Five Brecksville-Broadview Heights High grads earn Gallery of Achievement Awards
by John Benson
Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School remembers notable graduates and teachers with the Gallery of Achievement Alumni Awards. This year’s five inductees were scheduled to be honored at a ceremony and make an appearance at a football game on Sept. 14.
The class of 2018:
- Dave Sladky, Class of 1960
As head basketball coach and counselor at Wadsworth High School for 22 years, Sladky served as trustee and officer for many organizations. He also opened a financial planning services company for young men and women to assist them in becoming quality professionals, coaches, parents and community leaders. He passed away in 2016. He has been inducted into the Wadsworth Hall of Fame, Medina Hall of Fame and The Ohio State High School Coach’s Hall of Fame. In 2018, the Wadsworth High School basketball court was dedicated in his memory.
- Lou Carouse, Class of 1971
A Brecksville City Council member for more than 28 years, Carouse has served in an advisory capacity to the BBHHS Business Council and Community Awareness and Prevention Association. He has also been a human services volunteer, as well as member of the Brecksville Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities.
- Matt Harper, Class of 1977
Harper and his wife Shirley have served the Brecksville-Broadview Heights community for more than 25 years as owners of Creekside Restaurant, which makes more than 150 donations annually to assist service organizations such as Kiwanis Empty Bowls, Northeast Ohio West Point Parents Club, Brecksville Human Services Center, Goodwill and Cornerstone of Hope. Harper is an active member of the Alumni Association, Gallery of Achievement committee, Schools Foundation, Kiwanis and Brecksville Chamber of Commerce.
- Joan Ganim, teacher and coach
In addition to teaching junior high physical education and health, Ganim has been the BBHHS gymnastics coach for more than 48 years. Her teams have won 18 state titles, and she has been named United States National Coach of the Year and Ohio State Coach of the Year. Ganim and her late husband Ron started Gymnastics World in Broadview Heights.
- John Dauria, faculty
A Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools science, math and history teacher from 1966-1997, Dauria – who after retirement could be found substituting in all grades – was named 1979 Ohio Teacher of the Year. During his tenure in the district, he served on many committees to upgrade and design curriculum for elementary and middle school students. Dauria continues to work for the athletic department in football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball.
“The Gallery of Achievement Awards were set up in 2001 to honor the outstanding graduates of the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools,” said Gallery of Achievement board member Don Faulhaber, a 1958 BBHHS graduate.
Inductees are chosen based on alumni nominations. Criteria for nomination include personal development, community involvement, vocational achievement and societal impact.