Who’s Next in the CHS Hall of Fame?

The Columbia High School Hall of Fame was first established in 1985 by then student council president, Andrew Shue, who was himself inducted in 1994 with his sister, Elizabeth Shue. The Columbia Student Council oversees the Hall of Fame and, along with a faculty committee, selects nominees from a long list of very accomplished graduates.

In order to be selected for this honor, the nominees had to have been role models for other students while they were at Columbia. They also must be distinguished in their field of endeavor, be leaders in their professions and be dedicated to the betterment of society.

After making their selections each year, the student council members are sworn to secrecy until the names of the nominees are announced at the student Hall of Fame assembly. The inductees are invited to address the students at the assembly and then attend a reception in their honor.

Hall of Fame inductees include:

1985                  

• Amalya Kearse ’55, Federal Judge
• Roy Scheider ‘50, Actor

1986                 

• Drew Middleton ‘31, Newspaper Reporter

1987                 

• Max Weinberg ‘69, Musician

1988               

• Arthur Bartner ‘58, Music Educator and Director
• Joetta Clark ‘80, Olympic Athlete

1989                 

• Alfred C. Kinsey ‘12*, Human Behaviorist
• Robert Sternberg ‘68, Psychologist

1990                 

• Judith Viorst ‘48, Author

1991                 

• James Gerstenzang ‘65, Newspaper Reporter
• Peter S. Connor ‘50*, Congressional Medal of Honor 

1992                 

• Theresa Wright ‘38, Actress
• Capt. John Payne ‘63, Naval Submarine Officer

1993                 

• Linda Gottlieb ‘56, Writer, Movie Producer

1994

• Elisabeth Shue ‘81, Actress
• Andrew Shue ‘85, Actor, Activist and Entrepreneur

1995

• Henry Prior ‘43, Athlete and Educator
• Dr. Orrin Devinsky ‘74, Neurologist

1996                 

• Myrth York ‘64, Political Leader
• Mark Bryant ‘84, Professional Athlete

1997                 

• Peter Cross ‘54, Educator and Professional Athlete

1998                 

• Peter Eisenman ‘50, Architect
• Keith Neumann ‘82, Police Officer

1999                 

• Lauryn Hill ‘93, Musician and Actress

2000                 

• Robert E. Button ‘32, Communications Expert

2001                 

• Alberto L. Ibarguen ‘62, Newspaper Publisher
• Charles K. Williams ‘54, Poet, Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner

2002                

• Barbara Rankin Charnes ‘49, Environmentalist
• Howard Lander ‘68, Music Industry Executive

2003                 

• Charles Coleman ‘83, Professor Aeronautics and Astronautics
•  Jane Musky ‘72, Production Designer

2004                 

• Dr. Kristen Bowsher ‘84, Soccer Player of the Century
• Donna Marino ‘76, Film Editor

2005                

• David Javerbaum ‘89, Comedy Writer, Lyricist and Author
• Robert Bianchi ‘79*, Athlete and Naval Aviator

2006                

• Dr. Francis Barnes ‘67, Educator, Former PA Secty. Of Education
• Leigh Howard Stevens ‘71, Classical Marimbist

2007                 

• Erna Schneider ‘44, Computer Software Pioneer
• Dr. Yolanda L. Troublefield ‘79, Surgeon & Corporate Lawyer

2008              

• Paul Auster ‘65, Noted Author and Screenwriter
• Matthew Cooper ‘80, Journalist and Editor

2009                 

• Hon. Benjamin Cohen, ’62, Former Superior Court Judge
• Joan Oppenheimer Cohen, ’63, School Psychologist
• Amy Cohen, ’88, Won National Court Case for Equal Rights for Women in School Sports
• Dan Cohen, ’91, Senior Coordinating Producer on the Fox News Channel

2010                 

• Justice Helen E. Hoens, ‘72 New Jersey Supreme Court Justice
• Robert Verdi, ‘86, Celebrity Stylist and Television Personality

2011

• Megan Coffee ’94, physician, AIDS researcher
• Lois Whitman ’44, founder and director of the Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Division