CLASS 2026
Nicholas Anthony Colafella (born January 13, 1939) is an American educator, former Democratic politician, and public servant from Beaver County, Pennsylvania.
Born in West Aliquippa, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Colafella graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1956. He served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1958. He earned a B.S. from Youngstown University (now Youngstown State University) in 1962, an M.Ed. from Duquesne University in 1965, and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977.His career in education included teaching business subjects at Center High School and Northwestern High School. He later served as director of evening education and business instructor at the Community College of Beaver County, advancing to dean of continuing education and community service from 1969 to 1980.
In 1978, he ran unsuccessfully for the United States Congress. He was elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1980, representing the 15th district (Beaver County). He served 11 consecutive terms until retiring in 2002 (not seeking reelection that year).
During his legislative tenure, Colafella focused heavily on education policy.
Colafella is married to Frances, and they have three sons: Doug, Nick, and Stephen. As of recent records, he resides in the Aliquippa area and remains active in public ethics oversight.
Elizabeth “Betty” Asche Douglas was a groundbreaking artist, musician, and educator whose impact on Beaver County and beyond continues to be felt. Raised in Beaver Falls, she showed artistic talent from an early age, graduating from Beaver Falls High School at just 15. She went on to become the first Black student admitted to Carnegie Tech’s undergraduate art program and later earned a master’s degree in the history and criticism of art and architecture from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956.
Throughout her life, Douglas blended creativity with education. In 1964, she became the first Black instructor in the Rochester Area School District. She later joined Geneva College in 1968 as its first Black female professor, where she helped shape the college’s Humanities Program and inspired generations of students through her teaching of art, architecture, music, and culture.
Beyond the classroom, Douglas was a celebrated visual artist, jazz musician, gallery owner, and community leader whose lifelong commitment to the arts and education made her a true trailblazer.
I graduated from Quigley High School in 1985. Following graduation, I attended Slippery Rock University, where I earned a degree in Special Education.
Upon completing my degree, I was hired by the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit (BVIU) and began my teaching career in a Life Skills classroom at Fairview Elementary in the Western Beaver School District. When individual districts assumed responsibility for their own programs, I remained at Fairview, continuing to support students with diverse learning needs.
I later accepted a position with the Central Valley School District in Monaca, where I taught in an itinerant middle school support classroom for several years. During my time in middle school, I made the decision to expand my professional credentials by returning to Geneva to earn my Elementary Certification.
After obtaining my Elementary Certification, I transitioned into a Kindergarten teaching position within the district, where I strive to make a meaningful impact on young learners. I am currently in my 35th year of teaching, working to bring decades of experience, dedication, and passion to my classroom each day.
Timothy J. Waxenfelter is a longtime Pennsylvania educator, coach, and administrator known for his decades of dedication to students in Beaver County and the Pittsburgh area. He began teaching in 1969 at Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, where he taught history and English and quickly became involved in athletics, helping establish the school’s wrestling program while also coaching football and track.
His work in speech and debate began unexpectedly when he started assisting the team by driving students to tournaments and judging events. In 1985, he took over as coach and went on to lead Quigley’s speech, debate, and mock trial programs for 35 years, guiding students to state and national competition success. Along the way, he earned major honors, including multiple National Speech and Debate Association Diamond Awards and induction into the Pennsylvania High School Speech League Hall of Fame in 2012.
After Quigley closed in 2020, Waxenfelter continued mentoring students at Aquinas Academy, where he remains active in speech, debate, and mock trial.
CLASS 2025
Known by many as “Dr. D.,” William DiBenedetto began his accomplished career with the Millvale Borough School district as a music and band director, moving on to the Beaver Area School District in 1969, where he continued as a band director and music teacher before becoming the district ’s Staff Development Coordinator.
He served as the Director of the Beaver Bop-Cats 1972-1979, then led the Beaver Junior High Band 1979 while also teaching general music in the Beaver elementary schools. In the mid-80s, he became the Beaver Staff Development Coordinator and contributed to a research project through the University at the Lawrence County Vo-Tech School in New Castle.
Dr. D. served as the Aliquippa School District Assistant
Superintendent in 1988 and Superintendent of Schools from 1998 to 2004. He also served as interim Superintendent with the Rochester Area School District in many community organizations benefited from his decades of volunteer service and leadership.
Sister Thaddeus, a member of the Felician Sisters of North America has faithfully served her community and the Church for 61 years. As a teacher from 1967-1979 in the Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Ohio Dioceses, Sister Thaddeus enjoyed her days in the classroom and successfully educated children in the Catholic faith particularly in the area of Sacramental preparation. Called upon by her community to assume responsibilities in the healthcare arena, she spent six years in Administration at St. Joseph Hospital, Port Charlotte, Florida and St. Anne Home, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Sister Thaddeus served as President & CEO of McGuire Memorial in New Brighton, Pennsylvania for 31 years. Under her direction, McGuire Memorial grew from a single purpose ministry serving 99 children and families in 1988 to serving 250 children, adults and families in five distinct programs. She led the organization through a dynamic, comprehensive change from a single program as an Intermediate Care Facility to a multi-service organization providing adult training for individuals with disabilities, community home living arrangements, a private academic school program, and The Saint Joseph the Worker Employment Option Center.
Additionally, her accomplishments include a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Saint Louis University, Missouri and a Pennsylvania Home Nursing Administrator’s License. She is a daughter of Christ the King Parish, Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. She survives her loving parents, Helen and Stanley Markelewicz and Sister Patricia Markelewicz
A proud graduate of New Brighton High School, Dr. Sheffield earned a B.A. in Secondary Education from Geneva College (1969), a Master’s in Education Secondary from Slippery Rock University (1974), and a doctorate in Higher Education from Penn State University (1989).
Dr. Sheffield has dedicated over two decades to higher education and diversity advocacy. During his 26-year tenure 2002 at Penn State, he served as Director of Diversity Outreach before retiring in 2002. Today, he continues inspiring students as an adjunct professor at Penn State Beaver Campus.
Throughout his career, Dr. Sheffield has developed innovative programs to strengthen multicultural education for undergraduates and have uplift underserved youth. His DARE2XL After School Program empowers elementary and middle school students from low-income backgrounds, fostering academic success and personal growth.
As founder and president of TAME Inc. (Techniques Assisting Motivation and Excellence), Dr. Sheffield promotes cultural excellence by helping schools, families, and businesses achieve high performance. His dynamic diversity and cultural competency training programs have made a lasting impact on countless communities and organizations.
Dr. Sprinker currently serves as Executive Director and Secretary of The Wright Promise and brings decades of dedication to public education in Beaver and Allegheny Counties. She serves as a Regional Service Specialist with the PA Principals Association and is President of the Blackhawk School Board of Directors. Deeply involved in her community, she has served on the Boards of YMCA Camp Kon-O-Kwee/Spencer and the Jumet Charitable Foundation since 2003.
Dr. Sprinker is a graduate of Riverside High School, Duquesne University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Her career began in the classroom, where she worked as a Title I teacher for kindergarten and first grade at Northwestern Primary School and served as the Instructional
Support Team Coordinator, helping to build foundational literacy skills and early learning strategies.
She later became the principal of Blackhawk Intermediate School, overseeing the daily operations for more than 560 students in grades 3–5, as well as a team of educators and support staff. Beyond her role as principal, she contributed significantly to district-wide initiatives through her work on the Curriculum Development, Diversity, OLWEUS, Safety/Wellness, and Strategic Planning Committees.
Dr. Sprinker holds advanced leadership certifications, including Data Wise from Harvard University, NISL (National Institute for School Leadership), PIL (Principal’s Induction Program), and RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program), underscoring her commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education.
Her dedication to student-centered learning, professional development, inclusivity, and building strong community partnerships has made her a transformative leader and advocate for meaningful change in education.
CLASS 2024
Rosa Mae Willis Alford was born February 1, 1912, in Clarksdale, MS. She studied at Tuskegee University, graduating in 1947 with a B.S. degree in Home Economics and worked her way through college as a repairwoman on the training of airplanes used by the famed Tuskegee Airmen. She was among the students privileged to attend Tuskegee when Booker T. Washington was President and Dr. George Washington Carver, the great scientist and inventor, was professor.
After graduation, she taught in Tuscaloosa, AL and later taught in Easton, MD, where she met her late husband, William J. Alford, of New Brighton. After marriage, her first job in Beaver County was with the Lighthouse for the Blind. During the late 1950s, she was hired as the first African American Home Economics teacher at New Brighton High School.
She returned to college at Michigan State University in the 1960s, receiving her Master degree in Guidance Counseling and was hired as the first African American Guidance Counselor at Beaver Falls High School, where she remained until retirement. During her career, she also taught at The Christian School, Beaver Falls.
Marta Karwoski’s extensive career in education spans various roles and responsibilities, beginning with her graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in English. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh and pursued additional credits beyond that.
Starting her teaching career in 1966, Marta taught multiple subjects in West Virginia, including coaching extracurricular activities and tutoring university athletes. In 1970, she settled in Rochester, where she taught English and Journalism for thirty-one years, earning respect for her leadership and curriculum development.
Outside the classroom, Marta held leadership positions in educational associations, such as the Rochester Area Educational Association and National Council of Teachers of English. After retiring in 2001, she continued her involvement in education by serving as a consultant for PA Cyber Charter School and assuming roles in the governance of Community College of Beaver County.
Despite facing health challenges, Marta remains dedicated to her commitments, including her current role as Vice President of the Baden Academy Charter School Board. She finds joy in family and hobbies, reflecting on her impactful career in education. Marta’s contributions have left a lasting impression, earning her a place in the Beaver County Educational Trust Hall of Fame.
F. Ann Paton, born in New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1928, excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from Geneva College in 1950 with majors in mathematics and English. She continued her studies, earning an M.Litt. degree from the University of Pittsburgh and later a PhD in Medieval Literature from the University of Colorado, focusing on the 14th-century manuscript The Honors of Arthur. Dr. Paton’s dedication to scholarship was recognized with an award that facilitated her research at prestigious libraries in Oxford and Lincoln.
Her teaching career began at Mount Jackson High School, where she inspired students through her English classes and extracurricular involvement. Moving to Geneva College in 1958, she became known for her rigorous yet engaging teaching style, earning the Excellence in Teaching Award in 1984. Dr. Paton’s influence extended beyond the classroom, as her mentorship led former students to pursue teaching careers worldwide.
Dr. Paton’s impact on education extended to program development and faculty advocacy at Geneva College. She played a key role in establishing the institution’s Core curriculum, emphasizing the integration of humanities across historical eras. Upon retirement, she received the College’s Lifetime G Award for her service and continued her ministry in the Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh until her retirement in 2018.
Dr. Schaughency’s dedication to Beaver Area School District spans 48 years, during which she held various roles including teacher, counselor, assistant superintendent, and district superintendent. Her extensive experience, coupled with personal skills as a pianist and basketball player, uniquely positioned her for leadership.
Under Dr. Schaughency’s guidance, Beaver Schools embraced technological advancement, becoming pioneers in the region with the installation of the first WIFI system and the initiation of the iPad initiative. These initiatives garnered statewide recognition and served as models for other Pennsylvania schools.
Dr. Schaughency’s commitment to education reform and training programs, collaborating with renowned experts, contributed to Beaver Area School District’s academic excellence, ranking among the top schools in Western Pennsylvania. Her prudent financial management ensured BASD operated with the lowest costs in the county while maintaining high academic standards. Furthermore, her advocacy for the arts led to the expansion of programs such as the string orchestra and partnerships with cultural foundations, earning BASD prestigious awards like the Kennedy Center Arts Award in 1998.
CLASS 2023
James “Jim” Johnson was the founding director of the aviation program at the Community College of Beaver County. An instructor, mentor, and coach, Jim Johnson had impacted more than 3000 aviation alumni from the School of Aviation Sciences named in his honor in 2019 by the CCBC Board of Trustees. Mr. Johnson was awarded posthumously having passed in 2010.
Jean Macaluso has impacted education in Beaver County for over 40 years having served as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, director of pupil personnel services, and assistant superintendent. Jean also taught at CCBC and Geneva College. Jean continues to be involved in various community organizations.
Dr. Dan Matsook has 47 years of education experience in various roles. Mr. Matsook has served as an English teacher, assistant principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. He helped establish the Central Valley School District, which is the first and only voluntary school merger in Pennsylvania. Mr. Matsook continues to work as an education consultant and as a professional training facilitator for the PA Department of Education.
Paulette Miller is the former Executive Director of Beaver County Rehabilitation Center. Ms. Miller spent 30 of her 47 years of service with BCRC as Executive Director and guided BCRC, which has state and national recognition, to ensuring all individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health diagnosis have the educational and vocational opportunities to prepare them to thrive both personally and professionally. Ms. Miller retired in 2022.
