Two North Hills Alumni to be be Honored by School District

Harry D. Clark, Ph.D., West View High School class of 1958, and Mary Beth Bedeck Jenkins, North Hills Senior High School class of 1989, are the newest honorees to receive the North Hills School District’s annual Distinguished Alumni Awards.

The district will honor Clark and Jenkins during the high school’s annual awards ceremony June 5, 2012.

Clark retired as an administrator in the Pittsburgh Public Schools following 30 years of service. During his tenure, he was instrumental in founding the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts —the first public arts high school in western Pennsylvania—where he served as principal.

Clark has served as president of the International Network of Performing and Visual Arts Schools and as a National Director of Academic Relations for Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts. In addition, he has served as a consultant for numerous schools, performing arts centers, arts committees as well as renowned artists from throughout the country.

In May 2000, Clark was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from Magnet Schools of America in recognition of his service as a magnet school consultant and for initiating and developing new school programs in several cities across the country. 

In April 2012, Clark was voted to the position of vice chair of the board of directors of Bridgeway Capital, a community loan fund of southwestern Pennsylvania.  Additionally, in April 2012, he accepted the position of co-president of Lighthouse Arts, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit arts organization he helped to create.

A graduate of Duquesne University, Clark earned his graduate and undergraduate degrees in music education. He was inducted into Duquesne University’s Century Club of Outstanding Alumni in 1993. He earned his doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as a member of its Jazz Seminar Committee for more than 25 years.

Clark is the recipient of the 2010 Rob Penny Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors an individual who demonstrates a quest for knowledge, passion for and understanding of the significance of using the arts for educational purposes, a love and respect for people of the African Diaspora and an appreciation of cultural relevancy.

Jenkins serves as the senior vice president and chief operating officer for UPMC Health, where she has been employed for nearly 15 years. 

She is responsible for the development of strategic and operational initiatives for the multi-billion dollar family of companies that provides health benefits management and health related administrative services for more than one million Pennsylvania residents. Under her leadership, UPMC Health Plan’s Member Service call center received the J.D. Power & Associates Certified Call Center distinction—one of only 31 companies in the country to earn certification.

She is active within the greater Pittsburgh community and serves on several boards of directors and/or committees including board chair of March of Dimes, Carlow University board of trustees, board member Leadership Pittsburgh, and the United Way Women’s Leadership Council.  In addition, Mrs. Jenkins serves as a volunteer tutor at Shaffer Elementary School in the Pittsburgh Public School District.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Slippery Rock University and a master’s degree in business administration from Duquesne University.

“Dr. Clark and Mrs. Jenkins bring great pride to the North Hills School District community," said Patrick J. Mannarino, superintendent.

“Their professional and personal accomplishments demonstrate the value of hard work and dedication.” 

The North Hills School Board approved the establishment of the Distinguished Alumni Award in August 2010. Nominations are accepted each year through Nov. 15.  Recipients are recognized during the Senior High Awards Night, held each spring at North Hills Senior High School. 

To qualify, nominees must be alumni of North Hills Senior High School or the former West View High School who graduated at least 10 years ago. 

Distinguished Alumni nominations are evaluated based upon outstanding contributions made in nominees’ chosen profession, record of academic achievement, professional and/or business accomplishments as well as community or civic consciousness.

A Distinguished Alumni wall, honoring each inductee, is located within the high school’s main lobby.  

Last year’s recipients were Timothy Hoffman, class of 1984, a pediatric cardiologist; and the Honorable Judith Ference Olson, class of 1975, a superior court judge.