VVS Wall of Distinction
The VVS Wall of Distinction recognizes the individual achievements and contributions of past graduates in the areas of, but not limited to: profession, athletics, business, community service, religion and the arts. Nominees must have been graduated for at least 10 years.
Congratulations to the 2025 inductees:
Dr. Jessica Hawthorne - Class of 2010
Dr. Jessica Hawthorne is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music Degree in Trombone Performance as well as her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the Frost School of Music at Miami University.
Jessica has taught and instructed for several groups in both Miami and Las Vegas. She has also had the pleasure of performing with several large classical and jazz groups and with production shows including the “National Tour of Tootsie." She has also performed alongside talented musicians such as Adele, Steve Miller, Barry Manilow, Joseph Alessi, and Joey Fatone and Friends (NSYNC and Boyz 2 Men). She has recently arranged and published two works for trombone and has received a Grammy Award for her performance on the award-winning album, "American Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom" with the John Daversa Big Band.
Aside from performing, Jessica is passionate about outreach and education. She recently received a grant from the Nevada Arts Council and National Endowment of the Arts. This grant allowed her to provide free access to the art community of Las Vegas. She also teaches lessons through her private studio, and offered master classes during the Covid Pandemic online reaching people from Clinton, New York to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dr. Mark Faldzinski, DVM - Class of 1985
Dr. Mark Faldzinski is a graduate of Utica College and then the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1995 he graduated and holds a Master's degree in Biotechnology and Veterinary Medicine. At the age of 42, Mark was accepted into the Florence Academy of Art, which only takes 70 students a year into its program from all over the world. Mark finished his studies within two years in Florence, Italy.
Mark was commissioned to paint several cardinals, and just lately finished and delivered a portrait of Pope Francis to Italy. His first commission was from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. He painted the Archbishop of Washington, DC., Cardinal Donald Wuerl. The portrait hangs in the Basilica. Mark was then commissioned to paint another two cardinals: Cardinal Pietro Sambi and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Cardinal Sambi was the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Cardinal Dolan is the Archbishop of New York. Both portraits hang in Rome, Italy at the Pontifical North American Seminary on the grounds of the Vatican. As of April 25, 2014, Mark delivered the portrait of Pope Francis. Pope Francis's portrait also hangs with all of the other popes at the Pontifical North American Seminary in the Refractory.
John “Jack” Stone - Class of 1947
Mr. John “Jack” Stone graduated from Sherrill High School in 1947 before the centralization happened. He was in junior high when the Sherrill High School was destroyed by a fire. The rest of that year they had their classes in the basement of St. Helena's Church. He joined the US Navy and was on board the USS Tarawa for 44 months, sailing around the world twice during his time. He served during the Korean War and while on leave in Rome, Italy, he was blessed to have an audience with the pope, a moment he has always cherished.
Jack started working at a very young age selling vegetables, delivering newspapers, and working at the CAC Bowling Alley. He held several positions during his 36 year career with Oneida Ltd., ending as assistant office manager at the Administration Building. While working his full-time job, he also sold real estate for Searles Real Estate for many years before starting his own business of Stone Realty.
He has been a member of the Oneida Community Golf Course for 64 years, and has served as the treasurer for the Senior Golf League for many years. He still golfs today in the weekly Senior Golf League. He has been a member of St. Helena's Catholic Church in Sherrill for 87 years. He participated on several committees and served as a trustee as well. He has been an Eucharistic Minister and a lecturer over the years. He has devoted many volunteer hours at the Oneida Health Extended Care Facility, spending time visiting with patients and providing a caring compassionate smile to make their day a little brighter. Along with his volunteer work he has also donated to the Oneida Health Foundation.
Jack is well known in our community for being a friendly, caring, and compassionate man with integrity. He has strived to both teach important lessons of life to his children and to lead by example. In business, he was known for his fairness and professionalism. He approaches every day with a willingness and interest in giving back to his community. He lends a helping hand to many other seniors that are in greater need than himself.
Melvin E. Holt, Jr. - Class of 1966
Mr. Melvin “Mel” Holt Jr. joined the United States Army upon graduating from VVS, finished Basic Training, U.S. Army Intelligence School, and then attended Jump School in Fort Benning, GA, where he became a paratrooper. He continued his training in California, where he attended Vietnamese language school. After leaving the army, he attended and graduated from The State University of New York at Albany, majoring in Political Science and Economics in 1974.
Mel had a long and distinguished career working for several United States agencies including: Departments of Defense, Interior, State, Justice, Interpol, Special Operations and as a member of the U.S. Elite Counter-Terrorist Force. Later in his career, Mel worked as a private security consultant for the United Nations Security Council, private businesses and non-governmental organizations. Geographic coverage included all of the U.S.A. and foreign areas, with his area of expertise in Africa.
Mel’s specialty and area of expertise was in managing and conducting major, complex, and sensitive information/intelligence regarding organized crime engaging in theft and illegal trafficking via fraudulent means of gold, diamonds, corporate assets, and armaments. He was regarded as one of the best of the best in his area.
Sherman “Bud” Alexander - Class of 1952
Mr. Sherman “Bud” Alexander graduated in 1952 with the second class to graduate from VVS. He was Junior Class President, chairman of the Junior Prom, editor of the VVS '52 Yearbook, and letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In 1952, he received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Upon graduation in 1956, he was commissioned Ensign, USN. For the next 30 years, at sea and ashore, he served our country in many locations around the world, retiring as Captain, USN.
During his Navy service, he served aboard five submarines; in 1969 he became commanding officer of the submarine USS COBBLER. Under his command, his submarine was involved in U.S. and NATO operations in the Atlantic, North Sea and Mediterranean. Several headquarters staff assignments followed in Norfolk and Washington. In 1980, he became commanding officer of the Navy's largest Recruit Training Command - Boot Camp - at Great Lakes, IL responsible for training over 4,000 new sailors annually. In 1982, he was selected as the Navy-wide winner of the John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership. He then served as Chief of Staff, Commander Submarines Mediterranean, in Naples, Italy. He concluded his career at the Pentagon as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Strategic Systems. During his service, he received two awards of the Legion of Merit and was twice awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal. He retired from the Navy in 1986.
His post-Navy career included several years as a principal advisor to a joint Defense and State Department Team during overseas negotiations with our allies on missile technology control. He then became Department Manager for Undersea Technology with PRC, Inc. in Arlington, VA associated with management of defense research and development programs.
Nominations for the 2026 inductees will open later this year.
Please contact Carrie Hodkinson, 7-12 Principal, with any questions at (315) 829-2520 ext. 5008 or by email at chodkinson@vvsschools.org.