2016 Honorees

Recipients of the CHS Distinguished Graduates Award, presented on November 23, 2016.

Mr. Roberto de Leon ('00), Academics
Mr. Michael Edwards ('93), Business
Mr. Matthew Pittroff ('90), Arts
Mr. Don Schaub ('62), Athletics
Ms. Claire Cunniff ('04), Humanities 

 
Please consider nominating someone for the award.

Claire Cunniff (’04) graduated Cum Laude from the University of Richmond while playing for four years on the school’s Division 1 Lacrosse team.  She then completed four years at the University of Maryland Medical School, where she received her MD.  She recently left her position as Chief Resident at the University of Maryland Medical Center for a Fellowship at Duke in Cardiac Anesthesiology.

Roberto de Leon (‘00) is a teacher in the Edison School District in California. He has also taught in the NYC Public Schools. He is featured in both Teach Like a Champion and Reading Reconsidered by Doug Lemov for his skill in creatively engaging students.

Michael Edwards aka “Dhundee” is a musician, DJ, Music Producer, Educator, and Connector; he is also has created an award-winning music production company, Sugarcuts, Inc., where he has written music for many big named networks/clients.  After studying film and music production at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, he worked as Sound Engineer at (SNL’s) Broadway Sound. He moved on to become a TV producer for Comedy Central, which led him to create his own music production company in 2002. As a DJ, he traveled the globe and spun special events and parties for many celebrities and shared the stage and music bills with them, too. As an Educator, Dhundee worked with BeatNYC.org (Bridging Education and Arts Together) as a Director/Instructor and developed middle and high school curriculum for beatmaking and music production on iPads. In 2012 Dhundee and his team accepted the Singapore Prime Minister of Education’s invitation to create music workshops for at-risk and incarcerated juveniles as well as speak for the Youth Arts Symposium of Singapore. Other workshops and lectures include the Soho House (Berlin, Germany), Apple Store (Soho/NYC), and Dubspot (NYC). He continues to share his knowledge promoting music, technology, and education.

Matt Pittroff is a student of people with an eye for color and composition — skills honed during his early studies of fine art and work as a midway carny. He has garnered a multitude of perspectives in the industry, from working at an ad agency to production, where he worked his way up the call sheet finding a niche in the Art Department. He has directed and produced work that has been showcased in Creativity Online, AdWeek, SHOOT, and at Cannes Lions.  Recent projects include National Car Rental, Bank Of America, Dunkin Donuts, Firehouse Subs, McDonald’s, Rite Aid, Hilton Honors, Great Clips and KFC.

Don Schaub (‘62) is a lifelong Catonsville resident.  He’s dedicated over 40 years to the local swim community focusing on novice swimmers, some of whom have become Olympic hopefuls.  Five Oaks annually hosts the Don Schaub Novice Swim Meet.  Don’s grandson is the fourth generation to attend Catonsville High School.