C-M Spotlight (2025)

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C-M Spotlight (1)

Mrs. Emily Nardine, kindergarten teacher at Borland Manor Elementary, guides her students on the first day of school.

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C-M Spotlight (2)

Welcoming students to a new school year are, from left, Michael Daniels, superintendent of Canon-McMillan School District; Darla Bowman, president of the Canon-McMillan board of education; Scott Chambers, assistant superintendent, and Shannon Balch, principal of Wylandville Elementary School.

C-M Spotlight (3)

Canonsburg High School Class of 1953 held its 65-year reunion on Sept. 1 at Atria’s Restaurant in McMurray. Pictured from left are: (first row) Jerry Helmick, Louis Martin, Margaret Dayak Holston, Julie Sroka Yarkosky, Shirley Rinaldi Anthony, Audrey Conklin Bunner, Steve Kouklakis; (second row) Antoinette Celio Liberatore, Shirley Kobrys Kagle, Sally Rape’ Yagi, John Sopiak, Phillip Belfiore, Paul Gasper, Ray Fosnight, Bob Ward, Anna Marie Graff Bertoni; (third row) Jim Malardie, Paul Sluby, Al Dami, Jim Taper, Ed Koman, Dale Hemmis, Ron Yarkosky, John DeJohn. Missing from the photo is the Rev. Tom Liggins.

C-M Spotlight (4)

Manuel Pihakis

Pihakis to be inducted into Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

A member of nearly a dozen sports Hall of Fames, Manuel Pihakis is as celebrated an athlete as one could find in Washington County and throughout Pennsylvania.

However, one of the defining and most special honors bestowed upon the Canonsburg wrestling giant will come in November. That is when one of the true ambassadors of the Canon-McMillan School District will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Pihakis, an 18-year member and current vice president of the Canon-McMillan Board of School Directors, will be honored Nov. 3 at the Woodland Resort and Convention Center in Wilkes-Barre as part of the 2018 induction class.

Pihakis, being inducted for wrestling and nominated by the Washington-Greene Co. Chapter Pennsylvania Sports HOF, was a four-time WPIAL champion and three-time PIAA champion while wrestling for Canonsburg High School. He finished his scholastic career with a 99-1-1 record. He went on to an outstanding career at Indiana University where he compiled a 56-8 record and was a Big 10 Conference runner-up. He was a national AAU champion in Ohio and participated in final Olympic Tryouts in 1952 and 1956.

“This is a great honor, the biggest honor,” Pihakis said. “I am fortunate to be in many Hall of Fames. To be honored by the state is just a real thrill and is meaningful. I am very proud. I was surprised to get it. This covers the whole state. I respect it very much. It is a big deal, no question about that.”

Pihakis was the long-time athletic director at Canon-McMillan High School and is a member of numerous Hall of Fames, including the Pittsburgh Sports Hall of Fame (1974), Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (1979) and Washington-Greene Co. Chapter Hall of Fame (1987).

He was inducted to the Canon-McMillan Hall of Honor in 2008. The Hall of Honor, established in 2007, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the district in the areas off academics, athletics, arts, citizenship and valor.

Pihakis organized the District 7 WPIAL Tri-County Athletic Directors Association, is a founding committee member of the Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic and was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Director Association Athletic Director of the Year. He graduated from Canonsburg High School in 1952 and Indiana in 1956. He was a wrestling official for 25 years and served as a member of the WPIAL wrestling steering committee for many years.

Pihakis is the past mayor of Canonsburg Borough, served on Canonsburg Borough Council and has served and continues to serve many other boards and organizations.

Blackburn’s work displayed at Pitt art exhibition

Natalie Blackburn, art teacher at Muse Elementary School, has artwork on display at the University of Pittsburgh’s celebratory 50th Anniversary Alumni Exhibition in the University Art Galleries of the Frick Fine Arts Building. The display began Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 14.

According to the Department of Studio Arts in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, the exhibition is an opportunity to honor the accomplishments of Studio Arts at Pitt throughout the past 50 years and to build and enhance connections among alumni, faculty, students and community members.

Blackburn (BA ’06 and MAT ’07) was the 2006 recipient of the Studio Arts Department A.J. Schneider Award. Her artwork was showcased on display among other Pitt alumni pieces.

C-M Spotlight (5)

Runners of the 2017 Jack-o-lantern Jog at Canon-McMillan Senior High School.

Jack-O-Lantern jog details announced

The 14th annual Jack-O-Lantern Jog – a 5K race or one-mile Skeleton Stroll sponsored by the Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan – will be held Sat., Oct.27 at Canon-McMillan High School.

The 5K race will begin at 9 a.m. with the Skeleton Stroll starting at 9:15 a.m. Registration fees are $25 in advance of the race – pre-registration deadline is Oct. 19 – and $28 the day of the race.

Pre-registering guarantees the participant a T-shirt, “goodie bag” and extra raffle tickets. Awards will be given to the top three women and top three men overall master division (age 40 and over) and top two men and top two women overall. In addition, medals will be presented to the top five finishers in the following age groups: (male and female) 11 & under, 12-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70 and over.

The Community Scholarship Foundation of Canon-McMillan, “Dollars for Scholars,” is a locally-operated and supported, non-profit, tax-exempt scholarship foundation that has existed for 27 years. It is operated by an all-volunteer board of directors. The foundation is a chapter affiliate of Scholarship America, a national, non-profit student and service organization.

Last year, the foundation awarded $71,000 in scholarships to graduating Canon-McMillan students.

“This is a family-oriented event with costumes, awards, basket raffle, food and a lot of fun,” said Jill Sabol, event coordinator. “This is our biggest fundraiser. The event has continued to grow each year because of the support from local businesses, individuals, families, group donations and those who participate in the event.

Corporate sponsorships, personal or group sponsorships and product and/or raffle basket donations are welcomed.

To register online, visit www.active.com/canonsburg-pa/running/distance-running-races/jack-o-lantern-jog-2018. For more information about the race or stroll, contact Jill Sabol at 724-575-8933 or at Saboljajr@verizon.net or csfcm13@gmail.com.

C-M Spotlight (2025)
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