PRESS RELEASE
Mariemont High School Recognizes Distinguished Alumni
Recipients Include a Retail Developer, Opera Singer and Assistant Secretary of the Army
The Mariemont Alumni Association (MAA) and the Mariemont School Foundation (MSF) are pleased to announce the recipients of Mariemont High School’s 2nd annual Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes graduates of at least 10 years who have notably distinguished themselves by extraordinary contributions and/or remarkable accomplishments in their chosen career; skill, trade or business; civic duties; military service; philanthropy; volunteerism; the arts; the sciences; education; religion; or any other field, endeavor or pursuit.
This year’s recipients are Jeffrey R. Anderson, class of 1965, CEO/President, Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate; Pamela J. Coburn, class of 1970, Distinguished Professor of Voice, DePauw University; and Harry N. Walters, class of 1954, Chairman/CEO Veterans Coalition, Inc. The second class of recipients was selected from nominations submitted to a committee consisting of MAA and MSF board members.
The Distinguished Alumni were recognized during Mariemont High School’s homecoming events and were invited back to Mariemont High School, where they met with students and faculty. Pictures and biographies of the Distinguished Alumni are on permanent display in the district’s College and Career Planning Center.
“We were honored to welcome back three outstanding alumni to their hometown. Students were inspired by listening to their success stories and it showed what one is capable of accomplishing at Mariemont City Schools,” said Steven Estepp, superintendent of the school district.
Nominations for 2015 will be solicited in the spring. Visit the Mariemont School Foundation website, http://mariemontschoolfoundation.org, for more information.
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Jeffrey R. Anderson graduated from Mariemont High School with the class of 1965. He attended the University of Virginia as a scholar athlete. Following a brief career in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins, Mr. Anderson returned home to serve in the Ohio National Guard and begin his career in the real estate industry. Mr. Anderson started Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate in the mid-1980s and has built its reputation as an award-winning retail developer. Mr. Anderson and his wife Darlene are also committed philanthropists, giving significant time and resources to the local community, the real estate industry and the global community.
Pamela J. Coburn is a graduate from the class of 1970. Ms. Coburn studied voice at DePauw University, Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School in New York. Early in her career she won the ARD Competition in Munich, Germany and the Metropolitan Opera National Competition in the U.S. Ms. Coburn went on to spend more than 20 years singing in the finest opera houses around the world and recording with the most important conductors in opera. Ms. Coburn teaches voice at DePauw University, holding the position of Distinguished Professor of Voice.
Harry N. Walters is a member of the Mariemont High School class of 1954. Mr. Walters graduated from West Point in 1959 where he played fullback, blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Pete Dawkins. After serving in the army for four years, he began a successful career in the paper industry eventually becoming CEO of Potsdam Paper Corp. In 1981, President Reagan nominated Mr. Walters as the Assistant Secretary of the Army. In 1983, he was appointed by President Reagan to be Administrator of the U.S. Veteran’s Administration and served in that role until 1986. Mr. Walters continued to serve the public in numerous positions and, today, is the CEO/Chairman of the Veterans Coalition, Inc.
The three Distinguished Alumni stand in front of their plaques that now hang in the College and Career Planning Center at Mariemont High School. Harry N. Walters (left), Pamela J. Coburn (center) and Jeffrey R. Anderson (right) received the award prior to Mariemont High School’s homecoming football game on October 3.