U-High to Celebrate Homecoming with Awards

University High School Homecoming weekend will kick off with an awards assembly on Friday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. in the small gym. Additional Homecoming activities will take place from 4:30-7 p.m. at the north end of Horton Field House, followed by the football game at 7 p.m. at Hancock Stadium.

Ogonna Nnamani ('01) is being inducted into the University High School Pioneer Hall of Fame for her contributions in education, leadership and athletics. Nnamani graduated from U-High as valedictorian and helped lead the volleyball team to two state championships. She was also named High School Player of the Year by Gatorade, ESPN and Volleyball Magazine. Nnamani continued her success at Stanford University earning a bachelor's degree in human biology and garnering multiple athletic awards.  She expects to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London and then attend medical school.

Dr. Karen J. Deighan ('78) is being honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award for her practice and teaching of obstetrics and gynecology. Deighan is currently an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loyola University Medical Center, where she has been active in the Physician Mentor Program and the Hospital Quality Assurance Program. She has also done medical mission work in Cuzco, Peru.

Charlotte FitzHenry Robling ('34) is being honored with the Pioneer Posthumous Recognition Award for her work as a Pantagraph and Associated Press reporter and journalism teacher at Drake University. She was also the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Nieman Fellowship in Journalism from Harvard University.

Terry Dawson is being honored as the 2009 Friend of U-High for his volunteerism and work as an assistant of the U-High Theater Program. In addition to supervising students, teaching them to safely build sets, and supporting events in Stroud Auditorium, Dawson assists with non-theatre events after hours.