Distinguished West Lafayette Alumni to Return for Wall of Pride Celebration

The West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation and the West Lafayette Alumni Association are pleased to announce the fourth Wall of Pride class. Originally announced as the 2020 Wall of Pride class, their recognition was delayed due to the pandemic. Six distinguished alumni and one educator will be recognized for career accomplishments on Thursday and Friday, April 7-8, 2022.

The 2022 Wall of Pride class includes:

• Dr. Moungi Bawendi ’78, Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Ingrid Eagly ’87, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and Faculty Director of the Criminal Justice Program.
• Vanessa Gedney ’96, Segment Producer for Real Time with Bill Maher/HBO.
• Danny Johnson ’80, Tony Award winning actor.
• Chris Parente ’89, seven-time award winning reporter and co-anchor of Daybreak, Denver, Colorado’s FOX affiliate.
• Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Williamson ’64, retired, owner and ophthalmologist, Williamson Eye Institute.
• Gordon Straley, former West Lafayette teacher and coach, awarded posthumously.

The inductees will be introduced to students at a convocation on Friday, April 8 at 1:45 p.m. in the West Lafayette Junior-Senior High School auditorium. Alumni will also visit select classes. The Wall of Pride ceremony, though delayed by the pandemic, will become an annual ceremony moving forward.

Brad Cohen, chairperson for the West Lafayette Alumni Relations committee, says that celebrating prominent alumni reflects favorably on the education offered by West Lafayette schools. “The Wall of Pride inductees are an inspiration for today’s students and a point of pride for alumni and our community. It is fitting that we recognize their outstanding accomplishments.”

The Wall of Pride honors celebrated alumni whose actions or achievements in their chosen fields bring admiration and distinction to the heritage of West Lafayette High School. Members are nominated by fellow alumni, parents, current West Lafayette students, faculty, staff and administrators, and citizens from the community. Nominees are reviewed annually and are selected by a committee comprised of West Lafayette High School administrators, alumni, and members of the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation.