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District

2026 Distinguished Alumni

2026 Distinguished Alumni and Heritage Class

  • Tonya Strong-Charles
    Tonya Strong-Charles, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - An award-winning journalist and communications leader currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer for NEOMED, following a celebrated career as a news anchor and dedicated community advocate.
  • Brannon Braga
    Brannon Braga, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - An award-winning writer and producer renowned for his work on the Star Trek franchise and his creative leadership on numerous iconic film and television projects that have shaped the sci-fi genre.
  • Dr. Shakeer Abdullah
    Dr. Shakeer Abdullah, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - A prominent educational leader and consultant dedicated to advancing student success and institutional belonging through innovative leadership and a lifelong commitment to service.
  • Kyle L. Stone
    Kyle L. Stone, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - The first African American to serve as Stark County Prosecuting Attorney, he is a dedicated legal leader and public servant committed to justice, community safety, and professional excellence in the courtroom.
  • Phil Hubbard
    Phil Hubbard, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - A legendary professional basketball player and Olympic Gold Medalist who enjoyed a successful ten-year NBA career followed by nearly two decades of coaching and player development at the highest levels.
  • Amanda Archer
    Amanda Archer, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - A public health leader who made history as the first female Commissioner of Canton City Public Health, dedicated to harm reduction and empowering all citizens to achieve their highest level of health.
  • Kyle L. Stone - 2026 Distinguished Alumni
    Ronnie Harris, 2026 Distinguished Alumni - A legendary Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time National AAU Champion who has dedicated his life to community service and mentoring youth, representing Canton with excellence on and off the world stage.
  • Randall Fleischer - Heritage Class
    Randall Fleischer, Heritage Class - An acclaimed conductor and composer who served as music director for multiple symphonies and gained international recognition for pioneering the fusion of rock and world music with symphonic performance.
  • Dr. Obie Bender - Heritage Class
    Dr. Obie Bender, Heritage Class - A distinguished academic leader and consultant who held executive roles at Baldwin-Wallace University and served in high-level advisory capacities for the PGA of America and the Cleveland Browns.
  • Norma Marciere - Heritage Class
    Norma Marcere, Heritage Class - A pioneering psychologist and educator who founded Project Academic Excellence (PAX) to support student success, authored two books, and served as the first African-American counselor in Akron City Schools.
  • Walter Cherry - Heritage Class
    Walter Cherry, Heritage Class - A dedicated public servant and pioneering Canton police officer who broke barriers in law enforcement, serving his community with integrity and paving the way for future generations of McKinley Bulldogs.
  • Sister Dr. Helen Lalinsky - Heritage Class
    Sister Dr. Helen Lalinsky, Heritage Class - A pioneering medical missionary and likely the first woman of religious to earn a medical degree, she spent forty years building hospitals and providing healthcare throughout Pakistan.

Patron of Excellence

Introducing our 2026 Patron of Excellence

Scott Davis headshotScott Davis, Patron of Excellence – A veteran broadcaster who served as Sports Director at WOAC Channel 67 before a 28-year career with Canton City School District, where he hosted Bulldog Nation Sports and taught the next generation of broadcasters in the Broadcast Media program.