Avonworth Hall of Distinction - Class of 2025

Dear Avonworth Community, 

The Avonworth School District is proud to announce the 2025 Avonworth Hall of Distinction class! This year’s inductees were selected from a strong group of nominations submitted by community members, each reflecting the remarkable impact and legacy of those honored.

Colonel E. Michael Fincke
Former member of the Avonworth community who now resides in Texas

The late Lance Corporal Patrick B. Kenny
Avonworth High School graduate

Ms. Alison McMutrie
Avonworth High School graduate

Ms. Jamie McMutrie
Avonworth High School graduate

The late Mr. David Schrecengost
Former Avonworth High School teacher

The Avonworth Hall of Distinction recognizes alumni, community members, and school district employees who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in their careers or service to the Avonworth community.

Inductees will be honored and officially inducted into the Hall of Distinction at a dinner event on April 24, 2025.

Congratulations to Colonel Mike Fincke, Lance Corporal Patrick Kenny, Jamie and Alison McMutrie, and David Schrecengost!

 

Colonel E. Michael Fincke

Colonel E. Michael “Mike” Fincke is a NASA astronaut, engineer, and veteran of three spaceflights—with a fourth mission on the horizon. Born and raised in Emsworth, Pennsylvania, Mike graduated from Sewickley Academy in 1985. He went on to earn dual bachelor's degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics and Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences from MIT in 1989, followed by a master's in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University in 1990.

Selected by NASA in 1996, Mike has spent over 381 days in space across three missions: Expedition 9 in 2004, where he served as Science Officer and Flight Engineer; Expedition 18 in 2009, where he served as Commander; and STS-134, the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, in 2011. He has completed nine spacewalks totaling over 48 hours. Currently, Mike is training for SpaceX Crew-11, scheduled to launch in July 2025. This will mark his fourth journey to the International Space Station.

A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Mike has over 1,900 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types and has served in a range of global assignments, including in Japan and Russia. He is conversant in Japanese and Russian and has taken part in unique NASA missions, including underwater (NEEMO) and underground (ESA CAVES) expeditions.

Mike is passionate about education and science outreach and has shared his experiences with students at Avonworth Middle School and other schools, inspiring the next generation of explorers.

 

Lance Corporal Patrick B. Kenny

A lifelong resident of Emsworth and a 2003 graduate of Avonworth High School, Patrick Kenny was known for his honesty, humor, and heart. Voted “Class Clown” and “Most Honest” by his classmates, Patrick was also captain of his high school football team and a standout both on and off the field.

Upon his high school graduation, he chose to skip the ceremony and begin his enlistment into the United States Marine Corps, serving two tours of duty in Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, in what became known as the Second Battle of Fallujah, Patrick gave the ultimate sacrifice. He was the first Marine from Pennsylvania killed in action during that battle, and his legacy continues to be a source of pride and remembrance for all who knew him.

In June 2006, thanks to the efforts of his Avonworth classmates, the football field on Ohio River Boulevard was renamed Lance Corporal Patrick B. Kenny Memorial Field in his honor.

Patrick's impact has echoed far beyond the battlefield. Over the past 20 years, more than a dozen children have been named after him—including his nephews, Patrick and Henry Patrick. With the help of the community, over $70,000 has been raised for the Semper Fi Fund in his memory.

Those who knew Patrick remember his infectious laugh, magnetic personality, and natural ability to connect with anyone. His physical strength was as legendary as his spirit—he joined the 1,000-pound lifting club the summer before 9th grade. But above all, Patrick was a one-of-a-kind soul whose bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

 

Jamie and Alison McMutrie

Jamie and Alison McMutrie, Avonworth graduates from the classes of 1998 and 2006, respectively, are internationally recognized child advocates and human rights leaders. After graduation, the sisters volunteered at the BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, where they managed day-to-day operations and cared for dozens of children. In the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake, Jamie and Ali coordinated with former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and other officials to orchestrate the emergency evacuation of 54 children from their orphanage—each of whom was later adopted. Their heroic efforts earned them the title of Pittsburghers of the Year by Pittsburgh Magazine in 2010.

That same year, they co-founded Haitian Families First (www.haitianfamiliesfirst.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping children with their families and out of institutions. Their work has influenced international conversations and policies around the care of vulnerable children, challenging systems that have historically favored institutionalization over family-based care.

With more than a decade of experience in international child protection and family preservation, Ali and Jamie have collaborated with organizations across the globe. Their expertise spans women’s rights, children’s rights, and disability rights, with a focus on deinstitutionalization and alternative care. They have contributed to intersectional research and publications with a gender and disability lens in a range of subject areas, including: economic justice; changing systems of health, education, and social protection; and addressing gender and disability rights in situations of war and disaster.

 

David Schrecengost

David “Schrec” Schrecengost made a lasting impact as an educator, coach, and mentor throughout his teaching career, particularly at Avonworth High School. He began teaching Social Studies at Avonworth in 1970, bringing with him experience from Milton and East Brady High Schools. From the moment he stepped into the brand-new Avonworth building, he became a central and unforgettable figure in the lives of his students—most notably the Class of 1973, with whom he formed a deep and enduring bond.

Mr. Schrecengost, who was charismatic and full of enthusiasm, welcomed students with a blend of warmth and challenge, encouraging them to move beyond memorization into the world of critical thinking. His engaging, innovative teaching style and genuine care for his students helped many navigate the complex transition from adolescence to adulthood. He sponsored clubs like Ski Club and AFS and coached basketball, golf, track & field, tennis, and intramurals, all with a passion that made sports fun while still building character and teamwork.

Mr. Schrecengost’s legacy never left Avonworth. For over 40 years, many of his students kept in touch, crediting him as a positive influence on their lives and even their careers. His impact extended beyond academics—he was a mentor during difficult times, a coach who believed in every player, and the kind of teacher students hoped their own children would someday have.

As one former student said, “There are teachers you barely remember—and then there are those you never forget. Dave Schrecengost is unforgettable.”