Five to be inducted as Distinguished Waite Alumni on April 5

        Morrison R. Waite High School is celebrating its 111th year as providing education to students in East Toledo.
        This year, five Waite graduates will be inducted as Distinguished Waite Alumni at the 61st Purple and Gold Dinner Celebration, Saturday, April 5 at Bayside Event Center, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.
        Honorees have distinguished themselves as successes in their respective careers and/or served as benefactors to the community. The 2025 inductees include:
        • Carly A. Basden Allen, class of 2000 – Public and Community Service.
        • Cristina Alvarado, class of 2001 – Medicine and Community Service.
        • Richard A. Gilts, class of 1972 – Public and Community Service.
        • George K. Rowe, class of 1973 – Medicine and Community Service.
        • Thelma J. Stockmaster Scarborough, class of 1965 – Public and Community Service.
        The Purple and Gold Dinner Celebration will kick off with a Social Hour and Gift Basket Raffle at 6 p.m. Soft drinks, beer, and wine will be provided. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
        The five inductees will be introduced at approximately 8 p.m., and fellowship will follow from 9:30-10:30 p.m. A $50 per person reservation is required for the evening.
        Prior to the dinner celebration, on Friday, April 4, at 9:30 a.m., the Distinguished Alumni will be presented to the current Waite student body and staff at a special program in the high school auditorium. Each inductee will have an opportunity to speak about their high school life and how they achieved their lifetime goals.
        For more information and to make reservations for the Purple and Gold Celebration, and or to make donations, contact Dave Yenrick, Morrison R. Waite High School Alumni Association at 419-697-1949 or david.yenrick@gmail.com.
        Inductees biops include:
Carly A. (Basden) Allen, Class of 2000
        As a student at Waite, Carly was in the top 10 of her class and held several class offices, including serving as class president her senior year. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Toledo and began working for TARTA as a coach operator. In 2011, she became the president, business agent, and chief negotiator for the Amalgamated Transit Union of all Northwest Ohio.
        She has served on the Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO Executive Board and, in 2016, Carly became certified in employment and labor relations from Wayne State University.
        She currently is the Chairwoman of the Ohio Legislative Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union, a committee member of the Lucas County Democratic Screening Committee and successfully campaigned for Issue 12, bringing public transportation to all of Lucas County and Rossford.
        Carly has served as a parent volunteer at Birmingham Elementary School and for the East Toledo Junior Football League. She is currently a volunteer for the Waite High School Football and Track programs.
 
Cristina Alvarado, Class of 2001
        While at Waite, Cristina participated in cross country, basketball, track, softball the Indian 100 Leadership Team, and the Hispanic Cultural Club.
        After graduation, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Administration (2006), an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Mercy College of Ohio (2010), a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toledo (2015) and a Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Toledo (2023).
        Cristina currently serves as the Director of Immersive and Simulation-based Learning for the University of Toledo. Since 2006, her professional experiences have been extensive, including serving in Information Services, Department Manager; Robotic Surgery Manager; Staff Nurse - Emergency Department; Manager of Clinical and Surgical Simulation Operations and Staff Nurse - Pediatric Psychiatric Nursing.
        Cristina has volunteered and served on numerous professional committees. She has published and made numerous presentations at meetings, workshops and conferences.
        Recently, she has done volunteer work for the Global Health and Outreach Program for the countries of Ukraine, Dubai and Chile.
 
Richard Gilts, Class of 1972
        Rick is the retired Chief of Police for the City of Perrysburg. He was in law enforcement for 33 years and he holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.
        Rick has attended and implemented many work-related workshops and is very involved in a number of professional organizations.
        He has served as an Adjunct Faculty Member in the Criminal Justice Program at Bowling Green State University and on the Board for the Fort Meigs YMCA in Perrysburg.
        In retirement, he is currently the Transportation Dispatcher for Perrysburg Schools. Rick is a member and past president of the Perrysburg Rotary Club and has been involved in numerous charitable events.
        After the death of his son, Jared, Rick established a scholarship in his memory and it is awarded annually to a Perrysburg high school student during commencement exercises at the school.
 
George K Rowe, Class of 1973
        While at Waite, George participated in football, baseball the Varsity “W” Club, the Forum Literary Society and student council.
        After graduating from Waite, he attended and graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic Medical School. After working several years for an area practice, he started his own practice in 1982 in Oregon. After 41 years, he retired in 2020.
        He served and volunteered as the Waite High School team doctor for more than 30 years, on the Waite Athletic Booster Board for 10 years and the Waite Academic Advisory Board. He currently participates in the Waite Has Beens Golf League.
        George is a member of the Ohio State Chiropractic Association, the American Chiropractic Association and the Pi Tau Delta International Chiropractic Honor Society.
        He was inducted into the Waite Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, the East Toledo Junior Football League Hall of Fame in in 2016, and received Toledo Public School’s Silver Slate Award in 2009.
 
Thelma J. (Stockmaster) Scarborough, Class of 1965
        After graduating from Waite, Thelma was employed by Columbia Gas Company for 36 years, retiring in 2002 as a District Benefits Clerk.
        Since her retirement, she has volunteered and served in leadership positions for both the retiree organizations of the Columbia Gas Company and the Sun Oil Company. For the past 13 years, Thelma has served on the Waite High School Alumni Association’s Executive Board and is currently in charge of maintaining the Alumni Association’s address list, which includes more than 12,000 entries. Because of her hard work and dedication, she has played an important role in helping the Alumni Association raise thousands of dollars for the Alumni Endowment Fund.
 
        In 2016, Thelma took over the responsibilities of the Waite Alumni Golden Years Luncheon, which sees an average attendance of 250 graduates.