North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools (NHRCES) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 NHRCES Distinguished Alumni Awards, marking the inaugural year of this new regional honor.

The Distinguished Alumni Award was established to recognize graduates who exemplify the values of faith, excellence, service, and leadership fostered in our Catholic schools. This award is unique in that it celebrates alumni from any of our current or former schools, even those that existed prior to regionalization. No matter when or where within our school legacy a student began their journey, they remain an important part of the NHRCES story.

This year’s honorees represent decades of Catholic education across our region and serve as powerful examples of the lifelong impact of our schools.

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients:

  • Jill Szwed – Butler Catholic School
  • Father DJ Egan – St. Mary School (BTA)
  • Cindy Haney – St. Gregory School
  • Caroline Walker Sczweck – St. Teresa of Avila (HCA)
  • Alex Lopez Foubert – Saint Kilian Catholic School
  • Robert Geibel – Saint Wendelin School
  • Megan Pauline McKernan – St. Alphonsus (BFSA)
  • Isabela Montes – Holy Sepulcher Catholic School

These distinguished alumni have made meaningful contributions in their professions, Parishes, and communities. More importantly, they continue to reflect the character, integrity, and commitment to service that define a Catholic education.

The creation of this award reinforces NHRCES’s commitment to honoring the strong legacy of our individual school communities while celebrating the unified strength of our regional model. Our alumni, past and present, are living proof that the foundation built in our classrooms extends far beyond graduation.

We congratulate our 2026 honorees and thank them for representing the enduring spirit of Catholic education across northern Allegheny and Butler Counties.

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