Four men and two women will join the ranks of Distinguished Alumni from St. Joseph Public Schools in 2021 following word today of their selection by the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation for their outstanding achievements.
Included in the line up for 2021 are:
- Arnold F. Fege, Class of 1962
- David F. Schultz, Class of 1974
- Dr. Maria Madison, Class of 1978
- Amy Porritt-Pierce, Class of 1981
- Lt. Col. Paul H. Orth (retired), Class of 1983
- Anthony Perron, Class of 1990
Since 2012, the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation has annually honored distinguished SJHS alumni who have excelled in their professions and made significant contributions to their community. The achievements, strength of character and citizenship of the Distinguished Alumni serve as a valuable model to inspire and challenge current students. Nominees are accepted in the following categories:
- Professional Achievement
- Community Service
- Volunteerism
Eventual selection is based on the following criteria:
- Graduate of St. Joseph Public Schools for 10 or more years
- Demonstrates a high level of achievement in his/her field and has made significant contributions
- Exhibits inspirational leadership, character and service
Here is more on each of the Distinguished St. Joseph Alumni for 2021:
ARNOLD FEGE – Class of 1962
After graduating from SJHS, Arnold Fege received his Bachelor of Arts from Hope College in 1966. A Fulbright Scholar, Arnold holds additional degrees from Northwestern University, Washington University, Oberlin College and Columbia University Teachers College. He is currently President of Public Advocacy for Kids, a national organization devoted to public education, with a focus on strengthening public education, developing critical public telecommunication policy for children, building stronger community forces and public engagement, and developing advocacy partnerships at the local level, especially for low income and special needs children and their families.
Arnold began his career as a journalist, serving as a Vietnam War correspondent while studying in Southeast Asia. He then became a teacher in the Benton Harbor Schools, where he was also named the Director of Desegregation following the Court decision to desegregate Benton Harbor schools. In 1979, Arnold was appointed Director of the National Academy for School Executives and in 1980 the Executive Director of the National PTA’s Governmental Relations Office. In 2000 he became the Director of Public Engagement and Advocacy for the Public Education Network.
Arnold serves on numerous boards and committees; has published numerous articles on connecting schools with parents and community; has been an international education advisor to many countries; and is a frequent speaker on federal policy, diversity, equity, civil rights, teacher equality and leadership. He has received honors and awards as an advocate of public education. 
DAVID F. SCHULTZ – Class of 1974
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign, David Schultz interned with acclaimed Midwest church architect C. Edward Ware before establishing David F. Schultz Associates – an architectural firm specializing in the design of churches, preschools, parochial schools and other facilities for church-based ministries. Since 1986, his firm has completed more than 400 projects in five states and three countries, including Pilgrim Congregational Church in St. Joseph.
Among numerous professional awards and recognition, in 2019 David was honored by the American Institute of Architects for 35 years of service to the profession and recognized by the Illinois State Senate with a Certificate of Senate Recognition. David was instrumental in the creation and establishment of the undergraduate and graduate programs in architecture at Judson University in Elgin IL, where he continues to serve as a jurist and guest lecturer.
David and his wife, Karen, have been married for 40 years. They live in East Dundee, IL and have three children and six grandchildren. He is an active member of Fox Valley Church, serving in many leadership and service roles. He has led teams on five mission trips to Vietnam and Cambodia. In the U.S., David and his wife are involved in the prevention and rehabilitation of trafficked women. 
MARIA MADISON – Class of 1978
Maria Madison graduated from SJHS in 1978. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health from Tufts University, and then completed a two year tour with the Peace Corps in Central Africa. Maria then furthered her education with a Master’s of Science from Tufts University in environmental policy and a doctorate in Population and International Health from Harvard University School of Public Health. Her doctorate dissertation presented an analysis of the morbidity and mortality of HIV/AIDS.
Beginning in 1997, Dr. Madison became the director and project manager in biotechnology at Tufts. In 2017, Dr. Madison became the first Associate Dean for Diversity and inclusion at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and in 2020 she was appointed Director of the Institute on Assets and Social Policy At Brandeis’ Heller School.
Dr. Madison holds an adjunct faculty position at the University for Global Health Equity in Kigali, Rwanda, her clinical research having now spanned decades.
AMY PORRITT-PEIRCE – Class of 1981
After graduating from SJHS, Amy Porritt-Peirce attended Purdue University on a 4-year, full-ride basketball scholarship. She was co-captain of the Purdue Women’s Basketball Team and received the Red Mackey Award as the senior who exemplifies overall success of Purdue student-athletes. After completing graduate school, Amy began a career in financial planning. For the past 33 years, she has been an independent financial advisor, assisting clients with achieving their financial goals.
Amy and her husband, Mike, have two children. When the children were young students at E.P. Clarke Elementary, Amy recognized a need for younger representation on the St. Joseph Public Schools Board of Education. She was elected to the board in 2000, serving 10 years as a trustee and then as board president from 2011-2018. Amy serves on the Advisory Board of Lory’s Place and is a volunteer girls basketball coach for St. Joseph Public Schools. As a past member of St. Joseph Lions Club, she was the Director of Club Leo, a summer camp for visually, mentally and physically impaired children.
PAUL H. ORTH – Class of 1983
After graduating from SJHS in 1983, Paul Orth earned an associates degree in applied science at Lake Michigan College and a B.S. in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1987, Paul enlisted in the Air Force for a 26-year military career. He served his first two assignments as an Air Traffic Controller and progressed through the years from enlisted to officer, eventually retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. The pinnacle of his career was his assignment as the first Commander of the 432nd Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. His personnel were responsible to maintain the communications infrastructure of the Air Force’s 1st Remotely Piloted Aircraft Wing: employing Predator and Reaper drone aircraft in combat operations world-wide. He was deployed in 2002 to Tyndall AFB for Operation NOBLE EAGLE and in 2003 to Qatar as part of USCENTCOM during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. His forte is Cyber Warfare with awards and decorations including: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, USAF Commendation Medal, USAF Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Paul retired from the Air Force in 2013 and continues to work in cybersecurity. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, Susanne. They have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
ANTHONY PERRON — Class of 1990
Following his graduation from SJHS in 1990, Anthony Perron continued his academic pursuits at the University of Chicago, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a Junior and graduated with university and Department of History honors. In 2002 he earned a Ph.D in History, with distinction, at the University of Chicago, and has numerous awards including a Mellon Fellowship in Humanities, a University of Chicago Century Fellowship, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Mellon Dissertation Fellowship.
Anthony Perron is considered a foremost expert in church law in the Middle Ages; medieval Scandinavia; and pre-modern World History, with an extensive list of publications. He is involved in academic and curriculum planning, serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of History and Director of University Core Curriculum at Loyola Marymount University. He has been a council member, conference organizer and Secretary of the Medieval Association of the Pacific. He peer reviews manuscripts and participates regularly as a speaker at national and international conferences.
Bob Ehrenberg ’71, SJPS Foundation Board of Directors and Distinguished Alumni Chair says, “The SJPS Foundation is proud to add six more names to the exclusive list of alumni who have been honored with a St. Joseph Public Schools Distinguished Alumni Award. Honoring an esteemed educator, public policy advocates, architect, local businesswoman, and a serviceman with a worldwide military career is a tribute to the educational excellence that the St. Joseph Public Schools offers its students, past and present.”
