The inaugural OLSH Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented at the Alumni Brunch on October 1, 2017. The Distinguished Alumni Awards were created to recognize OLSH graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments and who serve as role models for students currently enrolled at OLSH. The 2017 OLSH Distinguished Alumni honorees are Christine (Plucinski) Glatz ’78, James Rosenwald ’84, Christy (Tancraitor) Uffelman ’95, and Alexander Vallejo ’11.
Christine (Plucinski) Glatz ‘78 will be recognized with the OLSH Alumnus with Heart Award, which honors an OLSH alumnus who exemplifies one or more of the Felician Core Values (Respect for Human Dignity, Compassion, Transformation, Solidarity with the Poor, Justice & Peace) and maintains a strong connection to OLSH. Chris has been a fixture in the OLSH Main Office since 1986. She served as the OLSH Spirit Coordinator for many years, planning dances, pep rallies, Homecoming events, spirit weeks, and more, and she continues to have a hand in almost every student function. She organizes the class spirit t-shirts, assembles boxes for Ring Day, bakes cakes for the bowling banquet, provides snacks for the campus clean up, and brings a pot of chili to every cook-off. She also organizes the annual Christmas Giving Tree, Coups for Troops, and the annual Alison & Katie Michel Memorial Scholarship flower sale, and provides support for a myriad of other student activities. She also serves on the OLSH Alumni Council and has been a youth group leader at her church for over 20 years.
James Rosenwald ‘84 is the recipient of the OLSH Christian Leadership Award, which honors an alumnus who has distinguished themselves through community service, devotion to faith, and/or philanthropic efforts. James has more than 20 years of experience working in Fortune 500 companies, and is currently the Senior Control Officer at BNY Mellon. He served on the OLSH Board of Directors on two separate occasions, spanning an approximate 11 years, and has established scholarship funds at both Duquesne University and Slippery Rock University. He is an active volunteer and/or contributor to multiple charity organizations, including: Light of Life, the Jubilee Soup Kitchen, the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, veteran’s organizations and cancer research programs, and is active in the employer resources group HEART that promotes inclusive work environments for those with disabilities.
Christy (Tancraitor) Uffelman ’95 will be recognized with the OLSH Professional Excellence Award. This award honors an OLSH alumnus who has distinguished themselves in their profession. Christy launched the east coast office of Align Leadership in 2013, with a focus on women’s leadership development and Millennial/Gen X initiatives. She has won numerous awards for both her professional achievements and her volunteer work supporting empowerment of women in the workplace, including the Athena Young Professional Award. She is a co-chair of 2020 Women on Boards, promoting gender diversity for executive boards; on the Executive Team of the Women’s Leadership Council with the United Way; co-founder of the Circle of Trust, an emerging female leaders group; founder of EMPOWER, a working mothers’ cohort; on the Girl Scouts Gold Award100th Anniversary Committee; the National Chair of the Strong Leader Program for Strong Women, Strong Girls; on the host committee for Magee Movement; a committee member for SitWithMee.org; a volunteer and advocate for the Fierce Women Project; and a volunteer for Sarah Heinz House, Junior Achievement; Girls Scouts of Southwestern PA, and the YMCA.
Alexander Vallejo ‘11 is the recipient of the OLSH Young Alumnus Award, honoring an OLSH alumnus who has graduated within the past 15 years who has distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas: service, leadership, academics, professional achievements. During his junior year at the University of Pittsburgh, Alex was awarded a very competitive internship with the Microsoft Corporation in Seattle, WA. His performance during the internship earned him a job offer before he finished his senior year of college. After he graduated Cum Laude from Pitt, Alex went to work for Microsoft full time as a software engineer. Alex is also the Technical Director for The Green Hope Orphanage, Inc., which operates an orphanage and school for children in Tanzania, and spent a month in Africa working at the orphanage.
The honorees will be recognized at the OLSH Alumni Brunch on October 1. All are welcome to attend. Please click here for more information or to register to attend.
The OLSH Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented annually. To nominate an OLSH alumnus for the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Awards, please contact Deena Swank ’92, Alumni Relations Manager, at [email protected] or (412) 424-4610.