Ambridge High School's Class of 2018 marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. The commencement ceremony took place Thursday evening in the gymnasium, where 162 graduating seniors received their high school diplomas. Image Credit: Ambridge Area School District
Ambridge High School's Class of 2018 marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
The commencement ceremony took place Thursday evening in the gymnasium, where 162 graduating seniors received their high school diplomas.
The commencement ceremony took place Thursday evening in the gymnasium, where 162 graduating seniors received their high school diplomas.
 Ambridge Area School District Inducts 2018 Hall of Honor Nominees ( in order Dr. Ken Cirka, Mrs. Karen (Petcash) Larrimer, Rhonda Wozniak not pictured Capt. Charles D. Rowley Image Credit: Felicia Mycyk/ Ambridge Connection | Ambridge Area School District Inducts 2018 Hall of Honor Nominees During the commencement ceremony, at Ambridge High School, four new members of the Ambridge Hall of Honor were inducted. Dr. Ken Cirka is a 1989 graduate of the AASD. Dr. Cirka received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Grove City College and attended Slippery Rock University. He attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine. Dr. Cirka is a cosmetic dentist who was named "Best of Philadelphia," America's Best Dentist, Life Magazine Top Dentist and a six-year recipient of Consumer Research Council's Top Dentist award he is the senior dentist and owner of Philadelphia Dentistry. In addition, Dr. Cirka is a philanthropist and is active with the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Feeding America and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Additional volunteerism and charity include Mom and PA dental, Purses Full of Hope, AIDSWalk, Have a Heart, Feeding America and Share Food Program. |
Capt. Charles D. Rowley is receiving this honor posthumously. A 1952 graduate, Capt. Rowley retired after 30 years of service in the United States Navy. Photo submitted. Karen (Petcash) Larrimer, a 1980 AASD graduate, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Point Park University. She is currently the executive vice president, head of retail banking and chief customer officer of The PNC Financial Services Group. Larrimer is the first female chairwoman of the board for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and a board and executive committee member of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.
Larrimer has been recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker Magazine (2017, 2016, ,2015); was selected to receive a Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award by the National Diversity Council's Pennsylvania Awards Committee (2014); and was a finalist for the 2014 Athena Award. She received the Girl Scouts of America Award of Distinction in Business (2013) and was named "Mother of the Year" (2010) by the national publication Working Mother. She also was named a “Women Worth Watching" by Diversity Journal in 2009 and was one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania in 2003
Capt. Charles D. Rowley is receiving this honor posthumously. A 1952 graduate, Capt. Rowley retired after 30 years of service in the United States Navy. After graduating from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, he completed seven deployments, including two tours of duty and more than 160 missions during the Vietnam War. The Commanding Officer of the Naval Training Center from 1985 to 1990, Capt. Rowley was responsible for 1,300 people. He also was the Director of Computer Resources and Avionics with the Navy as well as the principal and chairman of the Joint Services Review Committee for Avionics.
Capt. Rowley's personal service awards include: the Distinguished Flying Cross; Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross; Armed Services Expeditionary Medal; and 12 Air Medal Strike/Flight Awards.
Rhonda Wozniak is a 1979 graduate. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a Master of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Wozniak was selected to be the Objects Conservator on board the 1994 expedition to recover the artifacts from the sunken RMS Titanic. The only female crew member, she spent 30 days recovering and preserving the artifacts and was featured in the BBC documentary "Explorers of the Titanic."
Wozniak is an acclaimed leader and objects conservator for many projects, including: the Andy Warhol Museum; Carnegie Mello University; Carnegie Museum of Natural History; Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Children's Hospital; Christine Davis Archaeological Consultants; Colcom Foundation; Dollar Bank; Duquesne Club; Erie Insurance Group; Four Winds Gallery; Frick Art Museum; Heinz History Center; Maridon Museum; Mellon Financial Corporation; Navarro Design Associates; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort; North Carolina Museum of Art; Pittsburgh Steelers; Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh. Most recently, Wozniak and her team were selected to restore the beloved Mr. Rogers statue on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.
Larrimer has been recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Banking by American Banker Magazine (2017, 2016, ,2015); was selected to receive a Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award by the National Diversity Council's Pennsylvania Awards Committee (2014); and was a finalist for the 2014 Athena Award. She received the Girl Scouts of America Award of Distinction in Business (2013) and was named "Mother of the Year" (2010) by the national publication Working Mother. She also was named a “Women Worth Watching" by Diversity Journal in 2009 and was one of the Best 50 Women in Business in Pennsylvania in 2003
Capt. Charles D. Rowley is receiving this honor posthumously. A 1952 graduate, Capt. Rowley retired after 30 years of service in the United States Navy. After graduating from the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, he completed seven deployments, including two tours of duty and more than 160 missions during the Vietnam War. The Commanding Officer of the Naval Training Center from 1985 to 1990, Capt. Rowley was responsible for 1,300 people. He also was the Director of Computer Resources and Avionics with the Navy as well as the principal and chairman of the Joint Services Review Committee for Avionics.
Capt. Rowley's personal service awards include: the Distinguished Flying Cross; Meritorious Service Medal; National Defense Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross; Armed Services Expeditionary Medal; and 12 Air Medal Strike/Flight Awards.
Rhonda Wozniak is a 1979 graduate. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Denver and a Master of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Wozniak was selected to be the Objects Conservator on board the 1994 expedition to recover the artifacts from the sunken RMS Titanic. The only female crew member, she spent 30 days recovering and preserving the artifacts and was featured in the BBC documentary "Explorers of the Titanic."
Wozniak is an acclaimed leader and objects conservator for many projects, including: the Andy Warhol Museum; Carnegie Mello University; Carnegie Museum of Natural History; Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Children's Hospital; Christine Davis Archaeological Consultants; Colcom Foundation; Dollar Bank; Duquesne Club; Erie Insurance Group; Four Winds Gallery; Frick Art Museum; Heinz History Center; Maridon Museum; Mellon Financial Corporation; Navarro Design Associates; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort; North Carolina Museum of Art; Pittsburgh Steelers; Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh; Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh. Most recently, Wozniak and her team were selected to restore the beloved Mr. Rogers statue on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.
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