Alumni

Distinguished Alumni 2018 inductee Ms. Carly Buehler

Ms. Carly Buehler graduated from Wheeler High School in 2007. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Connecticut.Carly’s Senior Project at Wheeler High School that began as a collaboration with Chikumbuso eventually would drive her to change the world after graduation. Carly has since raised an abundance of awareness and has helped to fund the Chikumbuso Women and Orphans Project in Zambia. She has raised money to support this organization through her senior project on the stigma of AIDS. She visited area elementary schools and then eventually visited Chikumbuso herself where she was an intern for many summers.Carly established an International Pen Pal program for students at Wheeler High School matching them with students at Chikumbuso. She also went on to organize and arrange a cross-continent book club between our two educational communities. These experiences forged a dedication and devotion to students of Zambia and led to an exchange opportunity that brought Teddy Noshika and Aaron Nyambe to Wheeler for the 2017-2018 school year. These two boys truly taught our school community the importance of education for all, no matter the circumstances. This connection would never have happened if Carley had not made this global connection to Chikumbuso when she was in high school.Carly Buehler’s dedication to creating a global learning community makes her one of the most forward-thinking and thoughtful graduates of Wheeler High School. She has truly earned her place among Wheeler’s Distinguished Alumni

Distinguished Alumni 2016 inductee Mrs. Linda Costanza

Mrs. Linda Costanza graduated from Wheeler High School in 1966. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Bridgeport and a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut. Linda has had a most distinguished career as the District Social Worker for the North Stonington Public School System. She also has been an Outstanding Volunteer for the town of North Stonington, serving on the board of directors for numerous committees and organizations. Previous awards include the North Stonington Grange Co-Citizen of the Year and the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center Good Neighbor Award in 2014. In 1975, she was named an Outstanding Young Woman in America. During her tenure in North Stonington, she developed a Character Education program and a Peer Mentoring Program. As a social worker, she goes above and beyond the “call of duty”. Linda also coordinates an “Adopt a Family” program that distributes gifts to families in need during the holiday season and oversees a food program for needy families in our community during the year. She personally delivers the food. Linda’s love, dedication and service toward her students and community have truly earned her place among Wheeler’s Distinguished Alumni.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI 2012 INDUCTEE LEONARD A. BRENNAN, PH.D.

Dr. Leonard A. Brennan graduated from Wheeler High school in 1975. Upon graduating Dr. Brennan attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and Humboldt State University in California. In 1989 he earned his Ph.D in Wildland Resource Sciences-Wildlife Ecology from the University of California-Berkeley. Dr. Brennan’s primary research interests pertain to habitat and population ecology of wild quails in Texas and the Americas. He has authored over 130 scientific articles, and more than 100 extension publications. He has published papers in many international journals such as Oecologia, the Condor and The Journal of Wildlife Management. He authored the Northern Bobwhite species Account in the Birds of North America Series and he edited 4 books, including Texas Quails: Ecology and Management. In addition, he has presented over 240 papers at various scientific conferences. In 2001 – 2002, Dr. Brennan served as the Editor-in-chief to The Journal of Wildlife Management and he has served as Associate Editor to various other international wildlife journals. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Animal, Rangeland, and Wildlife sciences at Texas A & M University – Kingsville, and holds the C.C. Winn Endowed Chair for Quail research at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. Dr. Brennan is a world-renowned expert on wild quails. His dedication to wildlife ecology and his community exemplifies the spirit and accomplishments of Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.

Distinguished Alumni 2012 inductee Leonard A. Brennan, Ph.D.

LCDR Catherine Carabine graduated from Wheeler High School in 1996. Upon graduating, she attended the United States Coast Guard Academy and in 2000, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. She earned her “wings of gold” in 2003 and her Masters of Aeronautical Science in 2010. LCDR Carabine is a distinguished aviator who is serving the United States of America and the Department of Homeland Security with distinction. She has continually demonstrated heroism and technical acumen as a MH65C helicopter pilot. While stationed in Houston, Texas, LCDR Carabine executed over 75 search and rescue cases, saving 136 lives with the biggest impact being the rescue of 108 lives during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. While at the Helicopter Interdiction Squadron (HITRON) in Jacksonville, FL, she deployed on Coast Guard cutters to perform Airborne Use of Force and was the first crew to interdict a go-fast with the… MH65C. A well-rounded officer, she served as the Supply Officer at Air Station Houston and the Flight Safety Officer at HITRON amongst other collateral duties during her over 12 years of active duty. Throughout her career, she has been awarded several medals for her valor such as the Air Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. In addition to her services to her country, she has also has given back to her local community by volunteering for the USO and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

Distinguished Alumni 2012 inductee Mrs. Veronica Mathewson

Mrs. Veronica Mathewson graduated from Wheeler High School in 1956 as a member of the first graduating class from Wheeler High School. Upon graduating, she remained in the North Stonington community and started a family, having three children. Veronica started working as Wheeler High School/Middle School secretary in 1965 and continued in that position until her retirement in 2011. Over the 46 years as the “fixture of Wheeler” she dedicated herself to the students and families of Wheeler and had contact with over 3,000 students. Any student or family associated with Wheeler since 1965 fully knows she was there for everyone, whether it be a student who forgot his/her lunch money or counseling students who needed someone to talk to. During her tenure, she worked for nine principals, four superintendents and hundreds of faculty members. With the constant changes, Mrs. Mathewson was the “go to” person which everyone knew would provide advice or knew the answer. Throughout her 46 dedicated years of service, she had a major influence on the lives of Wheeler Students and played a role in raising many children throughout North Stonington.

Distinguished Alumni 2011 inductee Mr. Thomas Weissmuller (class of 1983)

His extracurricular activities included swimming and martial arts. He was (and remains) a member of the North Stonington Grange and Fair Committee. Tom graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in political science and earned his juris doctorate from Washington University School of Law before practicing law in Washington State where he continued to volunteer as a swimming coach and martial arts instructor.

Astounded by the poverty, drug abuse, and violent crime on western Indian reservations, and concerned about corruption within emerging Indian gaming establishments, Tom joined an effort to ensure justice on Indian lands. He earned an appointment to the tribal bench in Washington and assisted in developing the Tulalip and Swimomish tribal courts. He ultimately returned to Connecticut to assume the position of Chief Judge on the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Indian Reservation.

Tom served on the Board of Directors of several national justice organizations. He has worked with various offices of the federal government, advised the United States Attorney General, and testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Tom continues to consult and lecture on justice matters, he teaches martial arts, and works to combat bullying and violence. His dedication to the law and his community exemplifies the spirit and accomplishments of Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.

Distinguished Alumni 2011 inductee James Patton (class of 1988)

He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1994 with degrees in Biology, Philosophy and Art. From 2000 to 2004 he simultaneously completed a Master of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University’s Fletcher School and a Master of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School.

Throughout his career, Mr. Patton has continually worked to support peaceful development aspirations throughout the world. As a member of the United States Peace Corps he spent several years in rural Paraguay teaching beekeeping and other sustainable development programs. He later conducted field research in Bolivia and in Cambodia on human rights issues. He spent four years in Colombia coordinating human rights and conflict transformation projects throughout the Andean region as Deputy Regional Director for the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Quaker organization, the American Friends Service Committee. In addition, as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the United States Department of State, James worked as a member of expeditionary diplomacy teams to analyze and support stabilization in southern Sudan during their historic Referendum for Independence.

Mr. Patton has been awarded several grants and fellowships. These have allowed him to work around the world to assess needs and support the generation of appropriate resources to help people help themselves develop economically and mitigate the sources of violent conflict. He has stated that his effort is a small one alongside the extraordinary, difficult and unsung work done by many others, but he hopes that it might one day serve as inspiration for his infant daughter. James Patton’s dedication to making the world a better place for all people exemplifies the spirit and the accomplishments of the Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.

Distinguished alumni 2010 inductee Mr. Larry Chappell

Mr. Larry Chappell graduated from Wheeler High School in 1970 and attended Central Connecticut State University and graduated with a degree in education. Upon graduating, he spent 32 years teaching physical education at North Stonington Elementary School. He retired from the teaching profession in 2006. In addition to his time as a physical education teacher, Larry served as the Girls Cross-Country Coach, winning to state championships in 1999 and 2000.

Upon his retirement the North Stonington Education Foundation dedicated a track behind the Elementary School in his honor as a testament to his commitment to physical fitness for all the youth in North Stonington. Larry continues to work for the betterment of children through his service on the Juvenile Review Board.

In addition to his service to the school system, Larry has dedicated himself to the community of North Stonington. He is the minister of the North Stonington Bible Church and has served as the Chaplin of the North Stonington Volunteer Fire Department.

Larry Chappell’s dedication to education and the youth of North Stonington exemplifies the spirit and accomplishments of the Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.

2009 Distinguished Alumni Inductees
The North Stonington Education Foundation, in conjunction with the North Stonington School District, is proud to announce the 2009 distinguished alumni inductees: Dr. Francis Y. Falck, Jr., M.S., PhD., M.D. (Class of 1969) and Mr. Sean O’Keefe (Class of 1973). These two inductees were selected out of the twelve candidates that were nominated as they best recognized WHS graduates who have made significant achievements in any of many occupations and professions.

Distinguished Alumni 2009 inductee Dr. Francis Falck

Dr. Francis Falck graduated from Wheeler High School in 1969 and earned his Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Michigan in 1982. He graduated from the University of Connecticut School Of Medicine in 1986. Dr. Falck is board certified in ophthalmology and is an internationally recognized glaucoma expert and cataract surgeon.

Dr. Falck has dedicated his life to Public Health. Whether serving as a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Connecticut or holding several patents in the area of medicine. He co-developed the most widely used surgical procedure for glaucoma treatment which he developed at the W.K. Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan. He wrote over a dozen publications regarding eye disease and received many national awards for his contributions to the cataract surgical procedures. Francis Y. Falck’s commitment to education and public health exemplifies the spirit and accomplishments of the Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.

Distinguished Alumni 2009 inductee Sean O’Keefe

Mr. Sean O’Keefe graduated from Wheeler High School in 1973 and from Syracuse University in 1978. He taught at several universities, including Pennsylvania State University and Syracuse University. He served many high-level positions within the United States Government. O’Keefe was the Comptroller at the Department of Defense from 1989-1992 and the Acting Secretary of the Navy under President George H. W. Bush from 1992-1993. He served as the Administrator of NASA from 2001-2005. His tenure at NASA saw many triumphs such as the Mars Exploratory Rovers and his plan to send humans to Mars. After leaving NASA, O’Keefe became the Chancellor of Louisiana State University where he served until 2008.

Mr. O’Keefe’s commitment to education and public service exemplifies the spirit and accomplishments of the Wheeler High School Distinguished Alumni.