Garnet Valley School District 
Hall of Fame Recipients

Dr. James Guille

1983

Dr. James Guille, Class of 1983, one of five GV Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017, is being honored next Thursday, Oct 19th at the Concordville Inn!
Dr. James Guille, Class of 1983, is a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and the Director of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Co-Director of the Division of Spinal Disorders for Premier Orthopaedics–Brandywine Institute of Orthopaedics Division. A graduate of Ursinus College and St. George’s University Medical School, Dr. Guille is a surgeon, author, editor, teacher, facilitator, presenter, and committee person for a multitude of medical related endeavors. He is truly a man of many talents who makes enriching the lives of others a priority. Also recognized by his colleagues as an expert to the experts, Dr. Guille is President of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and the Philadelphia Orthopaedic Society and the Chairman, Department of Surgery of the Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

Kirsten Seltzer

1996

Kirsten Seltzer, Class of 1996 - one of five GV Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017, is being honored next Thursday, Oct 19th at the Concordville Inn!

Kirsten Seltzer is the first female executive chef in the history of the Wigwam Resort’s four restaurants. Now living in Arizona, Kirsten graduated from Garnet Valley School District in 1996 and is a true success story, but one that can be applied to our “everyday” students. Through passion and hard work, Kirsten ascended to her position by taking her experiences with teamwork and leadership here in Garnet Valley, enhancing them at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and perfecting them as she rose from a Cook 1 position to Banquets Kitchen Supervisor, Chef Tournant, Chef de Cuisine, Banquet Chef, Executive Sous Chef to her current position where she supervises over 75 employees. Ms. Seltzer has been recognized by various professional magazines as well as local radio and television stations. She even finds the time to speak at local high schools, colleges, and the Culinary Institute of America to encourage young people to pursue careers in the culinary arts.

Eugene Bates

1999

Eugene Botes, Class of 1999 - one of five GV Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017, is being honored next Thursday, Oct 19th at the Concordville Inn!
Eugene Botes, Class of 1999, participated in the men’s swim program under the direction of Pete Thompson. During his high school career he was a PIAA champion and accumulated several school records. Upon graduation, Eugene attended Pennsylvania State University where he captained the Nittany Lion Swim Team to numerous victories. Individually, Mr. Botes held several school records and won the 100 butterfly at the 2003 United States Swimming Nationals, becoming Penn State’s first-ever national champion. In 2004 Mr. Botes participated in the Athens Olympic Games as a member of the South African men’s swim team. Mr. Botes epitomizes achieving athletic and academic success. He is currently a successful, well-respected Senior Manager within the Business Technology Department at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Steve Conrad

1977

Steve Conrad, Class of 1977 one of five GV Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017, is being honored next Thursday, Oct 19th at the Concordville Inn!
Steve Conrad is a consistent and positive presence in the Garnet Valley School Community. Graduating in 1977, Steve was an accomplished athlete achieving all league, county, and suburban in football and all league in baseball. Steve attended Lehigh University where he played Rugby for 4 years and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Steve founded S. B. Conrad, Inc. in 1987. Starting with one employee S. B. Conrad Inc. now employs a staff of over 80 and is currently building over 140 million dollars of construction projects. With clients such as Walmart, S. B. Conrad’s work spans from Maine to North Carolina. The district is most proud of the projects he’s completed in Garnet Valley – namely each of the 5 schools. Steve is also majority owner of Maple Zone a local athletic complex. Steve is a wonderful friend to Garnet Valley and quietly and humbly gives his time, expertise and money to support students.

Melanie Bergwall-Palladinetti

2004

Melanie Bergwall-Palladinetti, Class of 2004 - one of five GV Hall of Fame Inductees for 2017, is being honored next Thursday, Oct 19th at the Concordville Inn!
Melanie Bergwall-Palladinetti, a talented artist, athlete and entrepreneur graduated from Garnet Valley High School in 2004 where she received scholarships to attend Moore College of Art and Design. While in attendance at Moore College of Art and Design she also received the Rohm and Hass 29th Annual Fine Arts Achievement Award for outstanding work. Getting her start as a designer with Urban Outfitters, Ms. Bergwall-Palladinetti then founded Surface Print Source in 2012.
Surface Print Source creates original textile prints and graphic artwork for fashion, interior and other industries that utilize print design. Ms. Bergwall-Palladinetti along with her team of 12+ present their collections nationally and internationally while working with top fashion retailers across the globe. Their designs are featured at such events as New York City Fashion Week, are printed in world renowned fashion publications, and are presented across other well known media platforms.
Melanie was also featured and appeared in a special Philadelphia edition of Glamour Magazine for her entrepreneurial skills and ownership of a successful design business. Additionally, Ms. Bergwall-Palladinetti is a strong role model for women as she is also a cancer survivor and triathlete; participating in local triathlon events as well as the world renown IronMan events.

Nancy Albany

1971

Nancy Albany, Class of 1971 who has served the United States for 34 years as a CIA Officer in the area of National Security. Ms. Albany is one of very few Americans who was a member of the United States Delegation for the arms control negotiations between the United States and the former Soviet Union in Geneva, Switzerland. She was quite literally “up close and personal” to the historic Arms Control Treaties between the two countries in the 1980’s

Anthony Bucci

1999

Anthony Bucci, Class of 1999 who is a technology developer turned entrepreneur, and the co-founder and CEO of RevZilla.com, the largest online retailer in the motorcycle industry. Anthony has been named to the list of 40 Under 40 Business People in the Philadelphia Region for 2011, Drexel University’s 2012 Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year, YouTube’s 2012 Class of Video Marketing Ambassadors, Drexel’s 40 under 40 for 2014 as well as winning the PACT IT Innovator of the Year and Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards with his co-founders in 2014.

Thomas D. Weidley

1983

Thomas D. Weidley, Class of 1983 who is a Brigadier General in the United States Marine Corps.Brigadier General Weidley's personal decorations include the Legion of Merit with two gold stars, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal with Combat "V", two single-mission and eleven Strike Flight Awards, Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Dr. Sandra Gibson Hassink

1971

Dr. Sandra Gibson Hassink, Class of 1971 who is a pediatrician at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (AIDHC) in Wilmington, Del., where she founded the weight management program in 1988 and served as director of the Nemours Pediatric Obesity Initiative. She is co-principal investigator for the Healthy Active Living for Families project, which promotes active healthy living for parents and families of young children.