June 27, 2011
District Hall of Fame adds two members at June 24 BCHS graduation
At the Bethlehem Central High School graduation on June 24, the district's Hall of Fame gained two new members, Mark Klett and Marc Medwin, who each teach at major American Universities and have distinguished themselves in their fields of photography and music.
Klett, a 1970 graduate, is well known in the world of photography for his images depicting the intersection of cultures, landscapes and time, particularly in the American west. A professor at Arizona State University, he has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, among others. He is the author or co-author of 13 books, including "After the Ruins: Rephotographing the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire," and "Yosemite in Time: Ice Ages, Tree Clocks and Ghost Rivers."
Medwin, a member of the Class of 1990, teaches in the Music Department at American University in Washington D.C., and has written for magazines such as Cadence, Coda, Signal to Noise and for the journal Jazz Perspectives. His research interests include 20th and 21st century music, notably in jazz, rock and contemporary classical music, and he is said to be working on a book about John Coltrane. Medwin is legally blind.
The induction of Klett and Medwin into the Hall of Fame brings its total members to 11.
Both expressed some initial surprise at receiving the news about their entry into the Hall of Fame, but said they were honored to be in the company of the previous inductees, which include an Academy Award Winner and a former congressman.
Klett said that he was particularly pleased to be inducted along with a fellow artist. He recalled that his first experience with photography was working on the BCHS yearbook, and said his experience shows that arts are an integral part of education.
"It opened my eyes to the potential of photography to communicate ideas and express emotions. Working in the little darkroom at BCHS was my introduction to the magic of photographic printing."
"Now as a college educator I can see a larger perspective," he added. "Artists and arts professionals have had significant, positive impact on making our communities healthy and livable. It only reinforces what I experienced myself - an education that provides access to the arts can have a lasting positive effect on the lives of young people."
Medwin said he is proud of the honor and the selection committee's belief that he has made a significant impact on his field and on the music community. He credits his experience at BCHS — both in the classroom and through activities and relationships with teachers and fellow students — with laying the groundwork for his success.
"I had fantastic music teachers, and was taught to write in high school," Medwin said. "I was encouraged to compose music. I was encouraged to play a lot. I was encouraged to explore all different kinds of music. Everything I do now comes out of those four years there."
The district created the Hall of Fame in the fall of 2004 to recognize graduates for their achievements after they leave BC. Induction is based on nominee’s professional accomplishments and their contributions made in their fields and to the lives of others since graduation. Nominations can be made by any member of the Bethlehem Central community.
“Since the beginning, I think the Hall of Fame committee has done a nice job selecting candidates who have made an impact in a variety of fields," said BCHS Assistant Principal Scott Landry, who oversees the selection process. "We are very proud of Mark and Marc, and think their induction is a great example of the breadth of opportunities, achievements and adventures that our graduates can go on to after they leave BC."
The official inductions take place each year as part of the Bethlehem Central High School commencement ceremony.
The other members of the BCHS Hall of Fame are: former U.S. Rep. Gerald B.H. Solomon, '48; humanitarian Peter Blaustein, Class of 1986; former Bethlehem Police Detective Bruce Oliver, '80; former New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph R. Cannizzaro, '72; physician and former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander Richard Jadick, '83; Academy Award-winning actress Eva Marie Saint, '42; community activist Jo-Carol Block Davidson, '74; former president of NBC News Neal Shapiro, '76; and commanding officer of the USS John F. Kennedy Captain Dennis E. Fitzpatrick, '76.
The Hall of Fame Committee is hoping in future years to locate a permanent exhibit at the High School to honor its members.