Inducted as members of the Wall of Fame Class of 2026 were Helene Creasy, Class of 1984; Ronald P. Kalyan Jr., Class of 1986; and Tom Twardzik, Class of 1979.
The Shenandoah Valley Alumni Wall of Fame was established in 1998 to recognize graduates who have achieved notable success in academic, athletic, civic, benevolent, or professional pursuits. The induction ceremony is held annually in conjunction with Shenandoah Valley's commencement exercises.
While each honoree followed a different path after graduating from Shenandoah Valley, their remarks to the Class of 2026 shared common themes of perseverance, community, and the importance of supporting others.
Helene Creasy: Success Begins With a Strong Foundation
Creasy, a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and executive director in the behavioral health field, reflected on how the values she learned growing up in Shenandoah helped shape her life and career.
She told graduates that Shenandoah Valley provided her with a foundation built on resilience, loyalty, and humility—qualities that extended far beyond the classroom.
"Community isn't just a word here," Creasy said, describing Shenandoah as a place where people show up for one another during both life's celebrations and its most difficult moments.
Creasy encouraged graduates not to fear failure, sharing that many of the greatest blessings in her own life arrived disguised as disappointments. She urged students to view setbacks as opportunities that can redirect them toward something even greater than they originally envisioned.
She concluded by reminding graduates that true success is not measured by titles, awards, or achievements, but by the relationships they build and the positive impact they leave on others.
Creasy currently serves as Executive Director for Embark Behavioral Health and has spent more than three decades working in behavioral health, healthcare administration, and community service. She has also held leadership positions with Geisinger Health System, The ReDCo Group, and Schuylkill Medical Center, while maintaining a private counseling practice for more than 20 years.
Ronald P. Kalyan Jr.: Hard Work Is the Great Equalizer
Kalyan, a prominent attorney and partner with Fox Rothschild LLP, shared a personal story from his first days at Columbia University, where he initially felt out of place among classmates who appeared to possess greater academic accomplishments.
Rather than becoming discouraged, Kalyan said he learned that hard work remains the one factor every person can control.
He described effort as the "great equalizer," explaining that while individuals may have different talents and advantages, dedication and persistence allow anyone to compete and succeed.
Drawing laughter from the audience, Kalyan recalled advice from one of his law school professors, who told students that in life, "some days you're going to be the dog and some days you're going to be the fire hydrant."
Using that analogy, he encouraged graduates to surround themselves with people who will support them during life's inevitable challenges.
Kalyan credited both his wife and his father, longtime Shenandoah Valley art teacher Ronald Kalyan Sr., as examples of the support systems that helped him achieve success throughout his life and career.
A standout student-athlete at Shenandoah Valley, Kalyan earned seven varsity letters before attending Columbia University on a football scholarship. He later graduated from Penn State Dickinson School of Law and built a successful legal career specializing in complex real estate, zoning, and land development matters.
Tom Twardzik: None of Us Succeeds Alone
Twardzik, president of Ateeco Inc., the manufacturer of Mrs. T's Pierogies, focused his remarks on the importance of interdependence and community.
His message to graduates was simple but powerful: none of us succeeds alone.
Twardzik credited his accomplishments to the values taught by his parents, the support of his family, and the contributions of the countless co-workers and community members who helped him throughout his career.
He encouraged graduates to carry their pride in Shenandoah Valley and Schuylkill County wherever life takes them, noting that they will often discover meaningful connections to home in unexpected places.
Twardzik also challenged students to celebrate alongside others during life's happiest moments and to lean on those same relationships when facing difficult times.
Just as important, he said, is the responsibility to help others whenever possible.
"Everyone is connected," he emphasized, urging graduates to look for opportunities to lift others up along their journey.
A second-generation leader of Ateeco, Twardzik has overseen the continued growth of Mrs. T's Pierogies while remaining deeply involved in community and charitable organizations throughout Schuylkill County. He has served on the Shenandoah Valley School Board, the Schuylkill United Way Board, and numerous other organizations, while helping establish the Pam and Tom Twardzik Family Foundation to support youth and community initiatives.
A Lasting Legacy
The addition of Creasy, Kalyan, and Twardzik brings the Wall of Fame's roster of honorees to nearly three decades of distinguished Shenandoah Valley graduates whose accomplishments have reflected positively on their hometown and alma mater.
As the three inductees accepted their honors, each pointed graduates toward a similar lesson: success is built through hard work, strengthened by community, and sustained by the people who stand beside us throughout life's journey.