April 24 and 25, the A+ Foundation will celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor. This year, four individuals will join the ranks of the 66 previously honored West Aurora School District 129 alumni when they are inducted into the 2020 Hall of Honor.
• Marina Pocrnich Bogard, Class of 1978.
She is the CEO of Playport Gaming Systems, and a global business executive with more than 25 years of experience in telecommunications, broadcast, cable, and gaming. She rose through the ranks of this field, previously dominated by males, to become recognized in industry and world-wide. She is a mentor to employees and volunteer mentor to college students as well as other business executives. Marina is actively involved in Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as an active member of Kieretsu Forum. As a recipient of many leadership/sales management awards from numerous organizations, Marina is an avid supporter of inclusion ensuring that all programs she builds for an organization include diversity and inclusivity.
While at West High School, she was a cheerleader all four years and involved in theatre and choir. She attended Hall Elementary School, and Washington Middle School.
• Neal Ormond III, Class of 1958.
As the vice-president of Human Resources for W.W. Grainger Inc., an American Fortune 500 industrial supply company, Neal was responsible for growing the company from $500 Million in sales to more than $3.2 Billion. Neal served in the same capacity for Quaker Oats Company and was the youngest vice president in the Quaker Oats Company while there. Neal’s responsibilities included recruiting, training, and development, labor relations, affirmative action, compensation, benefits, organization planning, community, and public affairs.
He has and continues to serve in numerous volunteer capacities, many in leadership roles, within and around Aurora. He has served as a Board member and president of the West Aurora School Board, as the “Voice of the Blackhawks” for the last 60 years, as a Board member for the Community Foundation. He has served as a coach for numerous sports and was the West Aurora Sports Booster co-founder.
While at West High, Neal was captain of the debate and tennis teams. He was a basketball letterman, president of the Science Club, Class vice president, a member of the National Honor Society, and a performer in the junior and senior class plays. He attended Freeman Elementary School and West Aurora Junior High School, before being renamed Franklin Junior High School.
• Dr. Andrea Marie Spaeth, Class of 2003.
Andrea is a member of the Rutgers University faculty, a Postdoctoral Researcher at Temple University and, formerly, was at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where she specialized in experimental psychiatry and sleep and chronobiology. Andrea has published several articles, book chapters, and editorials that build upon her seminal work which has helped advance our scientific understanding of the relationship between sleep, weight management, and health, a topic particularly timely given the simultaneous epidemics of short sleep and obesity in America.
She has earned awards from the Sleep Research Society, the Obesity Society, the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology and the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Medicine and continues working on two studies that aim to improve health in ethnic-minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. She volunteers with iPraxis which works to inspire middle school-aged students in underserved Philadelphia communities to explore STEM.
While at West High, Andrea was a member of the Student Council, and Honor Society. She was the Spring musical student director, a reading mentor, a member of the Acapella Choir and was involved in cross country, tennis, and soccer. She attended Freeman Elementary School and Washington Middle School.
• Peter K. Whinfrey, Class of 1967.
Peter is the owner of Environmental Solutions International, a chemical manufacturing and distribution company. Considered a visionary and knowing the negative impact of potentially hazardous chemicals on people, he has worked toward creating environmentally and user-friendly solutions to replace toxic chemicals. The benefit of his vision created CHOMP products (common household cleaners and products) which are environmentally friendly. He has been instrumental in the founding of 3 Tier Technologies, a manufacturer and distributor of products for turf, crops, and a variety of environmental bioremediation solutions.
Peter has overcome personal challenges while helping others. His visual impairment does not impede upon his high level of independence and positive attitude. His philanthropic support continues with his being a huge proponent for advocating the need for home-based primary care nationally, He believes that home-based primary care should be an integral part of our country’s health care system. He is involved with the Spectrios Institute for Low Vision assisting underserved individuals at risk.
While at West High, Peter was a member of the Student Council and golf team. He attended Freeman Elementary School and Jefferson Middle School.
For tickets to this year’s Hall of Honor banquet April 25 at the Aurora Country Club, please contact Randi Ochsenschlager at 630-897-6785 or rloxie@sbcglobal.net.
—West Aurora School District 129