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Elizabeth R. McAnarney, MD, received the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2008. A graduate of the class of 1958, Dr. McAnarney has attained national and international recognition and eminence as a leader in the field of adolescent medicine. She earned degrees at Vassar College and The State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York. Her distinguished career and service to community includes serving as Director of Adolescent Medicine, fellowship director for 22 fellows, and Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief at the Golisano Children’s Hospital, an affiliate of Strong Memorial Hospital. She is past President of numerous associations and academies dealing with adolescent and pediatric medicines as well as having served on local and national advisory boards. Dr. McAnarney is the author or co-author of nearly one hundred fifty papers and chapters and is chief editor of the Textbook of Adolescent Medicine. On behalf of the Association, Peggy thanked Dr. McAnarney for remembering her home town roots and extended well wishes and continued success to her as a distinguished honoree and past Watkins Glen High School graduate.

2008 Distinguished Alumni recipient Elizabeth R. McAnarney

2007 Distinguished Alumni recipient - Mary Freer

Mary Freer, the alumni 2007 honoree, distinguished herself by being the first and only graduate of Watkins Glen High School in 1883. Following graduation and marriage she moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado during the era of the “wild, wild west”. In addition to being a gold prospector, along with her husband, she had an interest in education. She was instrumental in furthering educational resources in the territory, as well as having served on the Library Board of Cripple Creek for most of her life. She also developed a great reputation for her artistic talents. This woman of character and fortitude well deserves the recognition and honor afforded her by the Association named after the high school from which she graduated so many years ago.

The Alumni Association honored two graduates with their Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009. Dr. Thomas Jack Love, Class of 1939, was inducted in the field of Community Service. A well known and respected local veterinarian, “Doc” as he was affectionately known served on several boards and ad hoc committees throughout his lifetime. However, his induction as “distinguished” was primarily for his combined total of eighteen years that he served on the Watkins Glen School District Board of Education. His widow, Margie Love. also a graduate of the Class of 1939, accepted the award on his behalf.

David F. Bartone, Class of 1964, was inducted in the field of Business. David is currently President and CEO Emeritus and Executive Consultant for the Corning Credit Union. He began his career in 1965 and served as its President and CEO from 1979-2004. During his tenure assets grew from $35 million to $870 million and membership grew from 28,000 to 85,000. He led the organization through twenty-five consecutive years of growth and created core standards and a philosophy which are still utilized today. He is listed as one of the Cardwell Top 100 President and CEO’s of the country and was named the #1 President and CEO in the country by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions in 2003.

Henry J. Sgrecci, Doctor of Musical Arts, was honored as the 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Watkins Glen High School Alumni Association. He was recognized in the Field of Music.

He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and his Master’s in Trumpet Performance and his Doctorate in Conducting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

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From 1974-78 and 1981-2004, he was the trumpeter and premier bugler for the United States Army Band.

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He performed in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Interlochen Center for the Arts, and in White House Medal of Honor Ceremonies.

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He was lauded for exemplary performances of Taps during nationally televised Memorial Day ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Arlington National Cemetery, hosted by Presidents Bush and Clinton.

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In 1991 he was invited by the Band of the Queen’s Household Welsh Guard to perform Taps at Wembley Arena in London in a special concert benefiting the British Red Cross, in the presence of Princess Diana.

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In April and May of 2004 he was interviewed as U.S. Army’s Premier Bugler on ABC World News Tonight and with Bob Edwards Morning Edition Radio.

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He was the director of The Bells of Blessed Sacrament handbell choir that was the only handbell choir invited to participate in the historic Papal Mass at Washington National Baseball Stadium in 2008.

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He was awarded one of the military’s highest awards, the Legion of Merit, upon his retirement in 2004. “Sergeant Major Sgrecci’s outstanding musicianship and superior record of achievement contributed immensely to the performances and professionalism of “Pershing’s Own”.

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He volunteered to assist with a youth orchestra in 2002 and has continued as a coach and associate director. The Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra is an advanced orchestra that performs the same music as a major symphony.

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He has returned several times to perform and participate at masses at St. Mary’s of the Lake Church. He was a guest soloist and conductor at the Watkins Glen High School Spring Band Concert in 2004.

Currently, Henry is the Director of Music at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church.

A plaque honoring Henry will be displayed on the “Distinguished Alumni Wall” at the Watkins Glen High School. A notebook with a photograph and biographical sketch will be kept at the high school, the public library, and the historical society.

2010 Distinguished Alumni recipient Henry J. Sgrecci

Distinguished Alumni Criteria and Nomination Form

2011 Distinguished Alumni recipients

Colonel Allan P. Waite, Jr. and Dr. Joseph J. DelRosso

Colonel Allan P. Waite, Jr. class of 1976 is commander and conductor of The United States Air Force Band. This premier squadron honors those who have served, inspires patriotism and military service in fellow citizens, and positively impacts the global community on behalf of the U.S. Air Force and the United States of America. Colonel Waite is responsible for all activities of this 181-member musical unit including equipping, training, and deploying musicians to perform nearly 1,700 missions each year, executing a $2.9 million annual budget, and caretaking a physical plant and equipment worth $28.1 million.

In 1989, he was commissioned through the Air Force Officer Training School, winning the Dick Scobee Award for leadership and integrity, and gaining distinction as the only band officer ever selected as Officer Trainee Wing Commander.

Colonel Waite has conducted more than 1,200 programs in six countries and 46 of the 50 United States before 11 million live audience members and 35 million television viewers. His concert highlights include multiple White House performances for Presidents and national and international dignitaries.

Dr. Joseph J. Del Rosso class of 1951, began his career as a junior high school teacher of social studies in Plainview; taught at Stanford University, SUNY Brockport, and the University of Southern California; and was an Adjunct Professor of Education at Hofstra University. For eleven years, he served on the Advisory Board of the educational television station, Channel 13, in New York City.

Congressman Gary Ackerman cited Dr. Del Rosso on the floor of the United States House of Representatives for his outstanding achievements and contributions to education in New York State and at the national level; and he was lauded by a proclamation by the joint houses of the New York State Legislature for his contributions and leadership in New York State education.

Although officially retired since 1994 as a school superintendent, he is currently the Executive Director of SCOPE Education Services, a not-for-profit educational organization with overall responsibility that provides services to 124 school districts and to the community at large on Long Island.

2013 Distinguished Alumni recipients

Marcia Miller Van Wagner and Honorable Judge William N Ellison

Plaque presented to Mrs. Patricia Ellsion, Class of 1946

Marcia Miller Van Wagner, Class of 1960

Retired Colonel, US Army Nurse Corps, and retired civilian Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, 1960 Watkins Glen High School graduate Marcia Miller Van Wagner.

Marcia’s early civilian career included staff nursing in several local area hospitals in addition to the Schuyler County Public Health Department, where she was awarded the American Red Cross Nursing Badge for her service during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. In ‘74 she was commissioned as Captain in the United States Army Nurse Corps. She served as a member of the team that developed the US Army's first treatment model for parental child abuse in a military setting. She then went on to represent the United States in Geneva, Switzerland to present this model to the World Health Organization Convention on Child Abuse & Neglect.

In 1982, Marcia returned to a most impressive civilian career as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, while remaining in the Army Reserves where she rose through the ranks to Colonel. In 1990 she volunteered for active duty for Operation Desert Storm and was put in charge of the Army’s 1000 bed hospital in Saudi Arabia. Following the war she was chosen to address the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States in Washington, DC on the experience of Nursing in a Host Nation Facility During War. Before retiring a second time from the Army, Marcia developed and implemented the current training program designed to ensure the mobilization readiness of the US Army Nurse Corps.

Marcia has continued to serve in her retirement, founding a non-profit organization, serving on boards, teaching classes, and serving as Director of the Community Service Board in the 12000 member community in which she lives. Her energy knows no bounds!

A1946 Watkins Glen High School graduate, the Honorable Judge William N. Ellison, who, until his death in 2012 made his life and career one of service to the community in which he was raised and in which he chose to live his life.

Inspired by a family member with special needs, Judge Ellison championed educational services for special needs children long before the services of today existed, leading to the initial establishment of special needs education in our community. His continued community service also led to an eleven year tenure on Schuyler Hospital's Board of Directors which included the period that saw the construction of our much needed Long Term Care facility. His service as CCC’s Board President oversaw the development of the CCC Elmira campus and his 47 year service on the Northrup Education Foundation Board oversaw the administration of over 3 quarter of a million $’s in interest free loans to area college students.

Judge Ellison served as Schuyler County’s district attorney for 13 years and was later elected County and Family Court Judge and Surrogate. He joined with other law enforcement officials to start a training program for new police officers in the basement of what today is the NY Fire Academy in M.F. That program later became today's Southern Tier Law Enforcement Academy, now a part of Corning Community College. As the first & only elected NYS Supreme Court Justice from Schuyler County he served admirably for 17 years. To quote former Sheriff Mike Maloney, "It is more than fair to say that the tenure of Supreme Court Judge William N. Ellison was seen as one of distinction by both the legal and law enforcement communities."

Bill Ellison was never one to simply watch things happen or to wonder how things happen. He was that rare and unique individual who used his gifts to serve, to lead, to better his community and to make things happen.

2014 Distinguished Alumni recipient

Charles "Monty" Stamp