Since 1982, Oak Park and River Forest High School has gathered to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our alumni. The Tradition of Excellence ceremony brings three  graduates back to their alma mater each year to share their stories and remind current students that their path to success begins in the halls of OPRF.

This year’s Tradition of Excellence assembly, reception and brunch on Feb. 13 honored Olympic speed skater Emery Lehman (class of 2014), Maj. Gen. Devin Pepper (class of 1987) and decorated war veteran, Olympic yacht racer and Lands End co-founder Robert “Buck” Halperin (class of 1927).

The selection process is rigorous, with a committee who carefully reviews the nominations each year and selects three honorees from a pool of 10 finalists. To be considered, alumni must have graduated from OPRF at least 10 years ago. The committee is comprised of Student Council officers and sponsors, Student Activities Coordinator Angela Hawkins and board members, who carefully ensure that each person selected embodies the values of OPRF.

“There was a lot of back and forth between candidates. Some people never got back to us and others just weren’t available at all,” said Student Council Vice President Rory Hurt.

The officers conduct in-depth research on each finalist, gathering information from teachers and past students. The entire comittee votes on the final selection after presenting their top choices. Once the honorees are chosen, their attendance, biographies, photos, videos and interview questions are coordinated. The process takes several months to complete.

“We spent a great deal of time preparing for the assembly…We strived for variety and impressiveness, so students could stay attentive,” said Patterson Grant, the Student Council public relations manager and officer.

The honorees were chosen because they exemplified this excellence in their respective fields, inspiring students with their achievements and dedication. The assembly’s newer interview-style format, introduced two years ago to crease student engagement, was designed to allow the honorees to share their stories in a more relatable and impactful way. 

The assembly began with Lehman, who was the youngest speed skater on Team USA to compete in the 2014 Olympics at just 17 years old, when he was a senior in high school. Lehman recounted his experiences balancing academics and athletics, proving that dedication and hard work can open doors to opportunity.

Grant said, “[Lehman] had to balance his passion for his career, which included constant traveling and his education and life in school, which is very inspiring for me.”

Despite Lehman rarely actually being at OPRF, he “wouldn’t change [his] high school experience at all,” he said during the ceremony. 

Pepper, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Policy at NATO headquarters, was inducted right after Lehman. Pepper spoke about his time in the military and how discipline and leadership, values learned at OPRF, helped shape his path.

Lastly, Buck Halperin, who died in 1985, was honored posthumously; his son, Dan Halperin, received the award. Halperin was the Co-founder of Lands End, a decorated World War II veteran and an Olympian as well as the President of the Commercial Light Company. Halperin’s journey highlighted the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning.

His son, inspired by his remarkable life, is currently creating a documentary to preserve and share his legacy. The film explores Halperin’s achievements and was recorded during the Tradition of Excellence ceremony to further show the impact of his mark. 

“I mean just seeing how much Buck accomplished, so much in one lifetime…and especially when he was older. He was successful in so many different endeavors and it was so inspiring to hear his story,” said Lindsey Cermak, one of the student council’s co-sponsors.

Hearing Halperin’s son speak about his father’s achievements also inspired Katie Depasquale, Student Council’s other sponsor, “to know my history. Ask your parents and grandparents all about themselves. Even for me, there’s so much I wish I asked my grandparents that I’m like ‘I need to know this now,’” she said.

For Student Council Secretary Tess Cronin, “It was really fun to be on stage and exciting to speak in front of a lot of people…getting positive feedback from students and teachers was also very nice to hear.”

Beyond the interviews, the brunch and reception held afterwards allowed attendees to ask questions and gain a deeper insight into the alumni. “It’s amazing having [the honorees] back in our school…the officers get to spend all day with them and students get to talk with them individually,” Depasquale said. 

For Lehman, the most surreal moment was “just being up on the wall with Ernest Hemingway. I was wowed,” he said. Seeing his name alongside other distinguished alumni reinforced the significance of the Tradition of Excellence, a reminder of the greatness that can emerge from the halls you walk in every day. 

“I hope this has encouraged students to…earn this award in the future and inspire them to great things after high school,” said Cronin.

Hurt agreed, saying, “I hope the assembly shows students that everyone is capable of a bright future and that hard work truly does pay off.”

Nominations for the Tradition of Excellence are continually open. Students, staff and community members are encouraged to submit a form for outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields. Submissions can be made through the nomination form available on OPRF’s website.