time at West Mifflin, Mrs. Stark was the captain of the Starlettes in the Titan Thunder Marching Band. She selflessly volunteered her time to have students perform at multiple West Mifflin Community Foundation Mon Valley Arts Festivals, and made a great impact on youth in West Mifflin and the South Hills area.
After his time at West Mifflin South, Mr. Tachoir graduated summa cum laude from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1976. He was the first to receive a bachelor's degree in applied music for the vibraphone and mallet instruments, and he studied extensively in arranging and composition. During his extensive career, Mr. Tachoir has performed with
the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the American Wind Symphony, Wilkensburg Symphony, International Symphony — Switzerland, and was a 25-year leader of his own jazz quartet, which played throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe at colleges, universities, jazz clubs, and jazz festivals. Among the many highlights, he was a featured artist at the International Music event at the Paris Conservatory of Music, and is Nashville's most recorded mallet artist. He also was a featured clinician/soloist at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention multiple times. A multi-Grammy nominee, artist with Tama/Bergerault, and leader of the Jerry Tachoir Group, Mr. Tachoir has recorded 12 albums.
Congratulations to all inductees on this well-deserved honor.