The J.P. McCaskey Alumni Association hosted its 29th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday, October 2, celebrating five McCaskey HS graduates whose personal and professional achievements continue to inspire current students and the broader School District of Lancaster community.
Held at Lancaster’s Cork Factory Hotel, the annual event served as both a homecoming and a reminder of McCaskey’s enduring legacy of excellence. Since 1995, the Distinguished Alumni Awards have honored individuals who exemplify leadership, service, and integrity, values that reflect the very best of what it means to be a McCaskey graduate.
This year’s honorees represent a diverse range of fields, from healthcare and science to education and the arts. Each story shares a common thread of a commitment to improving the lives of others.
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James DeBord, Class of 1987, was recognized for transforming Schreiber Pediatric from years of financial hardship into a thriving, debt-free center serving more than 4,000 children annually. Under his leadership, Schreiber has expanded access to life-changing care while building a sustainable foundation for the future.
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Juan “JJ” Hernandez-Dosch, Ph.D., Class of 2011, is a materials scientist whose pioneering research in polymer chemistry and degradable plastics has bridged industry and academia across six countries. His dedication to mentorship and global collaboration reflects the spirit of lifelong learning nurtured at McCaskey.
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Dr. James Lockey, Class of 1964, has built an internationally respected career in pulmonary and environmental medicine. His research on occupational health hazards has influenced national safety standards, and his environmental education efforts extend even to his own tree farm in Ohio, where he teaches children about forest conservation.
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Yentli Soto-Albrecht, Class of 2011, an MD-PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, was honored for her groundbreaking research into mitochondrial science and her advocacy for diversity in medical education. In honor of her late father, she is dedicating her training to advancing research against ALS and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Class of 1986, has built an extraordinary career as an organist, educator, and composer. Now serving as Director of Music and Cathedral Arts at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington, Vermont, Peter’s musical journey began right here in Lancaster, where he first played at Otterbein United Methodist Church as a McCaskey senior.
Click here to read more about the distinguished alumni
In addition to the Distinguished Alumni honorees, the Susan J. Garofola Volunteer Service Award was presented, recognizing an individual whose volunteer efforts have made a lasting impact on the McCaskey community.
Earlier in the day, honorees visited classrooms across the J.P. McCaskey campus, sharing their journeys with students and reflecting on the lessons that shaped their paths. These conversations, between generations of McCaskey Tornado, captured the heart of the program: inspiring today’s students to envision the difference they can make in the world.
As the evening came to a close, one theme echoed throughout the room, once a Tornado, always a Tornado. The stories shared reminded everyone in attendance that McCaskey’s influence stretches far beyond graduation, that its alumni continue to lead, serve, and inspire wherever life takes them.
The banquet was co-sponsored by Groff Funeral and Cremation Services, Hagelgans and Veronis Law, Kegel’s Produce, and Andy Esbenshade of Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Realty.
The School District of Lancaster congratulates the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients and thanks the J.P. McCaskey Alumni Association for its continued dedication to celebrating the achievements of McCaskey graduates and connecting them with the students who carry forward the school’s proud legacy. For more photos, visit us on Facebook.