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BC Alumni Hall of Fame induction

Hall of Fame inductees at pre-game reception

From left to right: Board of Education President Matt Downey, Superintendent Jody Monroe, Dan McCarroll (1980), Dr. Robert McNally (1966), Hon. Loretta Preska (1966), Dr. Scott Christianson (1965), Jill Kaplan (1984), Asst. Superintendent Dave Hurst, Director of SESS Kathy Johnston, Interim Principal Mike Klugman, and Asst. Principal Heather Culnan

The Bethlehem Central High School Hall of Fame welcomed five new members on Friday, September 23 as part of 2016 Homecoming Weekend. The five former students, who have made lasting contributions in the fields of science, law, business and the arts, were inducted into the Hall of Fame during halftime at the football game Friday evening.

View photos of the Hall of Fame Induction/Homecoming Game on the district’s Facebook page.

Prior to the game the honorees gathered with friends and family, current students, teachers and administrators in the school’s Library Media Center where a reception was held. When asked to share some of their memories of Bethlehem, each recalled teachers who had inspired them and many spoke of the lasting bonds of friendship they formed in high school, in some cases spanning more than 50 years. Emotions ran high as the inductees thanked family members who had supported them through the years and remembered those who had not lived to see them honored by their alma mater.

One of the newest Hall of Fame members, Dan McCarroll, was thrilled to be back at his high school and relished the opportunity to walk down memory lane. He located his old homeroom and sat where his old desk had been. McCarroll, who is the president of Warner Bros. Records and a member of the Class of 1980, was among those whose memories of Bethlehem included teachers who had inspired him to “dream.”

“We just heard the names of many talented and famous artists who I am really grateful to work with every day,” said McCarroll, whose company represents some of the most successful recording artists in the music industry. “However, I think it is very important to point out the real superstars who don’t have screaming fans, pictures on the covers of magazines, go on television or get to be at the Grammys. These folks are educators and teachers who give so much to kids and adults.

“When I was in seventh grade, there was a teacher named Mrs. Walsh at the middle school. She brought me to this drum assembly in seventh grade and it changed my life,” said McCarroll, who was a successful drummer before making the music business his full-time job. “If it wasn’t for her I honestly believe I wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Congratulations to all 2016 inductees into the BCHS Hall of Fame, who include:

Learn more about the BCHS Alumni Hall of Fame.

2016 Bethlehem Central High School Hall of Fame Inductees

Scott Christianson

Scott Christianson is a member of the fabled Bethlehem Class of 1965, where he captained three varsity teams and participated in student government and other extra-curricular activities. Dr. Christianson received a BA in English from the University of Connecticut, and MA and a PhD in Criminal Justice from SUNY Albany. Since writing his first article for the Bethlehem Star, he has contributed hundreds of articles to dozens of journals including The New Yorker, The New York Times, the Washington Post, The Nation, and Smithsonian. Scott broke many important muckraking stories when he was a young reporter for the Knickerbocker News in Albany, for which he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and profiled as “one of the nation’s top 20 investigative reporters.” Dr. Christianson has lectured and taught at several universities including: SUNY Albany, Union, RPI, Bard, Harvard, Princeton, and Georgetown Law. He has also held several important positions in government and advocacy organizations, including as an aide to Governor Mario Cuomo, Executive Director of the New York State Coalition for Criminal Justice, President of the Safer Society Foundation, and director of the Center on Minorities and Criminal Justice. Scott Christianson is best known as the award-winning author of numerous non-fiction books on a variety of subjects including criminal justice and history, and as a documentary filmmaker, record producer, exhibit curator, storyteller, and human rights advocate. He has appeared on numerous programs on CBS, ABC, CNN, the History Channel, C-Span, BBC and NPR, as well as in movies.

Jill R. Kaplan

Jill R. Kaplan is the Vice President & Publisher of Crain’s New York Business. She joined the company in September 2006. As Publisher, Ms. Kaplan is responsible for and manages editorial, sales, marketing, online, events, audience development and custom solutions. In addition she also sets strategy, defines the vision, directs branding and oversees product development. As Publisher, she has spearheaded the growth and evolution of crainsnewyork.com, built a robust events business and launched a custom content division. In addition, she has lead the expansion of various brand extensions and innovations including the launch of Crain’s 5boros, a new consumer lifestyle brand, food trade show and Crain’s New York Stories, a broadcast initiative that she hosts. Powerful new hallmarks franchises have also been created under her leadership including Crain’s Hall of Fame, Most Powerful Women in New York, Fast 50 and Best Places to Work. Ms. Kaplan created and hosts Crain’s New York Stories. She is also a committed and outspoken advocate for New York’s growing business community. Prior to joining Crain’s, Ms. Kaplan was the General Manager of The Wall Street Journal’s Weekend Edition, Weekend Journal, Personal Journal and The Journal Report. She was also the Chief Liaison between the news operation and the business staff. She led the Journal’s consumer diversification strategy and was a key member of the senior management team who conceptualized and launched Weekend Edition as well as was instrumental in the redesign of The Wall Street Journal. Ms. Kaplan also oversaw the paper’s agency relations program and created and ran the B2C Sales Division. Her first role at the Journal was Director of International Sales. Prior to joining The Wall Street Journal, Ms. Kaplan worked for The Economist shortly after they began distribution in the United States as the Eastern Advertising Director. She started her career with Times Mirror Magazines. Ms. Kaplan serves on the boards of the Partnership for New York City, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, The Business Council of New York State and American Skin Association. She is also the founding Chair of the Lincoln Center Women’s Leadership Council and the Lincoln Center Women’s Junior Council, where she actively mentors young women. Ms. Kaplan graduated from Clark University, with a B.S. in Economics in 1988. Ms. Kaplan lives with her husband and two teenage daughters on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Dan McCarroll

Dan McCarroll is a graduate of the Bethlehem Class of 1980. Mr. McCarroll has been President of Warner Bros. Records Inc., since January 2014. As the head of creative operations for the label, he oversees the signing of new talent, development of upcoming and existing artists, and is in charge of all studio production. He works with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks, Andra Day, Gary Clark Jr., Lukas Graham, and Linkin Park, among many others. Mr. McCarroll was President of Capitol Records for 4 years prior to his current position. During his tenure at Capitol, he led the label’s creative division in the US and helped make records with dozens of artists including Katy Perry, The Beach Boys, Elton John, Sam Smith, Ryan Adams and Beck. From 2002-2010 Mr. McCarroll was Executive Vice President Creative for EMI Music Publishing, where he signed and worked with a wide range of songwriters and artists. He previously ran the A&R department for The Music Company, an Elektra imprint formed by Lars Ulrich. Mr. McCarroll began playing drums as a teenager in the Albany area, which profoundly shaped the rest of his life. He went on to spend the first 20 years of his career as a session drummer and toured the world performing with various artists.

Dr. Robert McNally

Dr. Robert McNally currently is the President and CEO of GeoVax, Inc., an Atlanta, Georgia, clinical stage Biotechnology Company specializing in the development of vaccines to protect against HIV, Ebola and Zika viruses. Prior to GeoVax, he co-founded and served as President of Cell Dynamics, a local company providing FDA regulated human tissue and cell processing services for research, pharmaceuticals and cell therapy. In 1984, Dr. McNally co-founded CryoLife, Inc., a company revolutionizing the use of human tissue. His name is associated with the patents for cryopreserved human heart valves, veins, arteries and components of the human knee used for reconstruction and transplant. During his association with CryoLife, the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange and became a recognized world leader in tissue transplant technology. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers; chairs the advisory board for the Georgia Tech Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, and is a member of the advisory boards for Schiller College of Management at Tech and Villanova University entrepreneurial commercialization programs. He also serves as a member of the Kennesaw State advisory board for the College of Science and Mathematics. He is a current member of the board and the Past Chairman of Georgia BIO, the state association for healthcare technology, and is the 2005 recipient of their Biomedical Industry Growth Award. Dr. McNally is an electrical engineering graduate from Villanova University and has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His career of mixed science and business has spanned 38 years.

Hon. Loretta A. Preska

Loretta A. Preska is a graduate of the Bethlehem Class of 1966. Judge Preska attended The College of St. Rose, Fordham University School of Law and received an LL.M. in Trade Regulation from New York University Law School. Judge Preska was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York Manhattan by President George H.W. Bush in 1992. She has served in this distinguished position for 24 years, serving as Chief Judge from 2009-2016. Judge Preska has served as a trustee of Fordham University from 2007-2013. She has been a member of the Federalist Society of New York since 1999 and was a regional panelist of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows from 2001 – 2009. In 1977, Judge Preska was admitted to the bar of the US Supreme Court. In 2007, ABC news reported that Judge Preska was on President Bush’s short list of potential Supreme Court nominees. Some of her honors include: the President’s Special Award from the New York Women’s Bar Association and the Women in Business Law Lifetime Achievement Award. Judge Preska received a Doctorate of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from St. Rose in 1998 and from Fordham University in 2016.