OHS Outstanding Alumni Announced

The Orrville High School Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees recently chose four graduates for recognition as Outstanding Alumni. Selected for this honor were the following:

Robert Hershey ’44
Dr. Donald Orr ‘62
Kathy Tschiegg ‘74
Lt. Colonel Michael Landers ‘77

Hershey worked with his father at Hershey Insurance Agency retiring in 1998 as president. He has been involved and served in leadership positions with the Jaycees, the YMCA, United Way, Orrville Campus Foundation, Children’s Services Board of Wayne County, Orrville Library Board, the Orrville Chamber of Commerce, OrrViews Board, Dunlap Community Hospital and Christ United Church of Christ. A World War II veteran, he was named Orrville’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1957, was the Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year in 1991, and along with his wife Jess received a United Way Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Hershey was honored as a Founders Society member by The University of Akron Wayne College for his work in bringing a branch campus to Orrville. Whenever something was needed in the Orrville community or a goal was to be met, Hershey was one of the first to be sought out for leadership, and he always came through. He and his wife are the parents of four daughters and one son.

Donald Orr, M.D., Professor Emeritus at Indiana University School of Medicine, graduated from The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Orr completed residency training in pediatrics at Cleveland’s Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital and specialty training in adolescent medicine at the University of Colorado and the University of Rochester Medical Center. A Navy veteran, he joined the faculty of Indiana University in 1983 and started the Section of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children. Orr’s clinical and research interests focus on Type 1 diabetes and adolescent sexuality, and he has published 150 scientific and clinical articles. He has served as associate editor for the journals Diabetes Care and the Journal of Adolescent Medicine, and as editor for Adolescent Health Update. His work has been recognized with lifetime achievement awards from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Adolescent Medicine and with the creation of the Donald P. Orr Chair in Adolescent Medicine at Indiana University. Orr is semi-retired but continues providing care to adolescents. Orr and his wife, Caryl Thompson, have three sons.

Tschiegg is the founder and CEO of Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO). After receiving her nursing degree, Tschiegg spent two years with the Peace Corps in Honduras working at a public hospital. She returned to the U.S. and spent 15 years working for Aultman Hospital. Her goal to develop a system that would deliver sustainable quality healthcare to the poor of Central America was realized in 1993 with the founding of CAMO. The organization became a partner with the region and works hand in hand with local medical professionals to improve the lives of those most in need. Tschiegg’s work has earned her a 2009 Athena Award and she was named outstanding medical professional of the year by the Stark County Medical Associations – the first nurse to receive this honor. In addition, she has received two Paul Harris Awards from Rotary International and has been recognized by the Peace Corps for her dedication to development work. She spends half the year living and working in Honduras and the other half at CAMO’s headquarters in Orrville.

Landers received a B.S. in Biology from The University of Akron and an M.B.A. from Benedictine College. He has served in the U.S. Army for 25 years and is currently serving with the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His combat experience includes tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a graduate of training in counterinsurgency; command and general staff officers course; U.S. Army Jumpmaster course; and Pathfinder, Ranger and Airborne courses. Landers has held leadership positions including Director of Cultural Influence and Counterinsurgency, Team Chief, Commandant, and Commander. His teaching experience includes School of Command Preparation where he acts as a facilitator specializing in Battle Command at the tactical level, and Senior Platoon Trainer in Ranger instruction. Landers has received two Bronze Stars and numerous other medals and badges. He and his wife Lisa have two daughters.

These four alumni will be honored at the Alumni Luncheon to be held at The Pines on Friday, June 25th at noon. The luncheon will kick-off the 2010 Orrville High School Reunion Weekend. Reservations and payments ($15.00) to attend the luncheon must be received by June 1st. Reservations may be done online at http://ohsalumniluncheon.eventbrite.com/