WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AUGUST 23, 2024) — The Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation (WASDEF) has named three Williamsport Area High School alumni who will receive its 2024 Distinguished Alumni awards.
The Distinguished Alumni awards honor WAHS graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their professional fields, achieved notable success or demonstrated exceptional service to their communities.
The following individuals have been notified of their selection and have been invited to accept their award at WASDEF’s second Cherry & White Appreciation Night on Sept. 19 at the Michael Ross Event Center, located in Trade and Transit Centre II in downtown Williamsport.
Frances Tipton Hunter, from the Class of 1914, will posthumously receive a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
Hunter’s career flourished as an American illustrator from the 1920s to the late 1950s. Born in 1896 in Howard, Pa., she faced early adversity with the loss of her mother at age 6, which profoundly influenced her artistic perspective. Raised by her aunt and uncle in Williamsport, Hunter’s talent became evident during her high school years. After graduating in 1914, she moved to Philadelphia, where she honed her skills at the Philadelphia Museum of Industrial Arts, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the Fleisher Art Memorial, earning honors at each institution.
Her early career began in New York, where she illustrated children’s fashion for department stores, eventually gaining recognition for her work in major magazines such as “Woman’s Home Companion,” “Collier’s,” “Liberty” and “Ladies’ Home Journal.”
Hunter became renowned for her illustrations of children and their pets, a popular subject among female illustrators of her era. Her work, including a successful series of paper dolls for “Ladies’ Home Journal” and her contributions to “The Frances Tipton Picture Book,” solidified her reputation. However, it was her covers for “The Saturday Evening Post” that elevated her to the top ranks of female illustrators. Between 1936 and the early 1940s, Hunter contributed 18 covers to the publication, capturing the innocence, joy and subtle complexities of childhood with a blend of charm and realism. Her work remains a testament to her status as one of the most prominent illustrators of her time.
She passed away in 1957 at the age of 60 in Philadelphia.
John Maietta ’67 will receive the Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award.
Maietta’s distinguished career reflects his deep commitment to both military service and professional communication. Over 38 years, he served in various capacities within the Army Reserve, Army National Guard and active Army, culminating in his retirement as a colonel in 2010. His dedication included active-duty assignments in the Balkans, Iraq, and supporting wounded warriors, earning him numerous military awards, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. Parallel to his military service, Maietta built a successful career in public relations, raising awareness and funds for numerous nonprofits, and serving as press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.
After retiring, he continued to pursue his passion for history, earning a master’s degree in applied history from Shippensburg University in 2014. He has since become a dedicated educator, delivering more than 700 presentations on a wide range of historical and cultural topics to audiences throughout central Pennsylvania. His commitment to community service is equally notable; he helped lead a fundraising campaign for a veterans’ memorial in his hometown and supported various cultural and healthcare organizations, including the James V. Brown Library, the Williamsport and Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and Susquehanna Health System. His lifetime of service and achievement was recognized in 2011 when he received the Pennsylvania Public Relations Award for Excellence in Public Relations.
He resides with his wife and former classmate, Judy, in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Joe Person ’88 will receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
A standout football player, Person was the starting tight end on the 1986 Williamsport Area High School Eastern Conference championship team and the team’s top receiver. He continued his football career at William & Mary, where he played as a tight end from 1988 to 1992, contributing to the team’s appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1989 and 1990. His exceptional contributions to the team earned him a place in the Tribe Football Walk-On Hall of Fame.
Beyond his athletic achievements, he has built an impressive career as a sports writer over the past 32 years. He has been the primary beat writer for the Carolina Panthers with “The Athletic” since 2018, after spending eight years covering the Panthers for the “Charlotte Observer” and another eight years reporting on University of South Carolina football for “The State.” In recognition of his work, he was named the 2022 North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). His career highlights include covering major sporting events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, Masters, Final Four, College World Series, MLB All-Star Game and the Pro Bowl.
He resides in Charlotte, N.C., with Beth, his wife of 26 years. The couple has three children: Lucy, of New York, N.Y.; Ellie, a student at the University of South Carolina; and John, a high school junior.
This year included, 26 graduates have received Distinguished Alumni awards since the program began in 2012. For a full listing of previous inductees, or for more information on the program, visit www.wasdeducationfoundation.org.
WASDEF, a nonprofit affiliate of the Williamsport Area School District, facilitates charitable giving and permanent legacies in educational innovation, arts, athletics, and scholarships. For more information, visit www.wasdeducationfoundation.org.
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