After an opening prayer led by Mrs. Sarah Hill Frasure’07, director of development, the school’s president, Mr. Jason Schlereth, welcomed guests to the special event.
The Soaring to New Heights campaign, which began in Winter 2018 and was completed in Winter 2020, was created to raise funds to upgrade and enhance the IHA athletic field complex, which includes the beautiful new turf field and spectators’ patio. We were finally able to recognize those who supported the campaign as well as celebrated and paid tribute to three individuals who made a huge impact on the IHA community: Anthony LaRezza FC; Jeff Carpenter P’12, ’15; and Toni-Marie Verrone Hals’89 FF.
The successful campaign and completion of IHA’s renovated field complex were made possible by the supportive IHA community, including alumnae, parents, faculty, grandparents, and friends. At the recognition ceremony, Mr. Schlereth thanked a few specific major donor families whose names are included in a list of donors on a newly installed plaque on the exterior wall of the athletics field house. Special thanks to:
The Ben-Yishay Family - Ari and Barbara, parents of Alexa Ben-Yishay’15
The Chernalis Family - Anthony and Phyllis, grandparents of Alexandra Chernalis’14, Caitlin Buchanan’16, and Mikalynn Berger’16 and Mark and Catherine Chernalis, parents of Alexandra Chernalis’14 and Mikalynn Berger’16
The D’Amico Family - Ted and Paula, parents of Danielle D’Amico’11
The Didio Family - Thomas and Dianne, parents of Camille Didio’14
The White Family - Ann and Tom, parents of Erin White Fallon’10, Mary Jane White’13, and Megan White’19
The Bertussi Family - Thomas and Joan, parents of Julia Bertussi’18, Victoria Bertussi’19, and Isabelle Bertussi’25
The Plescia Family - Mark and Laura, parents of Eden Plescia’20
The Family and Friends of Marisa Suarez’02
Mr. Schlereth then recognized three individuals who have made a huge impact on the IHA community. They are now forever memorialized in various locations in and around the field: Anthony’s plaque on the entrance of the home dugout, Jeff’s at the entrance of the path to the field, and Toni-Marie’s on the stone wall beneath the flag poles.
To conclude the recognition and dedication ceremony, Mr. Schlereth thanked all guests, including the families and friends of Anthony, Jeff, and Toni-Marie, for attending the event and honoring the lasting and inspirational legacies the three of them have left behind. We continue to be eternally grateful to the generous donors who made IHA’s Soaring to New Heights campaign a reality.
Click here for the full photo album, courtesy of Mike Hamlett Photgraphy and Tara Hopfenspirger.