Shining Star Gala 

2026-Shining Star Gala Logo

The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center is proud to continue the Shining Star Awards in 2026, honoring volunteers who have made significant impact in our community. Past Shining Star Award winners have included volunteers who have strengthened our community through service, philanthropists who support community improvement, and changemakers who have spent countless hours in service to others. 

The 2026 Shining Star Gala will be held the evening of Friday, November 6th at the Camelot Events Center in Wexford. 

Funds raised at the Shining Star Gala benefit the operations and programming at the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center. The HCC’s Financial Development and Promotional Committee will select 8 award recipients for the 2026 Shining Star Awards with an awards dinner to be held in the fall. All nominations will be considered and will be kept for future consideration.  


Nominations are now open for 2026!  Click here for the online submission form.  Paper forms are available upon request at Town Hall or the HCC. 


Shining Star Gala 2025

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2025 Honorees:

Jay Adzema, Boy Scouts of America, Community Benefactor

Kristin Chick, St. Alexis Festival Committee, St. Aiden's Programming volunteer, Children's Hospital Free Care fund volunteer

Steven D'Achille, Founder, Alexis Joy Foundation 

Mary Anne Eisenreich, Public Servant, CCAC Board of Trustees, Laurel Highlands Workforce Opportunity Center, Variety, the Children's Charity, Cure JM Foundation

Don Falkner, Founding member of MCAA's Vincentian Complex committee, HCC Volunteer

Paul Kline, Associate member of Highland Volunteer Company, Boy Scouts of America, youth coach

Chuck Jackson, Community Benefactor

Longvue Acres Garden Club, 75 years of community beautification projects

Margie Miller, St. John's Lutheran Church volunteer, Penn State Master Gardener, Honduras Hope Mission volunteer

Daniel Moon, Franklin Park Historical Society, Community Benefactor 

Michael Tarle, Christ Episcopal Church volunteer, North Allegheny Citizens Advisory Committee

Bob Wright, Community Benefactor 


2024 Honorees:

Alice Beckett-Rumberger, member of the North Allegheny Foundation and Northland Public Library Foundation

Sarah Dietz, a health care instructor at A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless and a mentor, nursing home volunteer and elder advocate

Dr. Donald Huber, a member of the McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance Authority Board and the Northland Public Library Foundation

Bob Jeke, volunteer firefighter and former chief of the Peebles Volunteer Fire Company

Rita Martin, member of the Northland Library Foundation and McCandless personnel board

Dawn Miller, member of the McCandless environmental advisory committee and a Community Day volunteer

Sally Power, an educator, philanthropist and owner of the Treasure House in Ross

Christine Shipley, McCandless community activity committee member

Larry Steckel, a McCandless community day volunteer, former organizer for Frank J. Farina Memorial Car Cruise and supporter of the North Allegheny Marching Band

Jason Wolfe, local entrepreneur and philanthropist

DeDe Rittman, a former North Allegheny teacher, received the award posthumously

2023 Honorees: 

Beverly Aufman, Ingomar Fire Ladies Auxiliary, Ingomar Garden Club, and Passavant Hospital Auxiliary

Jerry Aufman, a former president of the Ingomar Fire Company, North Allegheny Summer Recreation founder, McCandless Community Day committee member

Irene Caliendo, a Northland Public Library board member

Marcia Caliendo, McCandless/Franklin Park Ambulance authority committee member

Richard Schnupp, Town of McCandless Planning Commission member, McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center volunteer

Greg Quatchak, a Ingomar Volunteer firefighter and chief, and member of the Town of McCandless Zoning Hearing Board

Andrew McLaughlin, received the Rising Star Award for his work as a North Allegheny Student Historian, Depreciation Lands Museum volunteer

Jack Cully, former president of the Ingomar Athletic Association, received the award posthumously