Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame

The Oakfield-Alabama Central School District's (OACS) 20th anniversary of the Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 12 to honor exceptional alums and inspire current students.

Reflecting on its inception, Bill Bostwick, a retired OACS teacher and this year's guest speaker, said that founder Dave George "came to me with the idea while I was a Lead Teacher while he was editing the alumni newsletter. We presented it to Superintendent Mike Hall, who was enthusiastic about it. With initial funding from Mike Hall's fund, we were able to start the Hall of Fame."

"After the first year, the operation became a volunteer self-supporting effort. Without the community's help, the Hall would cease to exist," Bostwick said. "Growing up in Batavia, my education was shaped by the emphasis on Math and Science during the space race. I initially pursued a bio-chemistry major at Hobart College but discovered my true passion in English literature. This liberal arts experience deeply influenced my perspective on the Hall of Fame," he said.

The inaugural Hall of Fame induction in 2004 remains a standout memory, Bostwick said. 

"The first class was remarkable. We honored 11 individuals, including a Fortune 500 CEO and a top FBI official. Celebrating their achievements was a powerful experience for everyone involved."

"I really haven't had much involvement since I retired. The idea always was (and continues to be) to have the inductees interact with the students as much as possible to show them that there are ways to accomplish great things even if you're from a small town."The Hall of Fame also supports broader school goals through fundraising efforts.

Proceeds from the event go towards scholarships for graduating seniors, providing financial support to students pursuing higher education or skilled trades.

Since 2008, the Hall has awarded $25,500 to graduating seniors.

A vital feature of the Hall of Fame event is the involvement of current students. Students are paired with inductees for interviews and interactions, providing valuable learning experiences.

The food services students also prepare a farm-to-table lunch for the inductees, creating a
meaningful connection between past and present.

The Hall of Fame, founded in 2003 by Dave George, OACS Class of 1979, was established to honor alums who have made significant contributions to their fields and communities. George,
who is heavily involved in OACS with the alum newsletter and fundraising efforts, envisioned the Hall of Fame to provide current students with role models who exemplify the potential of an OACS education.

"The Hall of Fame's impact on the OACS community has been profound. The Hall of Fame is a powerful source of inspiration. Hearing about the achievements of our alums helps students see what's possible and reinforces the idea that their dreams are attainable with hard work and
dedication," George says.

A Former OA teacher and Bostwick coworker, John Jakubowski, calls him a "master teacher."

Regarding the Hall, Jakubowski said, "I think that the OA HOF doesn't just recognize successful grads who have made outstanding contributions, but it also serves to recognize the teachers, administrators, school board members, and the community that made OA a great district."

Bostwick advises maintaining the Hall of Fame's legacy: Find what you're passionate about, excel at it, and treat people with kindness. Let the chips fall where they may!"

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the OACS High School Cafeteria. The evening will celebrate these distinguished individuals' achievements, offering an opportunity for the community to come together and honor their
successes.

The Hall of Fame's 20th anniversary will feature the induction of four distinguished alums:

Robert (Bob) Briney, Class of 1962
Erin Graham, Class of 2002
Erik Olsen, Class of 1973
Terry Wolcott, Class of 1977

Tickets for the Hall of Fame event are available from Sept. 5 to Oct 5, and may be purchased at the following locations: OACS Elementary and the Junior-Senior High School; and Oakfield Family Pharmacy, 40 Main St.

For those preferring to purchase tickets by mail, send your request to:

OA Hall of Fame
PO Box 35
Oakfield, NY, 14125

When purchasing by mail, make checks payable to Dollars for Scholars, indicating HOF Tickets in the memo line, and include your email address for order confirmation.

If interested in supporting the Hall of Fame event or the scholarships provided, write your tax-deductible check to Dollars for Scholars and write Hall of Fame in the memo area, and mail to address above attention Hall of Fame Treasurer.;Hall of Fame Treasurer.

Or donate online.

Press Release:

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding OACS alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements; to provide an incentive for current and future students.

If you know a person who meets the following criteria, please consider nominating him/her for this prestigious honor: 

Nominees must be graduates of OACS or one of its predecessors or have been active in school classes and activities during their senior year. (Nominees who left school while in good standing to perform military service are also eligible. Deceased alumni are not eligible for induction until the fifth anniversary of the year of their death.)

Nominees must have graduated before 2009.

Selection is based on achievement after leaving OACS which includes a noteworthy record in more than one, and exemplary achievement in at least one of the following categories:

• Job-related achievements
• Professional honors and awards, professional affiliations, publications
• Civic or community involvement
• Personal achievements/accomplishments
• Positive impact on the communities in the Oakfield-Alabama school district
• Other appropriate qualifications which the committee believes merit consideration

Anyone may submit a nomination for any person meeting the criteria stated above. Nominations must be made during the nomination period only (March 1 – May 15) by using the Online Nomination Form or the PDF Nomination Form (see link below). 

Electronically submitted nominations are strongly preferred over mailed-in, hardcopy nominations. Access the Online Nomination Form here.

Press release:

Nominations are currently being accepted for this year’s induction class of the Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding Oakfield-Alabama Central School District alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements.

If you know a person who meets the following criteria, please consider nominating him/her for this prestigious honor:

1.     Nominees must be graduates of OACS or one of its predecessors, or have been active in school classes and activities during their senior year. (Nominees who left school while in good standing to perform military service are also eligible. Deceased alumni are not eligible for induction until the fifth anniversary of the year of their death.)

2.     Nominees must have graduated prior to 2006.

3.     Selection is based on achievement after leaving OACS, which includes a worthy record in more than one, and exemplary achievement in at least one of the following categories:

• Job-related achievements
• Professional honors and awards, professional affiliations, publications
• Civic or community involvement
• Personal achievements/accomplishments
• Positive impact on the communities in the Oakfield-Alabama school district

Anyone may submit a nomination for any person meeting the criteria stated above. Nominations must be made during the nomination period only -- March 1 – May 15th -- by using the Online Nomination Form or the PDF Nomination Form (see link below). Electronically submitted nominations are strongly preferred over mailed-in, hardcopy nominations.

Access the Online Nomination Form here.

Press release:

Nominations are currently being accepted for this year’s induction class of the Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding Oakfield-Alabama Central School alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements.

If you know a person who meets the following criteria, please consider nominating him/her for this prestigious honor:

1.     Nominees must be graduates of OACS or one of its predecessors, or have been active in school classes and activities during their senior year. (Nominees who left school while in good standing to perform military service are also eligible. Deceased alumni are not eligible for induction until the fifth anniversary of the year of their death.)

2.     Nominees must have graduated prior to 2006.

3.     Selection is based on achievement after leaving OACS, which includes a worthy record in more than one, and exemplary achievement in at least one of the following categories:

• Job-related achievements;
• Professional honors and awards, professional affiliations, publications;
• Civic or community involvement;
• Personal achievements/accomplishments;
• Positive impact on the communities in the Oakfield-Alabama school district.

Anyone may submit a nomination for any person meeting the criteria stated above. Nominations must be made during the nomination period only -- March 1 – May 15th -- by using the Online Nomination Form or the PDF Nomination Form (see link below). Electronically submitted nominations are strongly preferred over mailed-in, hardcopy nominations.

Access the Online Nomination Form here.

Press release and submitted photos:

The Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame Committee will be honoring the Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2019 during an Alumni Hall of Fame weekend scheduled for Oct. 10th-12th.

This year's honorees are: Daniel Hopkins ('70), Linda Baldwin Potter ('72), and Kim Wolcott ('72).

On the evening of Saturday, Oct. 12th, there will be a community dinner and ceremony to induct our newest members. The dinner will be held at the OACS High School cafeteria, located at 7001 Lewiston Road in Oakfield.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with appetizers for guests to enjoy and the dinner will begin at 6 o'clock.

Tickets are on sale only through Oct. 4th and are available at the high school attendance office or by contacting Committee Member Brandon Brummert through email at bbpennstate10@aol.com. Tickets are $25 each.

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding OACS alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements. 

Beginning public service as a trustee on the Haxton Library Board, Dan continued on to be a village trustee and Mayor of Oakfield. In these roles he helped establish the current village offices and headed the project to improve water quality in the village.

An early advocacy of ARC group homes in the community helped earn him NYS ARC Public Official of the year and Genesee County Public Official of the year awards.

As a member of the Board of the Children's Home Association Dan helped allocate funds for underpriveleged children. Dan was also a fixture at Labor Daze and Oakfield Youth Baseball.

Dan worked at Batavia Metal Products before being given an opportunity to buy Kaplan Container in East Rochester. He ran Kaplan Container for several years before selling it, and returning to Batavia Metal Products, which had become Strong Forge, in a leadership role.

An early supporter of computers for students, Linda was instrumental in placing the first computers in Texas schoolrooms.  She also played key roles in helping the corporate world adapt to computerization and continual new technological advances. Linda received an award from the state of Texas for accomplishments in the War on Drugs.

While raising her two children, Linda also became deeply involved in public service in the Houston area, beginning with school and Girl Scout volunteer leadership roles, culminating in her 2017 role as head of the Hurricane Harvey Family Relief Shelter at NRG Center, and including several other past and ongoing volunteer and leadership roles.

She is the Global Shared Services manager at Powell Electrical Systems Inc. in Houston. Multiple charities in the Houston Area benefit from Linda's involvement through her role at Powell.

Linda has devoted her life to others in the Houston area. For this and her professional accomplishments, Linda Baldwin Potter is inducted into the OACS Alumni Hall of Fame.

Starting as an installer at Will's Wallpaper and Floor Covering in Batavia in 1974, Kim rose to the position of sales representative, president and part owner.

He continues in these roles today and has helped shape Will's Carpet One Floor & Home into one of Genesee County's leading businesses.

Kim's community involvement begins with the Oakfield Baptist Church as a youth group leader and trustee.

An active participant in Labor Daze, Kim also helped coach OACS's girls' soccer teams for many years.

We hope to see you there!

For more information about the Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame, click here. 

Press release:

Nominations are currently being accepted for this year’s induction class of the Oakfield-Alabama Alumni Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding OACS alumni who have achieved distinction in their lives and chosen field after high school through significant contributions to their career, community or through personal achievements.

If you know a person who meets the following criteria, please consider nominating him/her for this prestigious honor:

1. Nominees must be graduates of OACS or one of its predecessors, or have been active in school classes and activities during their senior year. (Nominees who left school while in good standing to perform military service are also eligible. Deceased alumni are not eligible for induction until the fifth anniversary of the year of their death.)
2. Nominees must have graduated prior to 2004.
3. Selection is based on achievement after leaving OACS which includes a worthy record in more than one, and exemplary achievement in at least one of the following:

• Job-related achievements
• Professional honors and awards, professional affiliations, publications
• Civic or community involvement
• Personal achievements/accomplishments
• Positive impact on the communities in the Oakfield-Alabama school district

Anyone may submit a nomination for any person meeting the criteria stated above. Nominations must be made during the nomination period only -- March 1 – May 31st -- by using the Online Nomination Form or the PDF Nomination Form (see link below). Electronically submitted nominations are strongly preferred over mailed-in, hardcopy nominations.

Access the Online Nomination Form here.