In celebration of Catholic Education Week, May 5 to 10, the York Catholic District School Board is announcing eight recipients of its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award.
The campaign, marking its 20th year, recognizes alumni for their significant contributions to their careers and communities, a YCDSB news release said. Posters of the recipents will be displayed throughout York Region.
The YCDSB 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award winners are:
- Father Scott Birchall is a priest in the Archdiocese of Toronto and a professor at St. Augustine’s Seminary. He attended St. Mary Immaculate CES in Richmond Hill and Notre Dame CES and Sacred Heart CHS in Newmarket.
- Jessica Dizon Burns is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) and professor at Centennial College. She is among two per cent of women worldwide who hold an AME licence and the first at WestJet’s Toronto base. Jessica graduated from St. Charles Garnier CES and St. Elizabeth CHS in Thornhill.
- Jeffrey Man is a senior policy advisor at the Ontario Public Service, where he advises executives on decisions that affect older Ontarians and people with disabilities. He graduated from St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS in Richmond Hill.
- Kevin McCloskey is a deputy chief with the York Regional Police where he oversees the Support Branch, which includes Operational Command, Information Services, Support Services and Community Services. He graduated from St. Robert CHS in Thornhill.
- Saneliso Moyo is a labour, employment and human rights lawyer, and partner at Goldblatt Partners LLP. She frequently speaks in YCDSB schools on issues related to equity and activism. Saneliso is a graduate of Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy in Markham.
- Marsha Pinto is a speech therapist in San Jose, California. She founded “Softest Voices,” an organization that advocates for quiet and shy students. She graduated from San Lorenzo CES and St. Brother Andre CHS in Markham.
- Jordan Romano is the closing pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He played for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, is a two-time Major League Baseball All-Star and he won the Tip O’Neill Award in 2022. Jordan is a graduate of Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy in Markham.
- Sierra Scodellaro is a clinical research project manager and pharmacogenetics data analyst at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. She graduated from Our Lady of Hope CES in Richmond Hill and St. Elizabeth CHS in Thornhill.
Full profiles and video clips of each Distinguished Alumni, along with this year’s poster, will be available here.
The recipients will be recognized today at the Tuesday, April 30 board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Catholic Education Centre, 320 Bloomington Rd., Aurora.
