2010 Alter High School Alumni Hall of Fame
Distinguished Inductees
Tom Zelibor, Class of 1972
After graduation from Alter, Tom accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he completed his Bachelor's degree in Oceanography in 1976. Before retiring in 2006 as a Rear Admiral, he served in various capacities during a well-decorated 30-year naval career. This included commanding a fighter squadron and a carrier air wing as well as tours in Naval Space Command and on a carrier battle group. One of the highlights of his illustrious career was as Commander, Task Force Fifty during "Operation Enduring Freedom" (in response to the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the homeland). Tom led a three Carrier Task Force of some 60 ships from 12 different nations with over 40,000 sailors.
After retiring from active duty in 2006, Tom accepted the position of Dean, College of Operational and Strategic Leadership, Naval War College. Now, Tom is President and CEO of Flatirons Solutions in Boulder, Colorado, working to provide strategic analysis and guidance to many governmental and private sector entities. He and his wife, Anne, have three sons.
Lori Dorn, Class of 1979
Lori continued her post-Alter academic career at the University of Dayton and Western Illinois University, earning both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education. She then began work in the West Carrollton, Ohio, school district where she currently teaches fifth and sixth grade Social Studies. Lori has received numerous educational awards during her teaching career: the Ohio Gilder Lehrman - History Teacher of the Year in 2009, the National Distinguished Clinician of the Year in 2005, the Montgomery County Wal-mart Teacher of the Year in 2003, and the Southwest Ohio Regional Elementary Career Award in 2002, among others.
Recognized by her peers as an innovator who goes the "extra mile" for her students, Lori has also served in many leadership positions within her district and has been a workshop presenter at the local, state and national level at conferences such as the Professional Development School and the National Middle School Association.
Courtney Sheridan DeOreo, Class of 1984
Since earning her degree from Miami University in 1988, Courtney has spent most of her professional career in the non-profit world as a development and strategic planning expert. After several years in retail management, Courtney found her true calling in philanthropy. She began with Cleveland Works, where she assisted hundreds of people in transitioning from welfare to either full- or part-time employment. Courtney then joined The United Way of Cleveland where she was part of a leadership team responsible for five consecutive annual increases to a $40 million campaign. Since then, she has worked for and sat on boards of other not-for-profit agencies, specializing in collaborative improvements and helping the arts of Greater Cleveland.
Courtney is now President of Common Wealth Services, Inc., which provides consulting services for those whose mission is to improve the health and prosperity of others. Courtney resides in Cleveland with her husband Dave and her daughter Emilie.
Laura Portune, Class of 1994
Laura attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree and went on to earn a Masters of Music from The Ohio State University. Additionally, Laura earned a Certificate of Language and Culture from the prestigious L'Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, Italy. A critically acclaimed and recorded soprano, Laura has performed with numerous national and international operas, including the North Czech Philharmonic, the Greek Symphonic Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, the Southern Illinois Symphony, and in Gala Performances with Opera Columbus, Lake George Opera, and Lyric Opera San Diego. Laura has also served as a visiting professor at the University of Notre Dame and has conducted informational classes. Laura has performed in concerts at universities around the United States, as well as in France, Austria, and Italy.
Laura, recently married to Benjamin Cordell, lives in Columbus. Laura is currently teaching private lessons and is serving as assistant director of opera programs at Ohio State while preparing to re-join the San Diego Opera in the spring of 2010.
Athletic Inductees
John R. Crotty, Class of 1969
John was a winner of seven varsity letters in four different sports and was a two-way player for the 1968 state-ranked Knights football team. John was named to the All-Midwestern Ohio Conference team and the Journal Herald and the Dayton Daily News all-area teams. John played point guard and small forward for Coach Petrocelli's squad, earning all-area honors his senior year. John also ran track and anchored the 400-, 800- and 1600-relay teams as well as competing in the long jump, where he set the then-school record and was listed in the Journal Herald Track honor roll.
John accepted a scholarship from the University of Dayton to play football and earned a business degree. He currently is President and CEO of Colfax Financial, LLC. John lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is married to the former Pat Zimmerman, who is also a 1969 graduate of Alter. They have four children and seven grandchildren with number eight due in February 2010.
Christina Hart, Class of 1980
Chris was a standout in four sports, earning eight varsity letters. Chris was most known for her prowess on the hardwood as an All-State Honorable Mention player for the third-ranked Lady Knights basketball team in her senior year. Chris averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8 assists and an incredible 10 steals per game for the 24-1 squad. Chris was 2nd Team All-League in volleyball and 1st team All-Area as a catcher on the softball team. Chris accepted a scholarship to continue her baskeball career at Xavier University. There she received her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and was a four-year letter winner and two-year starter for the Musketeers.
Chris attained her Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration from Western Illinois University and served as a graduate assistant coach. Chris' first full-time head coaching position came at Wooster College as the Head Basketball and Tennis coach. Chris remained at Wooster unitl 1996 and then returned to Alter. She currently serves as the women's basketball coach. In 1998, Chris added the title of Athletic Director. The highlight of Chris' career was winning the 2008 Girls State Basketball Championship.
Brandi Kohnle Schuermann, Class of 1990
Brandi was ranked in the top 100 nationally for womens tennis. A four-year letter winner for the Knights, Brandi qualified for the state tennis tournament every season. Brandi was a State Doubles finalist in 1988 and the State Singles Champion in 1989. Brandi earned a full scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, becoming the first nationally ranked female tennis player in Bearcat history. Brandi earned her Bachelor's degree from UC in Urban Studies Administration and has been a Professional Tennis Instructor for 15 years at Queen City Racquet and Fitness Club. She has been the Cincinnati Adult League Coordinator for the United States Tennis Association since 2002.
After the loss of her father, Brandi turned her attention toward raising money to help educate families who have loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The resources she has raised have helped fund free seminars. The seminars teach family members about Alzheimers' and how it affects the person as well as discuss various treatment options. Brandi is married to Mark Schuermann, also a 1990 Alter graduate. They live in Cincinnati with their three sons.
Mike Rose, Class of 1996
Mike garnered numerous accolades on the gridiron and on the baseball field as a two-sport standout with the Knights. Mike was a four-year starter in football, earning All-GCL honors in his final three campaigns. He was Defensive Back of the Year in 1994 and Offensive Back of the Year in 1995. Mike was All-Southwest Ohio in '94 and '95 and earned All-State honors for the GCL-champion Knights in 1995. In baseball, Mike was also a four-year starter while earning All-Conference and All-Southwest Ohio honors for his final three seasons. Named All-American in 1995 and 1996, Mike was drafted in the 1996 Major League Baseball draft, but chose to continue his athletic career at Purdue University where he was a three-year starter at linebacker and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week four times. Mike also played baseball for the Boilermakers and was a two-year starting outfielder boasting a career .300 average.
Mike is an Executive Director of United Health Care and lives in Springboro with his wife Natalie and their two children.
