Association Announces Award Honorees, Alumni Weekend Schedule
ONEONTA—On Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, the Oneonta High School Alumni Association will welcome generations of Yellowjackets back to Oneonta for OHS Alumni Weekend 2026, an annual celebration featuring reunions, golf, athletics, historic tours and recognition of distinguished alumni, educators, athletes and veterans.
According to a press release issued on Tuesday, September 8, the weekend’s signature event will be the 2026 Induction Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, where the Alumni Association will recognize its Alumna of the Year, Wall of Distinction and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, and Superlative Staff Award recipients.
“Alumni Weekend is about celebrating the people who have made Oneonta High School such a special place across generations,” said Janet Bryceland, president of the OHS Alumni Association. “This year’s honorees represent an extraordinary range of achievement—in education, military service, athletics, public service and community leadership. We are proud to welcome our alumni home and recognize individuals whose contributions continue to reflect so well on OHS.”
Alumna of the Year
Kim Pirone Baskin, Class of 1985, has been selected as the 2026 Alumna of the Year. A member of the Oneonta School District community for more than 25 years, Baskin joined the OHS Alumni Association in 2022 as a way to honor the memory of her father William “Bud” Pirone, and quickly became an active volunteer. Her service has included work on the Wall of Distinction committee, the association’s annual golf tournament, and projects connecting alumni with OHS students and the school district.
Wall of Distinction
Four distinguished alumni will join the OHS Wall of Distinction in 2026: Frank Gallucci ’50, Arthur S. Leonard ’70, Francis “Frank” Russo ’83 and John-Michael Insetta ’87.
Frank Gallucci ’50 devoted his career to education and public service. After graduating from Oneonta High School, he earned degrees from SUNY Oneonta and the University at Albany and went on to a long career as an educator and school administrator. His commitment to Oneonta continued through extensive civic and community involvement.
Arthur S. Leonard ’70 has distinguished himself through a career spanning law, higher education and advocacy. A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School, Leonard became a professor at New York Law School and is a nationally recognized legal scholar whose writing and work have had a significant impact on the development of LGBTQ+ law in the United States.
Francis “Frank” Russo ’83 has built a career in nonprofit and community leadership, including decades of service with the YMCA and Oneonta Fire Department. His work has centered on strengthening communities and expanding opportunities for children and families.
John-Michael Insetta ’87 served his country through a distinguished career in the U.S. Army that included command and operational assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan before his retirement from military service.
The association will also honor Oneonta High School Vietnam War Heroes on the Wall of Distinction, recognizing OHS alumni who served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, including those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Athletic Hall of Fame
The 2026 OHS Athletic Hall of Fame class showcases achievements ranging from state championships to collegiate and professional sports.
Noble D. Champen ’00 was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and track who went on to play wide receiver for nationally ranked Villanova University. Ben Carey ’88 excelled in basketball, cross country and track before competing in NCAA Division III cross country at Union College.
Edward “Teddy” McGraw ’20 starred in baseball and basketball at OHS, went on to pitch at Wake Forest University and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2021. Erik Johnson ’20 was a multi-sport standout in track, wrestling, football, and indoor track, earning numerous Section IV, STAC and state honors.
The 2013 OHS Girls Soccer Team will also enter the Hall of Fame after a remarkable 20-2 season that culminated in STAC and New York State Class B championships.
Superlative Staff Awards
Longtime OHS educators John Chamard and Joseph Hartmann have been selected to receive the 2026 Superlative Staff Award.
Chamard taught speech, English, film and drama at OHS from 1964-2000, chaired the English Department for 25 years, and directed OHS plays and musicals for decades. His service also included advising the National Honor Society and serving as district treasurer of student accounts.
Hartmann taught global studies at OHS from 1968 until his retirement in 1995 and served for 10 years as adviser to the award-winning student newspaper, “The Echo.” His career also included teaching journalism through Syracuse University’s School Press Institute and leading state and regional scholastic press organizations.
Weekend Schedule
Activities begin Friday, September 11 with the Tony Drago Alumni Golf Classic at the Oneonta Country Club, with flights beginning at 7:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Alumni are also invited to tour the historic Swart-Wilcox House from 3-5:30 p.m. on Friday. The house, built in 1807, is Oneonta’s oldest surviving building and is now operated as a house museum.
Friday concludes with the Alumni Social Event from 6-10 p.m. at the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club on River Street. Admission is $20.00 per person. Alumni wishing to reserve a table for their class may contact Mary Drago at (607) 435-5191.
Saturday, September 12, begins with the 11th Annual OHS Alumni Military Veterans Breakfast from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Oneonta Elks Club on Chestnut Street.
The 2026 Induction Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, 24 Market Street, followed by an alumni luncheon at approximately noon in the Foothills Atrium.
The OHS varsity football game kicks off at 1 p.m.
An OHS Alumni Reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the Greater Oneonta Historical Society, which will offer alumni snacks, drinks and a merchandise discount.
For the latest Alumni Weekend schedule and additional information, visit the OHS Alumni Association website at https://www.oneontahighalumni.org.
