Distinguished Highlander Alumni Hall of Fame & Awards Gala
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What an AMAZING night for our Baldwin-Whitehall community!
The 2026 Distinguished Highlander Alumni Hall of Fame and Awards Gala brought together generations of people who care deeply about our school district community, our students, and most importantly, one another. You could feel a strong sense of Highlander pride, connection, and appreciation for the legacy we continue to build together. We were honored to celebrate six Baldwin High School alumni whose achievements continue to inspire those around them, seven faculty and staff members (and one therapy dog!) who steer students toward brighter futures every day, and seven extraordinary community volunteers whose generosity strengthens our district. Each story served as a powerful reminder of what makes Baldwin-Whitehall such a special place to learn and grow. The laughter, ovations, and happy tears flowed all night. Our sponsors, partners, and families showed up in a big way, helping ensure that BWEF continues to create meaningful opportunities for our students. Most of all, the night was a celebration of people. It reminded us that the legacy of Baldwin-Whitehall lives not only in our history, but in the impact we continue to make together every single day. With full hearts, we remain feeling grateful, inspired, and excited for what’s ahead! Thank you for an amazing night! |
View a gallery with more than 100 photos provided by Prints Charming Photography and attendees!
During dinner, we played a short video featuring faculty and staff discussing the impact of BWEF's curriculum innovation grants.
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Distinguished Highlander Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Graduates of Baldwin High School whose personal accomplishments, professional achievements, and service to others inspire current & future Highlander students
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Distinguished Highlander Alumni Hall of Fame Exhibit Plaques
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Highlander Compass Award
Baldwin-Whitehall School District personnel who guide students toward brighter futures
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Above and Beyond Award
Parents, residents, and individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Baldwin-Whitehall School District through volunteerism
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Thank You, Gala Sponsors & Donors!
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AG Parts Worldwide
Allegheny Safe & Lock Altoona Curve Andy Wojtowicz, Baldwin High School, Senior Arroyo Family Baldwin Borough Baldwin High School Class of 1977 Baldwin High School Highlander Hub Baldwin High School Innovation Shop Baldwin High School National Art Honor Society Baldwin High School Student Volunteers Baldwin-Whitehall School District Basket of Pittsburgh Big Burrito Restaurant Group Breezy Lou Designs BW School Board of Directors Caroline McDonough Carrie Hobson Carrie on Communication Century Square Cinema Commonwealth Investment Management Cornell Financial Services Dan and Suzie Shaner Dave Marcus Wholesaler, Inc. David Frost Deans Beer Discovery Commons Bethel Park Doubletree by Hilton-Pittsburgh Green Tree EAS Roofing EZ Does It Renovations Fairmont Pittsburgh Financial Fuel Services First National Bank FluxSpace Fun Fore All Gianna Via's Restaurant & Bar Haas Family Heinz History Center Henderson Family HHSDR Architects & Engineers Iron City Properties, Inc. J. Poli, Inc. John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc. |
Joint Family
Kollar Family Lakeside Confections LLC Lisk Family Louise Mancuso Wolf Lutz Family Machi Family Mary Mincin Odato Members of BWEF Mountaineer Casino Resort Nowalk Family Original Oyster House Passport to Pittsburgh Pasta Too Penn Brewery Pittsburgh Ascend Pittsburgh Business Exchange Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium Pompadour Salon Prints Charming Photography Promowest North Shore-Stage AE Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Renae Logan Saska Family Scheuermann's Disease Fund Sheffo Family Sliman Family Sognatore Salon & Spa South Hills Country Club Stauffer Family Steel City Collision Stonewater Salon & Spa Substitute Teacher Service Syskowski Family Thunderdome Restaurant Group University of Pittsburgh Athletics Vargo Family Washington Wild Things Wells Family Zerjav Family Zoe's Beer As of March 21, 2026. |
Media Coverage
- Baldwin-Whitehall School District inducts new Hall of Fame class. TribLive, March 23, 2026
- Highlander Hall of Fame Honors: WTAE-TV, March 21, 2026.
2020 Virtual Ceremony and 80th Anniversary Celebration
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Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, BWEF converted the gala to a virtual ceremony that premiered on June 4, 2020. The virtual ceremony allowed us to safely celebrate the honorees in a socially distant environment, while still celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, and protecting the health and safety of our Baldwin-Whitehall communities. As a result of the ceremony, BWEF was able to provide ~$10,000 toward a COVID-19 relief fund to help students and families in the district who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic, increase student scholarship funding to $6,000 for seniors graduating from Baldwin High School, and expand the exhibit at Baldwin High School.
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2017 Hall of Fame Gala
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In our second hall of fame gala, we celebrated our dais on March 11, 2017. We expanded the group of honorees that year through the Above and Beyond program to recognize exceptional community residents who have made volunteerism a way of life. The event resulted in seven student scholarships to be awarded to seniors during the 2017-18 school year, the most ever awarded by BWEF in a single school year. |
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2015 Hall of Fame Gala and 75th Anniversary Celebration
In 2005, we hosted the first-ever Hall of Fame Gala in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. "We can't think of a better way to celebrate the District's 75th Anniversary than to recognize the contributions of these individuals," said Dr. Randal A. Lutz, Superintendent of Schools. "While their achievements are extremely diverse, our inductees represent one common idea - a future of unlimited potential for each of our current 4,118 students."
Hall of Fame Exhibit 
Unveiled in 2015, the Distinguished Highlander Hall of Fame Exhibit is a permanent display outside of the Baldwin High School Gymnasium.
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From Kindergarten to Seniors, 25 students gathered under the direction of Baldwin High School teacher Brad Schulte to produce a video, formally announcing the first-ever inductees to the Distinguished Highlander Hall of Fame. Lindsay Bonetti, 6th Grade student at Harrison Middle School, notes in her introduction in the video, "They are people who make the world a better place."
Through the Eyes of a Child As part of the Diamond Anniversary celebration, students were asked to consider their own futures and imagine what they want to be by the time they celebrate their own 75th birthday by creating a poster to illustrate the story of their lives at age 75. One winner from each grade level was selected and each won a $75 gift card to The Mall at Robinson courtesy of our friends at The Mall at Robinson.
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Media Coverage of the Galas
