CANTON – Canton City Schools and McKinley High School have announced the inaugural class of the Canton McKinley Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
Twelve alumni have been selected as the class of 2025.
They will be honored at a dinner and reception Sept. 25 at the Bulldog Activity Center. A public recognition will take place during the Sept. 26 McKinley football game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Pre-game activities are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
The 2025 class includes alumni whose careers span public service, education, sports, entertainment, the military, and community leadership, and have served as role models for McKinley students and the Canton community.
The Distinguished Alumni Class of 2025 members are:
In addition, the 2025 Heritage Class will honor 15 alumni posthumously. The inaugural Heritage class members represent trailblazing individuals whose legacies continue to inspire.
The 2025 Heritage Class members are:
A committee selected the honorees. Committee members were Chair R.J. Van Almen, Kimberly Brown, Antonio Hall, Heather Heater, Eric Loughry, Scott Russ and Superintendent Jeffery Talbert.
“Selecting the inaugural class was both an incredible honor and a difficult challenge,” Van Almen said. “We had the privilege of reviewing so many remarkable stories from our alumni — people who have shaped industries, inspired communities, and lived out the values of McKinley. This first class sets a high standard, and I look forward to continuing this tradition of celebrating excellence for years to come.”
A selection process for future class nominations will be announced at a later date. Discussions are underway to create a permanent display to recognize the honorees at the high school.
“The motto of the Canton McKinley Bulldogs is ‘Where champions are made and excellence is tradition,'” Talbert added. “This Hall of Distinguished Alumni represents everything we believe in — hard work, resilience, innovation, and service.”
This article originally appeared on The Repository: ‘A high standard.’ Canton City Schools selects inaugural class of ‘Distinguished Alumni’
Reporting by Amy L. Knapp, Massillon Independent / The Repository
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