Brian Kelly, a 1993 Plum graduate, told a personal finance class at his alma mater that he didn’t have the best grades in high school.

More than 30 years later, he’s the head of PNC Healthcare and an executive vice president at the bank.

Kelly is among four honored alumni who returned to Plum High School on Friday to tour their former stomping grounds as part of the district’s annual distinguished alumni celebrations.

In the classroom, Kelly said he hoped to impart on his younger peers that there are many paths to success.

“Academics is only one part of what people build in terms of a foundation,” Kelly said.

In addition to classroom visits, the alumni sat in for interviews with high school television production students.

Longtime Plum teacher Rick Berrott, who runs the TV program, was among those honored this year.

A member of the class of 1987, he said he continues to be humbled by the recognition.

His youngest son, Parker, is now a Plum senior in the program. Berrott said he was proud to be interviewed by his own child on Friday.

Berrott is also the originator of a program that has become an annual district tradition — Plum’s Make-A-Wish telethon.

The livestreamed donation marathon has raised more than $1 million for children facing potentially deadly diseases since its inception, something Berrott cites among his proudest achievements. This Decemeber, he expects the total to surpass $1.25 million.

Raymond DeMichiei, who died in 2024, was posthumously honored as a distinguished alumnus this year. His sister, Renee Farrow, and brother-in-law, Bob Farrow, appeared Friday to discuss DeMichiei’s legacy and their own experiences.

The Farrows, distinguished alumni in their own right, appeared before a government class, which Renee said had plenty of questions for the couple.

Starting as a volunteer firefighter in Plum, DeMichiei spent more than 40 years working in public safety, mostly in the city of Pittsburgh.

DeMichiei, a member of the Class of 1972, managed the city’s emergency operations center and retired in 2016 as director of emergency management and homeland security.

He was integral in bringing in millions of dollars in grants to the city and helping to establish Pittsburgh’s first mobile command post vehicle.

Keith LeDonne, a member of the Class of 1993 and a healthcare IT specialist, said he told students to be thoughtful during their time in high school.

Also a real estate developer in downtown Pittsburgh, LeDonne said he hardly recognized his alma mater, but it was excellent to be back.

“It feels great,” he said. “It’s pretty amazing here.”

Visiting a speech class, Traci Tarquinio told a group of upperclassmen about her work in the marketing industry and humanitarian travels to Vietnam.

“Definitely maximize what you can do here,” she told students.

A member of the Class of 1991, she currently serves as chief product marketing officer of Hit Promotional Products, which is among the largest firms in the promotional products industry.

Though her company is based in Florida, Tarquinio continues to make her home in Plum, where she said she’s surrounded by a supportive community.

Though her visit was meant to inspire Plum high school students, Tarquinio said she was equally inspired by them.

“I work with so many people across the world, and I tell them about where I live,” she said.

National Honor Society President Ava Miller guided Tarquinio throughout Friday morning.

The Plum senior said hearing from the alumni offered fresh perspectives to her peers.

Miller said she especially appreciated Tarquinio’s locally focused message, saying graduates always have a community where they can return.

The five alumni, who were honored Thursday in a ceremony at the Oakmont Country Club, have joined the more than 70 graduates already selected as distinguished alumni since 2009.

Margie Evans, president of the Plum High School Distinguished Alumni Committee, said this year’s event proved to be successful.

“You can tell they all still have a strong attachment to Plum,” Evans said. “They’re anxious to give back.”

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)