Two Graduates Recognized with Alumni Achievement Award
Dormont High School graduate David Newell and Keystone Oaks High School graduate David J. Hickton have been selected as the recipients of the 2017 Alumni Achievement Award. Newell, famous in Pittsburgh for his role as Mr. McFeely on Mister Rogers Neighborhood, is a 1956 graduate of Dormont High School. Hickton is a member of the Keystone Oaks High School Class of 1973 and served as United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from August 2010 through November 2016.
Pittsburghers everywhere recognize the “Speedy Delivery” greeting that Mr. Newell is famous for delivering over the 34 years that he appeared on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He also worked in many roles for the television series, including Properties Manager, Associate Producer and Director of Public Relations for Family Communications, which produced the series.
Mr. Newell has been involved in various aspects of theater with the Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Civic Light Opera Company and The Little Lake Arena Theater, as well as with productions in Los Angeles and Honolulu. He is a board member of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Pressley Ridge, and is on the advisory committee of the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater. Mr. Newell received his certification in Theater Arts from the Pittsburgh Playhouse and a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Hickton is currently the founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security and was recently appointed to the advisory board for The Air Force Association's (AFA) CyberPatriot Program. Prior to this, he served as the United States Attorney General for the Western District of Pennsylvania for six years. His signature achievements as Attorney General including addressing cyber threats, combatting the national heroin and opioid crisis, and enhancing community police trust.
He has served as an executive board member and president of Pittsburgh Public Theater and was a member of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Mr. Hickton is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Law.
“It is an honor to be able to recognize the accomplishments of these graduates and commend them for the pride that they bring to the Keystone Oaks School District,” said Dr. William Stropkaj, Superintendent for the Keystone Oaks School District. “Their personal and professional accomplishments are truly remarkable and will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration for the class of 2017.”