Richard Brubaker was a member of the Media High School team that competed in 1950-1951, the third season of what was then known as Scott’s Hi-Q.
After graduating from Gettysburg College with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Dr. Brubaker entered the U.S. Air Force through the ROTC program. He completed pilot training and went on to fly transport aircraft for most of his career in the military. He also served in Vietnam as operations officer and airfield manager and then as ROTC commander at Trinity College in Vermont.
Following his 20-year Air Force career, Dr. Brubaker embarked on a second career in the Civil Service at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. He retired from that position in 1997. During his military and civil service careers, he earned a masters degree in political science from the University of Washington in Seattle, an MBA in business from the University of Dayton in Ohio and a doctorate in public administration from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From 1968 to the present, he’s taught at seven colleges and is now a consultant with the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools.
Edward J. Donnelly
Category: Former Participant
Inducted April 3, 2008
Edward J. Donnelly competed in Hi-Q in the 1962-1963 season as a member of the St. James High School team. After graduating from St. James and then Villanova University, he returned to St. James to teach chemistry. Later, he taught at Nether Providence High School (now part of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District).
In June 1969, he began his 37-year career with Dupont. During this time, he had twenty different assignments and moved eight times, including an assignment in Geneva, Switzerland. He led Dupont’s European polymers business in Switzerland, as well as its automotive business in Detroit. When he retired after a distinguished career in industry, Mr. Donnelly had been responsible for Dupont’s coatings and color technologies business, with sales of six billion dollars, more than 14,000 employees and 65 plants and labs worldwide. In addition, he’s had leadership roles in several joint ventures and was the lead negotiator for a two billion dollar acquisition. His last position with DuPont was Senior Vice President for corporate affairs.
He is now president of the International Paint and Printing Ink Council, as well as an advisor to the U.S. Council on Competitiveness in Washington.
2007 INDUCTEES
Alicia C. Sheerin
Category: Former Participant
Inducted March 28, 2007
Alicia Sheerin was a Hi-Q team member at Archbishop Prendergast in 1987 and 1988. Always a maverick, Sheerin established her own agency, Identity Quest Promotions, from her home in 1990 at age 20. She began building a client base for I.Q. by working with savvy entrepreneurs to inform the world about their unique visions. Since then, Sheerin has established identities for numerous local clients like The Book and The Cook Fair Paradigm and Republic First Bank and national names like Cadillac, Michaels Arts & Crafts Stores, The Plaza and Court at King of Prussia, and Reebok International.
Giving back to her community has always been a priority for Sheerin. Her first experience was handling the Delco Chamber’s “Tour de Blue” the 20,000-person celebration of the opening of the Blue Route in 1991. She has served on numerous boards and chaired a number of events for non-profits like Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Junior Achievement, and Taste of the Nation. Alicia was the youngest person to be inducted as a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier in 1996, an honorary culinary society dedicated to fine art of the table. Her proudest achievement to date is serving as the President of the National Association of Women Business Owners Delaware Chapter. That organization is a network of entrepreneurs that provides a strong voice and vision for women business owners.
Dr. David R. Kalodner
Category: Former Participant
Inducted March 28, 2007
David Kalodner was a member of the Interboro Hi-Q team from 1972 to 1974. While in high school he excelled in sports and academics. Kalodner also participated in several clubs, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Class Congress. He was an active member of the Christ Church youth group and served as an acolyte. In 1973, Kalodner represented Pennsylvania as the DeMolay of the year.
After high school Dr. Kalodner earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Albright College, where he graduated at the top of his class. Continuing his education at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, he received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree. Dr. Kalodner has been in practice in Ridley Park since earning his degree and has served as the Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Taylor Hospital since 1989 and has served on the Executive Committee of Medical Staff since 1986. His achievements earned him a place in the Interboro High School Hall of Fame in 2003. In addition to being a scholar and an athlete, Dr. David Kalodner is a genuinely warm and caring person who is actively involved in the community.
2006 INDUCTEES
Thomas J. McCarthy
Inducted May 10, 2006
Thomas has been Hi-Q Quizmaster since 1979. He is a native Philadelphian who has performed in many productions including Arden Theatre Company's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, WORKING and ALL MY SONS. The Union League
of Philadelphia in WHILE LINCOLN LAY DYING; Act II's OLD WICKED SONGS in Ambler, PA; Walnut Street Theatre's ORPHANS and BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS; People's Light & Theatre Company in GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS; Wilma Theater's ESCAPE FROM HAPPINESS; and Philadelphia Theatre Company's MINUTES FROM THE BLUE ROUTE.
In 1997 Tom McCarthy received the Barrymore Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Willy Loman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN at the Arden Theatre Company.
Mr. McCarthy's most recent television appearance was in THE WEST WING, which brought him back for the second time as the Majority Whip. Other TV appearances include LAW & ORDER, HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREETS; NEW YORK UNDERCOVER, TV's BLOOPERS AND PRACTICAL JOKES, ED and HACK.
In film, Mr. McCarthy performed roles in RANDOM HEARTS with Harrison Ford; in FALLEN with Denzel Washington; UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL with Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer and BLOW OUT with John Travolta. Mr. McCarthy has been President of Screen Actors Guild in Philadelphia for the last 24 years. In 2003 Tom was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia.
Murray S. Eckell
Inducted May 10, 2006
Hi-Q Participant 1951-1952
Murray participated in Hi-Q as a Chester High School student in 1951 and 1952. Following graduation from Chester High School Dickinson College and the University of Pennsylvania Law
School Murray S. Eckell has successfully practiced law in Delaware County for 47 years. He has received every award the Delaware County Bar Association offers for service to the legal profession to fellow lawyers and to the community. He has served as the Association’s President as a delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates and was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Bar Association representing the counties of Bucks Chester Delaware and Montgomery.
The high point of his professional career was his gubernatorial appointment as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Delaware County in 1977 to fill an unexpired term. He chose not to run for election and returned to private practice.
Murray has not neglected service to his community. He served a leadership role for the Delaware County March of Dimes and served the Red Cross as its first water safety instructor to teach blind children to swim. He also served on the following boards in Delaware County: Brookhaven Zoning Board The County Drug and Alcohol Commission Suburban Music School and the Advisory Board of Directors for Founders’ Bank. In addition he has served as an independent arbitrator.
First Inductee (2005) - Mrs. Donna Zerby
In recognition of over 40 years of service to Delco Hi-Q, Mrs. Zerby is the first Delco Hi-Q
inductee and was honored at the Partners in Education Celebration in May 2005.
Donna Zerby was closely involved with Hi-Q for 43 years. During her career at Scott Paper Company from 1961 to 1992, she held positions in public relations, communications, and community relations. As Hi-Q National Director from 1976 to 1992, she initiated the expansion of the competition into other areas of the country. Donna directed the Delaware County competition from 1965 to 1985, and from 1993 until her death in 2005. She was instrumental in keeping Delco Hi-Q alive after the merger of Scott Paper Co. and Kimberly-Clark Corp.
In 1999, she was the first non-educator to receive the “Snag In The River” Award from the Delaware Valley Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development; the award honors inspiring and innovative educators.
She was also a charter member of the Delaware County Press Club, having served on its Board of Directors and as membership-chairperson for many years. During her 43 year Hi-Q career, Donna worked with more than 60,000 high school students and over 1,000 Hi-Q teacher/coaches in seven states.
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