Heights honors 10 alumni

Nine of ten honored alums were present for the ceremony (from left): Milton "Chip" Morris '88, Lori Hermelin Bush '74, Tovah Klein '82, Tracey Schermer '67, Sean Sullivan '88, Travis Kelce '08, Jason Kelce '06, Jacques Evans '99, and Gail Rose Kane '56. Photo by Carl Jenks.

The Heights Schools Foundation and the CH-UH City School District inducted 10 new members into the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on May 4, in the high school’s newly renovated auditorium.

The 2018 inductees are Gail Rose Kane ‘56, Tracy Schermer ‘67, Lori Hermelin Bush ‘74, Tovah Klein ‘82, Milton "Chip" Morris ‘88, Sean Sullivan ‘88, Christopher Young ‘90, Jacques Evans ‘99, and brothers Jason Kelce ‘06, and Travis Kelce ‘08. Nine of the 10 inductees were present for the ceremony; Young sent his remarks via video from San Francisco.

The ceremony proved emotional for the inductees, as well as the audience that listened to these successful alumni talk about what Heights has meant to them.

“Because of how special Heights is to me . . . it builds something in me that everything that I do is for this city,” said a teary-eyed Travis Kelce, current NFL star and the youngest of the 10 inductees. “It sounds cliché, but I promise you every single thing that I do out there—when you see me dancing in the end zone, that’s Cleveland Heights right there.”

Current Gearity Elementary School teacher and longtime Heights soccer coach Sean Sullivan inspired the audience with his story of perseverance in overcoming a cancer diagnosis.

“The doctor who diagnosed me when no one else could and saved my life was a Cleveland Heights High graduate,” said Sullivan. “Heights High students and alumni are actively changing the community, the state, the nation, and even the world. And we all share a common bond. We have all walked the halls of this amazing school, with this amazing staff and an amazing community.”

Each of the inductees was paired with a current Heights High student, who got to know the alumni and introduced them at the ceremony.

“It was a pleasure to talk with Mr. Young,” said senior Jaylin Coleman. “His humility, his accomplishments, and his success are an inspiration to me and I’m sure an inspiration to all students at Cleveland Heights High School.”

Teacher, attorney, judge and life-long volunteer, Kane has argued before the Ohio Supreme Court and was appointed by Gov. George Voinovich to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

An officer in Vietnam, a teacher, a physician, and director of the Health and Counseling Center at Kenyon College, Schermer is an award-winning trailblazer in establishing emergency medical services programming.

Renowned for her pivotal role in making Rodan + Fields a household name and a billion-dollar corporation, Bush has been recognized as one of the most influential women in direct selling.

Director of the internationally acclaimed Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, and associate professor of psychology, Klein has been dubbed the "Toddler Whisperer" for her insight and accomplishments in the subject of early childhood development.

CEO and president of NeuSpera Medical, a company at the forefront of bioelectric medicine, Morris is an inventor with 30 patents in the area of implantable medical devices.

Science and engineering specialist in the CH-UH district, founder of Heights United Soccer Academy and championship soccer coach, Sullivan has dedicated his career to giving back to his community.

CEO of McAfee and a leading national expert in cyber safety and security, Young has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential African Americans in corporate America.

Founder and CEO of FLOH Spirits, Evans crafted his business and marketing skills through hands-on experience when he became a business owner upon graduating from Heights High. Evans’ brand, FLOH Vodka, has received world-renowned recognition.

A Super Bowl LII Champion and All-Pro center for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jason Kelce is one of the top offensive linemen in the NFL.

An All-Pro tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce is recognized as one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. He was named Most Valuable Player at the NFL Pro Bowl in 2017.

In its 38th year in 2018, the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honors individuals for their outstanding accomplishments and service to their community. Since 1981, a total of 391 Heights High graduates have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony was followed by a private dinner in the Heights High cafeteria and then a public gathering at The Wine Spot.

Scott Wortman

Scott Wortman is the supervisor of communications for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District.

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Volume 11, Issue 6, Posted 12:06 PM, 06.01.2018