Class of 2010
Norm Bafunno— Executive at Toyota
North '79
On July 1, 2010, Norm Bafunno was named the first American President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc., overseeing the production of three vehicle lines and 4,100 employees. It is a post he has earned through much hard work, dedication to his profession and an uncommon amount of humanity. Among his accomplishments at Toyota: leading the original Indiana Greenfield production team in 1998, supporting the Texas Tundra launch in 2006, localizing the Highlander vehicle to Indiana in 2009, and introducing the Tacoma vehicle to Texas in 2010. Before joining TMMI, he spent 14 years with General Motors Corp. A believer that service leads to true character development and lifelong friendships, Bafunno is deeply involved in the community, serving as a board member on many community service organizations.
Hayes Barnard—Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Central '91
Hayes Barnard is a wonderful example of someone who was not deterred by his own adversity as a student but was inspired by it. After several years as a hugely successful sales representative for technology companies in the Silicon Valley, Barnard and two of his friends channeled their entrepreneurial spirit and launched Paramount Equity, a group of companies dedicated to saving families money. Leading three separate companies in the Mortgage, Insurance and PV Solar Energy Industry, Paramount Equity has had the pleasure of helping residential homeowners in six states. Both Barnard and his company have enjoyed receiving many awards, including the Global Impact Award from buildOn, the #1 A+ Employer Award from the Sacramento Business Journal, Entrepreneur of the Year from the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, and Top New 100 Most Innovative Businesses in California from Golden Capital Network. He was also recently honored as one of the 40 Most Influential National Mortgage Professionals Under 40 by National Mortgage Professional Magazine and recognized at one of Sacramento Business Journal's 40 under 40 most influential business professionals in the Sacramento region. The company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity and pays employees to dedicate one percent of their work year toward charitable causes, as well.
Samantha Elliott Briggs, Ph.D. — Educator and Race Relations Consultant
South '91
When Samantha Briggs was a VICC student in Parkway, she was an outstanding student, participating on the district’s Committee on Race Relations, the superintendent’s Leadership Advisory Council. and was co-founder of South High's Black Cultural Association. She channeled her passion for equity in education and became a teacher, first in the Atlanta Public Schools and later in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, city schools. Today, Briggs has founded P.E.A.C.E. Educational Consulting (Providing Equal Access to Children in Education) and P.E.A.C.E Academy, a non-profit organization which focuses on academic enrichment, mentoring, leadership development and community building. She also directs the Greene County Math and Science Program in Eutaw, Ala. She is a noted author, presenter and adjunct professor of gender and race studies at the University of Alabama and Samford University. Briggs’ father was one of the original attorneys in the St. Louis desegregation case.
Bob Bunton — Teacher and Parkway North Head Football Coach
North '78
Considered by all at North High to be a pillar of wisdom, experience and emotional strength, Bob Bunton is the kind of educator and coach every principal hopes for. Bunton has instilled in his football players and students a sense of what it means to support and sustain their own community, as well as to help others outside their community. Since he became head coach at his alma mater in 2000, Bunton and his gridiron Vikings have raised thousands of dollars for charities and causes that include pulmonary research at Cardinal Glennon Hospital and Nurses for Newborns. The athletes also have donated many volunteer hours through visits to pediatric patients at Ranken-Jordan Hospital. These efforts have branched into a network of participating schools, including Parkway Central, Eureka and Lafayette high schools, which form the Bunton family's "Huddle of Hope." Bunton was selected as Suburban South Conference Coach of The Year ('02, '03, '06, '07), St. Louis Rams Coach of The Week ('06, '07, '09) and St. Louis Metro Coach of The Year ('06) by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. His teams have earned distinctions for success many times over the years at the district and state levels for football and baseball, including the school's only undefeated football season ('06), as well as a Final Four berth in baseball ('03) and football ('09).
Brad Cohen — Teacher/Asst. Principal with Tourette Syndrome
Central '92
Brad Cohen is the epitome of what it means to overcome the kind of obstacles that would stop many people from pursing their dreams. Cohen, who has Tourette Syndrome, suffered a difficult childhood due to his unusual condition that attracted lots of unwanted attention from other students, and sometimes his teachers. But an accepting high school principal turned the school's perception of Cohen around, giving him the courage to eventually pursue a degree in education and become a teacher. His book, "Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had," was the basis for a movie about his life, made by the Hallmark Hall of Fame producers and aired on CBS. Today, Cohen is an assistant principal of an elementary school in Atlanta. He also channels much of his efforts into TS-related activities, serving as a TS camp coordinator, speaker, foundation director and board member on various advisory boards. His wife, Nancy, recently gave birth to their son, Dylan.
Rear Admiral Phil Davidson — U.S. Navy
West '78
Rear Admiral Phil Davidson leads 11 ships, over 60 aircraft and more than 6,000 Navy men and women as the Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT/Commander, EISENHOWER Strike Group. He has just returned from a seven-month deployment overseas where his Strike Group's operations included close air support to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, and maritime security operations with allies and partners in the Persian Gulf region. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and his early service was in frigates and destroyers in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Later, he commanded the guided missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG50) and the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG64), winning Battle Efficiency awards for the most outstanding ship and crew in its squadron or group with both ships. He is a combat veteran of Operations Enduring Freedom and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He participated in the search and salvage of Korean Air Lines (KAL) 007, the enforcement of U.N. sanctions against illegal Iraqi shipping and goods, and the interdiction and seizure of more than 28 metric tons of illegal narcotics during his career. He has also served ashore in important roles in the Pentagon and other headquarters, and as a military aide to the vice president (1993-95) in the White House. He has a master's degree and numerous military awards.
Terry Donnelly — Businessman, Former NCAA Division I National Champion
North '76
Today he is a successful entrepreneur who owns a multi-million dollar distribution supplies company with his brother Brian (North '80). But Terry Donnelly initially demonstrated his tenacity and thirst for excellence on the basketball court at North High and later at Michigan State University in the NCAA playoffs. In 1979, in a contest that was billed "the game that forever changed college basketball," Donnelly helped lead the Spartans (with teammate Earvin Magic Johnson) to a national title in a game against Indiana State (with player Larry Bird). He is the only St. Louis athlete ever to have won a Division I NCAA National Championship in basketball. He earned the Academic All Big Ten Team recognition in 1978, as well. He returns to North High on a regular basis to speak to the students about character, leadership and academic success, qualities which comprise what he calls "the complete person" who can be successful off the court.
Victoria Dorr, M.D. — Oncologist and Hematologist, Researcher
West '83
Dr. Victoria Dorr is a well-respected and valued member within the community of cancer research. Her research and publications are often used by those involved in the ongoing battle to find a cure. After graduating from medical school, she was an assistant professor and fellowship director for the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she published several papers, authored several book chapters and co-authored a book on chemotherapy. Now back in St. Louis, she devotes herself to her practice at Christian Hospital-Northeast in St. Louis, where her goal is to create an atmosphere where superior medical care and human compassion are equal considerations in the treatment of her patients. In her spare time, she and her sons have started a vineyard, the Indian Bluff Winery, where they are learning about the principles of business, plant management and how to make wine.
Cindy (Owens) Erickson — Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter
West '85
Cindy Erickson's passion for public health, humanitarianism and philanthropy has guided her career over the past 20 years. She leads the 15th-largest American Red Cross chapter in the country, dedicated to helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. During her short tenure, Cindy has realigned four Red Cross chapters and 44 counties into a regional network serving more than 3.5 million people. She continues to set national standards in disaster readiness and provides leadership for a national initiative that is revolutionizing emergency preparedness programs. Prior to the Red Cross, Erickson was vice president at Innolect, Inc., an organizational development and coaching firm where she specialized in organizational leadership and public health. She also spent 14 years in leadership capacities for the American Lung Association in New York City, Florida and Missouri. Erickson was living and working in NYC on September 11, 2001; immediately following the tragedy, she established "Operation Return Home," which educated thousands about lung health after being exposed to hazardous debris. She speaks widely on issues of public health and safety, including lectures at Washington University, St. Louis University and the recent Meta-Leadership Summit in St Louis.
Ahmed Ghouri, M.D. —Physician, Inventor, Businessman
South '84
Dr. Ahmed Ghouri is an anesthesiologist and biomedical engineer who founded Anvita Health, a medical informatics company, where he is chief medical officer. The company provides physicians with an efficient method of integrating diagnosis with appropriate medicine via a continually updated internet site. He also is working on the IDoc, a diagnostic device that is capable of providing bedside laboratory analysis, such as detecting low oxygen levels in blood, heart imaging and identifying causes of microbal infection. Ghouri was a co-investigator at Washington University Medical School, where he researched important investigational new medications which were later FDA approved and became market-leading medicines. He also has been on the faculty of the Irvine School of Medicine at the University of California and Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills.
Sarah Haskins Kortuem—Triathlete
South '99
As a world-class competitor, Sarah Haskins continues to make her mark in triathlons around the world and among young people who see her as a role model. In 2008, she finished in 11th place at the Olympic Games held in Beijing, China. Her career as a triathlete began in 2004, after working as a teaching assistant at Parkway's Hanna Woods Elementary and as an assistant cross country coach at South High, where she was a scholar, an athlete and a state champion in swimming and cross country. Haskins continues to be a mentor to student athletes while training for the next Olympic Games, encouraging students to take care of themselves, to make good choices and to do their best each day.
Jason James — Head Basketball Coach, University of Tennessee-Martin
West '96
As the second-youngest Division I college basketball coach in the nation, Jason James has established a reputation as an individual who can achieve his goals. James' motto is, "It's not about winning and losing, it's about your performance." He began his teaching career at Ritenour Middle School, then moved to Forest Park Community College, where he began his coaching career. While at FPCC, the team finished second in the region and many of the players went on to Division I or II college basketball. During his days as a student athlete, James was named "Freshman Basketball Player of the Year" and captain of the basketball team at Iowa's Graceland University, where his teammates voted him "Most Valuable Team Player." He has spent the past seven years coaching in Martin, Tenn., where he also has earned his masters degree in education. In the community, James has been involved in the "Character Counts" program in the Weakley County schools, the D.A.R.E program, and the Boys and Girls clubs of Union City, Tenn. He also is involved in the Coaches vs. Cancer program and Relay for Life in Martin.
Mark Johnson — Forensic Computer Analyst
Central '78
Mark Johnson is a computer forensic analyst for the Department of Justice, United States Attorney's Office -Western District of Missouri in Kansas City. He was instrumental in bringing computer forensics to the Midwest, where he established the Computer Crimes Unit at the Kansas City Police Department, then several years later assisted in setting up the Regional Computer Forensics Lab for the Justice Department. He has been recognized for his work on high-profile cases such as the Bobbie Jo Stinnett murder and the BTK case in 2005, as well as the Jack Rogers child pornography case. He was a police officer for 17 years in the Kansas City, Mo., area, holding assignments in the Tactical Response Team, Street Narcotics Unit and Crime Scene Investigations. Mr. Johnson has taught courses for many law enforcement officers in the specialty of computer crime and forensic data recovery.
Jason Laramie, Ph.D. — Research Bioinformaticist
North '93
Combining his expertise in both biological research and computer science, Jason Laramie, Ph.D., is a bioinformaticist at Pfizer, Inc., where he leads the study of human genetics at the company's Research Technology Center in Cambridge, Mass. By using knowledge about human genetics, he and his group of scientists hope to discover new avenues of treatments for type 2 diabetes and cancer. Bioinformatics is a field of science which combines information technology and molecular biology by looking at large complex sets of genomic data, such as DNA sequence. By taking a whole-genome view of disease, scientists have a better chance of developing therapeutic interventions for many common diseases. Laramie's past research has included studies on how likely people are to develop diseases such as sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, obesity, metabolic syndrome, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease, based on their genes.
Jeffrey Levy, M.D. — Physician & Entrepreneur
North '76
Over the past 22 years, Dr. Jeffrey Levy has developed hundreds of educational and training products and services that have affected millions of lives. He is the medical director and chief learning officer of MedErgy, a medical education and communication company that provides evidence-based solutions through the synergistic blend of strategic, scientific and creative skills. He also was cofounder, president and CEO of Reflective Learning, an online education company that develops powerful learning solutions to empower people to take control of life challenges such as depression. This company has been featured in many major publications, such as TIME, O, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal, as well as on major television and radio networks. He has a strong interest in positive psychology, the science behind what makes people flourish in life (see www.positivepsychologytraining.com). Dr. Levy had a private medical practice for 14 years . He has been recognized with many awards in obstetrics and gynecology, and was a finalist for the 2002 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Pam (Jones) Nicholson — Enterprise Holdings President/COO
Central '77
Having worked her way through the ranks of the company, Pam Nicholson now holds the reins of Enterprise Holdings as the company's COO. After college graduation, Nicholson began her career with the company at a car rental branch in St. Louis, then moved to California, where she eventually was promoted to regional vice president. She was promoted to the top job at the New York Rent-A-Car group, doubling its profitability. Nicholson has been named one of FORTUNE's Most Powerful Women in Business for the past three years, and was twice selected as one of Forbes's 100 Most Powerful Business Women in the World. Under her presidency, Enterprise has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For." Enterprise consists of the Enterprise, National and Alamo brands.
Denise (Appelbaum) Pupillo, Ed.D. — Parkway Coordinator-Gifted Education Curriculum & District Grants
North '78
Denise Pupillo has devoted her life to making a difference in the lives of all children, particularly those with unique learning needs. She has become one of Parkway's biggest advocates of its gifted education program, restructuring the program to provide a wider range of services for ALL students. She has authored several major grant applications in her role of coordinator of grants and funding for Parkway, and has secured millions of dollars in funding, including a recent 1.5 million-dollar grant to improve Parkway's middle school mathematics instruction. She also has led many initiatives over the years, including work in the areas of school diversity, long-range planning and grant funding. As a part of the restructuring of Parkway's gifted program, Denise worked with staff to design the MOSAICS gifted education program (Maximizing Outstanding Student Achievement through Instruction, Curriculum and Support), including a self-contained program for exceptionally gifted students. She has also formed a parent support group, coached academic teams, led the district's differentiation work, written curriculum and helped to develop the district's on-line curriculum guide for the gifted program, coached five Odyssey-of-the-Mind teams and served as a lead for both the United Way drive and the science fair.
Erin (Garrity) Rank — President/CEO, Habitat for Humanity-Greater Los Angeles Area
Central '82
Erin Rank has moved through the field of Christian ministry and community service to become president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles. She has worked with former President Jimmy Carter to build homes countless homes for the poor and disadvantaged, most recently in Thailand and Vietnam. Habitat makes it possible for people to put their own labor toward home ownership and obtain zero-interest loans. Rank has been recognized as one of 100 Irish Americans most prominent in the USA.
Joan (Snider) Strom-Millard [deceased] — Pastor, Businesswoman
West '70
Joan (Snider) Strom-Millard always made the most of her many talents in her career as well as in her personal life. She was respected and admired as a daughter, sister, student, wife, mother, grandmother, career woman and volunteer. One of the highlights of her career was her employment at Progressive Insurance as the national sales manager for specialty insurance products. She was a high priest in the Community of Christ Church and served on a number of local and world church committees. She was also volunteer pastor to the Mission Road Congregation for several years. Always generous with her time serving the community, she was a board member for Camp Quality USA, an organization that provides a camping experience for children with cancer, and served as board president for six years. Her ability to provide strong leadership and ministry was appreciated by those she served. Joan's personal journey was about honoring spirit. Though cancer eventually claimed her life in March 2008, she used her illness to inform her master's thesis, "Healing of Spirit as it Relates to Disease and Illness: A New Paradigm." She was awarded her master's degree posthumously in May 2008 by Graceland University Seminary in Lamoni, Iowa.
Kimberly Templeton, M.D. — Orthopedic Surgeon/Professor
Central '80
Dr. Kimberly Templeton has distinguished herself in the field of orthopedic surgery, a field in which women are a minority. She is a full professor of orthopedic surgery and health policy and management at the University of Kansas in Kansas City. She has held several positions of leadership in medicine, including two terms as the president of the state orthopaedic society, the first woman to serve as president of one of the five regional U.S. orthopedic societies, president of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (the North American society for female orthopaedic surgeons), president of the Medical Society of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties (Kansas), and is currently president-elect of the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade. She has been active in research in the area of musculoskeletal tumors, women's health issues, and medical education. She is developing a book on women's sports injuries.
Amy Stuart Wells, Ph.D.— Professor and Researcher on Equality in Education
West '80
A world-class educator, researcher, journalist and author, Amy Stuart Wells has made her mark in the field of education exploring issues of racial segregation and inequality. She is a professor of sociology and education at Teachers College-Columbia University, where she is also the director of the Center for Understanding Race and Education (CURE). She also directs the Ford Foundation's "Building Knowledge for Social Justice" project, which seeks to develop scholarship and communication strategies that can shift public understanding of the real causes of inequality in the U.S. Her articles on education and social policy have been published in many high-profile publications and newspapers. She is also the authors of several books, including one about the St. Louis inter-district school desegregation program, Stepping Over the Color Line: African American Students in White Suburban Schools (1997, Yale University Press). Wells has participated in state and federal congressional briefings on education during her career and has received many awards recognizing her contributions and achievements.
Joseph Williams — Film Critic
West '76
As film critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Joe Williams is one of the best-known media figures in St. Louis for more than a decade, with more than a quarter-million readers each week. During his tenure, he has reviewed more than 2,000 movies and interviewed some of the biggest names in Hollywood. He also has done a weekly movie review segment for KMOV-TV and is a frequent guest on local radio and television. He annually attends the Academy Award presentations in Los Angeles (a city where he worked as a music critic and movie extra for much of the '80s) and he travels to film festivals from Cannes to Sundance. He serves as a juror for the St. Louis International Film Festival and the Cinemaspoke screenwriting competition. Williams was selected for inclusion on the popular Metacritic.com, which limits its reviewers to the top critics nationally. His feature stories and film reviews are syndicated to newspapers nationwide.