Pierson High School Seeking Nominations for Its Wall of Fame

The Sag Harbor School District is seeking nominations for its Wall of Honor, hoping to add more plaques to the area of the brick wall in the Pierson Middle-High School lobby designated for recognizing distinguished Pierson graduates.

The Wall of Honor was established in 2007 by an 11-member committee of School Board members, faculty and community members, as a way to pay tribute to Pierson graduates who have distinguished themselves by making notable contributions in their careers, the arts, sciences, and community service.

Despite being established more than 15 years ago, there are currently only two plaques on the wall — one honoring Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, the teacher and philanthropist who funded the building of Pierson High School and the John Jermain Library and funded the purchase of Mashashimuet Park in the early 1900s — and Linda Kristine Gronlund, an attorney, auto executive and environmentalist who spearheaded developments in the auto industry that led to emission standards and eco-friendly automobile production. She was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back against the terrorists who had hijacked the plane, killing all aboard.

Current School Board President Sandi Kruel and Pierson Athletic Director Brian Tardif are on the current Wall of Honor Committee, which also includes teacher Terri Federico, community members Theresa Samot and Deanna Lattanzio, and parents Emilie Bennett, Shawn Mitchell and Karin Schroeder.

Kruel, Tardif and the rest of the committee are actively encouraging community members to nominate potential honorees so they can set the wheels in motion for some long overdue additions to the wall.

The Wall of Honor is not intended specifically for outstanding athletes or military veterans. Kruel explained that there are plans in the works for a separate athlete Wall of Fame, and added that the American Legion Post in Sag Harbor is the go-to organization for recognizing military veterans in the village.

Community members are encouraged to nominate anyone who graduated from Pierson 20 or more years ago and who has had a compelling life story and achievements that are worthy of recognition.

“We’re looking for people that have contributed back to society, that have given of themselves, selflessly,” Kruel said.

Tardif spoke about the motivation behind the latest push to expand the wall.

“There’s been a lot of Pierson alumni who have done great things, not just for the school but society in general,” he said. “This is our way of recognizing them and acknowledging their accomplishments.”

“Sag Harbor is very rich in history,” Kruel said. “There’s been so many amazing people who have graduated from Pierson High School and have done so much, not only for our community, but outside our community and across the U.S. and even globally. We feel it’s time to acknowledge those types of people and show the younger generation what they can achieve and be proud of being a Pierson alumni who bleeds scarlet and black. It’s important for us to give that back to this generation.”

Anyone who wants to nominate someone for the Wall of Honor can go to sagharborschools.org, scroll down, and click where it says “Wall of Honor” to fill out an online nomination.