STANDARD PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Mark Kossick
Ridgewood High School Alumni Association President
M (201) 249-7432
TARGET PRESS RELEASE DATE:
September 8, 2025
RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ANNOUNCES 2025 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI DURING ANNUAL HOMECOMING WEEKEND
RIDGEWOOD, NJ (October 18, 2025) — The Ridgewood High School Alumni Association proudly announces the recipients of its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Awards. This prestigious honor celebrates alumni who have made significant contributions to society through their individual talents, professional accomplishments, and community service.
The 2025 class of inductees includes Dog Is My CoPilot founder and renowned dog-rescue advocate Peter Rork (1971); founder and CEO of LearnerStudio, Henry Crown Fellow, entrepreneur, and visionary education leader Kim Smith (1985); and Edward R. Murrow Award–winning journalist,
Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist host, and New York Times best-selling author Willie Geist (1993).
A link to the recipient’s bios can can be found here:
https://www.rhsalumniassociation.org/distinguished-alumni
“The Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony is the cornerstone event of this year’s Homecoming Weekend,” said Ridgewood High School (RHS) Principal Jeff Nyhuis. He continued, “These three inductees join a growing list of outstanding former RHS students who have created a long-lasting impact on society and who bridge the gap between the past and the future.”
RHS Alumni Association President, Mark Kossick, added “The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor Ridgewood High School bestows upon our RHS alumni community. We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements and enduring legacy of these three exceptional honorees.”
The DA awards will be presented Saturday morning, October 18th at 10:00AM in the Little Theater of Ridgewood High School. Immediately following, there will be a photo opportunity featuring inductees unveiling their new plaques by the old main entrance to RHS.
Registered guests are invited to join the Alumni Association for coffee prior to the ceremony and a light brunch immediately following.Tickets are $25 and are available for purchase through the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association website:
https://www.rhsalumniassociation.org/product/2025-distinguished-alumni-ceremony-ticket
Current RHS students with ID are welcome to attend free of charge and able to join once ticketed guests are seated.
After brunch, the Alumni Association working with a team of student ambassadors will lead tours of RHS for interested alumni.
The RHS Homecoming weekend begins with a Friday night lights football game vs. Northern Highlands at 6:30PM at RHS Stadium. RHS merchandise and food will be available for sale at the game. Friday’s kickoff is followed by the DA Awards ceremony on Saturday morning, followed by RHS campus tours beginning at 12:00PM. Saturday night is the big night for class reunions. “RHS classes 1965, 1985, 1990, and 1995 are all getting together this special annual weekend. With a schedule like this, it makes sense why so many RHS alumni circle Homecoming Weekend on the calendar,” said Kossick.
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Founded in 2014, the RHSAA celebrates and promotes the collective experiences unique to the Ridgewood High School community and strengthens A Tradition of Excellence. Each year, the RHSAA honors alumni who exemplify this tradition of excellence through their personal accomplishments, professional achievements, or humanitarian service. Additionally, they host fundraisers, events, and career networking opportunities including Homecoming Weekend, the Distinguished Alumni Award Induction, the RHS Alumni Career Lecture Series, and the RHS Alumni Externship Program.
Website:
https://www.rhsalumniassociation.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/48656/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/291604630869240
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhsalumniassociation/
For more information, contact Mark Kossick directly at
mark@groupspot.app or M +1-201-249-7432.