Sept. 20, 2022 -- The Heights Schools Foundation and the CH-UH City School District inducted 10 new members into the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on September 17 as part of Homecoming Weekend.
The 2022 inductees are Peter Bendix ‘04, Al Carr ‘84, Diana Cohen ‘97, Dr. Nancy Eppler-Wolff ‘71, Tenessa Gonzalez-Jennings ‘98, Habbebah Rasheed Grimes ‘95, Stan Silverman ‘65, Jerome White ‘88, Dr. Juliana Woda ‘92, and Dr. James Wyban ‘69.
In front of their families, friends, and current Heights High School students, each member of the 2022 cohort shared how their experiences at Heights shaped their successful futures. Habbebah Rasheed Grimes recalled feeling uncertain of her own potential as a young child, until she came to Heights schools and met caring teachers who believed in her.
“I felt that love start to chip away at that crushing weight. My desire for all Heights scholars, for young people all across this nation, is that adults will show you that you have every right to rise, to shine, to be immaculate and brilliant,” said Rasheed Grimes.
Each of the inductees was paired with a current Heights High student, who got to know the alumni and introduced them at the ceremony.
Peter Bendix is the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, one of the most highly-regarded Major League Baseball organizations. At age 37, he is among the youngest to hold that position in the MLB.
In 2007, Al Carr was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates after a 20-year career in telecommunications. He is currently in his third term representing the 18th District.
Concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012, Diana Cohen performs in concerts across the globe. Diana is Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the acclaimed ChamberFest Cleveland and ChamberFest West in Calgary.
Dr. Nancy Eppler-Wolff is a sought-after expert and author in the field of child development. She has been in private clinical practice for more than 25 years in New York City.
An Emmy-award winning executive producer for E.W. Scripps in San Diego, Tenessa Gonzalez-Jennings garnered the prestigious National Association of Black Journalists Salute to Excellence in Television in 2021.
Habbebah Rasheed Grimes is the CEO of Positive Education Program (PEP), leading a staff of 450 professionals committed to supporting healing in children. She is this year’s Crain’s Cleveland Woman of Note.
As Dean and Professor Emeritus at The University of Akron and President of Human Resource Decisions, Inc., Stan Silverman has trained thousands of students, employees and executives in various areas of workplace leadership.
Jerome White, a long-time art educator in CH-UH Schools, is a dynamic community artist and activist. His recent commissions include the Heights HOF mural and a series for Cleveland’s historic League Park.
A scientist extraordinaire, Dr. Juliana Woda is a lab manager, experiment designer, evaluator and consultant. She is also the co-founder of a company that combats antibiotic resistance.
Dr. Jim Wyban developed SPF (specific pathogen-free) shrimp and is the world’s foremost authority in this field. His work transformed the industry, adding $225 billion to the global shrimp economy.
In its 42nd year in 2022, the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honors individuals for their outstanding accomplishments and service to their community. Since 1981, a total of 431 Heights High graduates have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.