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, activist

      Lois Whitman ’44, founder and director of the Human Rights                Watch Children's Rights Division

* Inducted Posthumously