Hall of Distinction
The Avonworth School District has established a Hall of Distinction to recognize Avonworth High School alumni, community members, and employees of the Avonworth School District that have made outstanding accomplishments and/or achievements in their career or in service to the school district community. Please consider nominating someone for the Avonworth Hall of Distinction.
Criteria
- Anyone can make a nomination
- Avonworth alumni (including graduates of Ben Avon High School, the Emsworth School, and the Ohio Township One-Room Schoolhouses), community members, and district employees are eligible for nomination.
- Nominees should be ten years beyond graduation for alumni and employees must have completed their employment with the District with five years separation from the District.
- Posthumous nominations will be accepted.
- Nominations are valid for a period of five years.
- Nominees must be of good character and high moral standards.
- For a complete overview of eligibility and selection guidelines, please review the Hall of Distinction By-Laws.
Nomination Form
If you are interested in nominating someone to the Avonworth Hall of Distinction, please download and complete a nomination form. View the Hall of Distinction Nomination Form here.
Please mail the nomination form to the following address:
Avonworth School District
258 Josephs Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Class of 2026 Recipients
Margaret J. Buzza - 2026
Margaret J. “Peggy” Buzza was a devoted school nurse whose decades of service left a lasting mark on the Avonworth School District community. A resident of Ben Avon, she served students across multiple schools as the district grew, including Ben Avon, Emsworth, Ohio Township, and Avonworth Middle and High School. Her steady presence, compassion, and sense of humor made her a trusted and beloved figure among students, staff, and families.
Margaret earned her degree from California State College and her nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Although she stepped away from full-time clinical practice to raise her family, she remained committed to nursing through teaching and school health services. As a school nurse, she provided preventive care, first aid, and counseling, always placing the well-being of her students first.
Beyond her daily work, she advocated for the role of school nurses on a national level, promoting the importance of preventive care in education. Her dedication to students extended far beyond the classroom, as she built lasting relationships and treated each child with care and respect.
Margaret retired in 1996 after years of faithful service. Her impact endured long after, reflected in the generations of students she supported and the community she helped strengthen. Remembered for her kindness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment, Margaret J. Buzza’s legacy remains an enduring part of the Avonworth School District.
Staff Sgt. Eric Holman - 2026
Staff Sergeant Eric Holman was a dedicated soldier whose life reflected courage, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to service. A graduate of Avonworth Junior-Senior High School, Class of 1990, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Pennsylvania State University in 1995.
Motivated by a deep love of country, Eric enlisted in the United States Army in 2003. In 2005, he was selected to join the elite U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, where he served as a demonstration parachutist. Over the course of his military career, he completed more than 2,600 freefall jumps and 1,000 tandem jumps, demonstrating exceptional skill, discipline, and dedication.
In 2009, Eric volunteered for one of the Army’s most demanding roles, training as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. After completing specialized training at Eglin Air Force Base, he served as a certified EOD team leader and deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 with the 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Staff Sergeant Holman was killed in action on August 15, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. His service and sacrifice were recognized with numerous honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge. Remembered by family and fellow soldiers as a devoted father, loyal teammate, and proud patriot, Eric Holman made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his nation.
- Dr. Chevalier Quixote Jackson - 2026
Dr. Chevalier Quixote Jackson, a resident of Ben Avon, was a pioneering physician whose work transformed modern medicine and saved countless lives. Born in Pittsburgh in 1865, he later earned his medical education at the University of Pittsburgh and Jefferson Medical College. He supported himself through school and developed skills that shaped his future innovations.
Dr. Jackson became a leader in the emerging fields of laryngology and bronchoscopy, developing groundbreaking techniques and instruments that allowed for the safe removal of foreign objects from the airway and esophagus. His work saved thousands of lives, especially children, and set new standards for medical practice, while his teaching and writing influenced generations of physicians.
In addition to his clinical work, he was a dedicated public health advocate who promoted warning labels on toxic household products and often treated patients regardless of their ability to pay. His enduring impact has been recognized through historical commemoration, including a marker at Sunrise Mill in Montgomery County honoring his life and contributions.
Through his pioneering innovations and commitment to patient care, Dr. Chevalier Q. Jackson left an enduring legacy. Widely regarded as the “Father of Laryngology,” his work continues to influence modern medicine and remains a source of pride for the Avonworth community.
Polly Webber - 2026
Polly Webber is a distinguished legal professional whose career has been defined by leadership and dedicated advocacy on behalf of immigrant communities. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Juris Doctor from the University of California Law, San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law). She has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1977.
After fifteen years in private practice, Polly was appointed as a U.S. Immigration Judge by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1995. During her tenure, she adjudicated more than 5,000 immigration cases, demonstrating fairness, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to due process. She also served as President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, reflecting her respected leadership within the legal profession.
In addition to her judicial service, Polly served as an adjunct professor of law at Santa Clara University School of Law and Lincoln Law School. Her work strengthened legal services for immigrant communities, particularly in Napa Valley. In recognition of her advocacy, she received the American Immigration Lawyers Association Advocacy Award in 2019. Now retired, Polly is also an accomplished fiber artist known for creating wearable works of art.
Through her distinguished legal career and commitment to justice, Polly Webber has made a lasting and meaningful impact on the legal profession and the communities she has served.
