WORCESTER — Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – Each year, the Worcester Educational Development Foundation (WEDF) honors outstanding graduates of the Worcester Public Schools, along with community partners who have made a lasting impact through professional achievement, leadership, and service. The Distinguished Alumni and Friends of Worcester Public Schools Awards recognize individuals who exemplify excellence, give back to their communities, and inspire the next generation of students.
This year’s Distinguished Alumni and Friends Awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Hogan Center on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross. Cocktails & Conversation will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by Dinner & the Awards Program at 6:30 p.m.
Please read about each recipient below. Visit the WEDF Distinguished Alumni & Friends webpage for more information.
Dr. Meenal Datta - Doherty Memorial High School
Since graduating from Doherty Memorial High School’s Engineering and Technology Academy in 2006, Dr. Meenal Datta has taken the reach of Worcester Public Schools all the way to the International Space Station with her cutting-edge cancer experiments. Now the Jane Schoelch DeFlorio Collegiate Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Datta directs the TIME Lab, where she conducts groundbreaking research in immunomechanics and space medicine to treat incurable cancers. Her work has earned national honors from the NSF, Air Force, and ASME, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, PBS, and NPR.
Akosua Agyepong - North High School
A 2010 North High graduate, Akosua Agyepong earned her B.A. from UMass Dartmouth and J.D. from Western New England University before becoming a Family Law Attorney at Turco Legal, P.C., where she represents vulnerable youth in Worcester Probate and Family Court.
Her public service includes serving as Co-Chair of the WCBA Anti-Racism and Equality Committee, Chair of the MBA Judicial Youth Corps, Trustee of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, and board member for the Worcester Public Library Foundation and Rainbow Child Development Center. For her dedicated work, she earned both the 2024 SJC Adams Pro Bono Publico and MBA Community Service Awards.
Rubby Wuabu - South High Community School
After emigrating from Ghana in 2003 and graduating from South High Community School in 2008, Attorney Rubby Wuabu has dedicated her career to equity and public service. Today, she serves as a Policy and Cabinet Affairs Liaison for Governor Maura Healey, shaping statewide policy across economic development, public safety, and transportation.
Her legal and community career includes serving as a Worcester County Assistant District Attorney, founding the Blackstone Canal youth internship tours, and co-founding the Boston Chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association. Honored with the 2026 Black Excellence on the Hill and Katherine F. Erskine Awards, she also serves on boards for the YWCA of Central Mass and Seven Hills Charter School.
Italo Fini - Worcester Technical High School
Since graduating from North High School in 2018, political strategist and advocate Italo Fini has transformed his lived experience into advocacy for community and statewide change. After immigrating from Brazil at age two and growing up in Worcester, he has served as Political Director to Governor Maura Healey and Legislative Director for the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development.
Through his work, Italo spearheaded landmark legislation, including the Work and Family Mobility Act and expanded tuition equity for undocumented students, while helping elect historic numbers of Latino candidates across Massachusetts.
Seth A. Pitts - Doherty Memorial High School
A 2006 graduate of Doherty Memorial High School, Seth A. Pitts has turned his Worcester Public Schools education into a career of exceptional leadership, now serving as President & CEO of Bay State Savings Bank. Following a decade of public service with the FDIC and USDA, he continues to give back through board service with the Seven Hills Foundation and Worcester State University Foundation. In recognition of his deep investment in the city, Seth has been inducted into the WPS Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Alumnus.
Elizabeth Wambui - North High School
Since graduating in 2005, Elizabeth has dedicated her career to building a stronger, more inclusive community across Central Massachusetts. From her background in development with the Red Cross and Nativity School to serving as Fontaine Brothers' first Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Impact, she creates lasting change by championing minority- and women-owned businesses on major construction projects.
As head of the Fontaine Community Foundation, she oversees key local investments, directing $122,033 across 32 organizations in 2024 alone. A proud Holy Cross and Leadership Worcester alumna, Elizabeth also serves as a dedicated leader through her board work with the YWCA, Bancroft School, Shine Initiative, Women in Development of Central Mass., and the Worcester Historical Museum.
Dr. Joseph J. Danko - Doherty Memorial High School
A 1973 Doherty High School graduate, Dr. Joseph J. Danko built an extraordinary academic foundation, earning physics and optics degrees from WPI, Rochester, and Boston College, where he set a record by completing his Ph.D. in just over two years. His distinguished career spans groundbreaking innovations across science and national defense, including pioneering integrated optics at Northrop, revolutionizing semiconductor defect detection at Inspex, and directing over 500 scientists as Engineering Deputy for National Security & Space at Draper Laboratory. Beyond his technological achievements, Dr. Danko has consistently given back by coaching Odyssey of the Mind and mentoring future generations.
Dr. Kate Mitchell - Doherty Memorial High School
A 1998 graduate of Doherty Memorial High School and former Inter-High basketball captain, Dr. Mitchell went on to earn her M.D. from the University of Vermont before returning to serve her hometown. Today, she is a primary care pediatrician at Child Health Associates and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School, caring for local youth from birth through age 22. Outside the clinic, she stays deeply connected to the Worcester community by coaching youth basketball at St. Peter's Church and serving actively in Christ the King Parish.
Son Vo - South High Community School
Since graduating from South High Community School in 1999, U.S. Army veteran Son Vo has built an extraordinary culinary legacy across Central Massachusetts, inspired by watching his mother run her restaurant in Vietnam. He turned his passion into thriving local staples, opening Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill in 2007, Pho Sure in 2014, and Chashu Ramen & Izakaya in downtown Worcester in 2020. Supported by his family, Son is deeply committed to mentoring his team, helping employees grow both personally and professionally, and lifting others up through hard work and dedicated service.
Luke Thompson - Burncoat High School
A 1994 graduate of Burncoat High School, Luke Thompson has built an extraordinary 25+ year football coaching career that spans from local Worcester fields to the NFL sidelines. After starring as a three-sport athlete at Burncoat and playing at Assumption College, he spent over two decades directing top collegiate defenses at programs including Holy Cross, Harvard, Georgetown, West Point, and Lafayette. His proven leadership earned him spots on NFL coaching staffs with the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars. Beyond football, Thompson uses his platform to support charitable initiatives like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Jay Fund, and local food banks.
Friend of Education Award: Robert E. Layne, M.Ed.
For over 30 years, Robert E. Layne, M.Ed., Assistant Dean of Outreach Programs at UMass Chan Medical School, has dedicated his career to opening doors for Worcester Public Schools students. Since joining UMass Chan in 1996 to lead the Worcester Pipeline Collaborative, he has connected local youth with hands-on opportunities in medicine, science, research, and healthcare. Under his leadership, nearly 1,500 students have completed summer and internship programs—with many becoming doctors, scientists, and community leaders—while thousands more have benefited from direct tutoring and mentorship. His lasting impact has earned him honors including the UMass Chan Chancellor's Award and recognition from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.