The United Local Schools Wall of Fame recently inducted six United Local graduates for their Athletic and Academic/Career Accomplishments at an Induction Dinner and Ceremony, attended by 100 people at United High School. Also honored was local businessman Jamie Wright of Forest Lane and Lounge with the Golden Eagle Award. The 2024 inductees pictures will featured on the United Wall of Fame Board by the district’s auditorium until next September when their photos will be moved to the Wall of Fame Hallway and replaced by the 2025 inductees. The hallway features pictures of all Wall of Fame inductees since its inception in 1997. Nomination forms for the Class of 2025 can be found on the United’s website or the Wall of Fame Facebook page.

2024 inductees include:

Ashley Bergman

Class of 2005

Athletic Accomplishment

Ashley Bergman was an exceptional three season athlete during her four years at United High School. She played volleyball all four years and lettered her junior and senior year. During her senior year, she was team captain, selected for second team All TCL and played in the All Star game.

Bergman was also a three-year letter winner in basketball. She was twice selected for the First Team TCL and the All Columbiana County second team as well as receiving Honorable Mention for the All Northeast Inland District. During her senior year, she was team captain. She lettered all four years in softball and was the team captain and a member of the All TCL first team during her junior year.

Bergman coached volleyball, basketball and softball at United Local. While teaching, she coached volleyball and basketball, serving as head girls basketball coach at Southern Local and at Western Reserve Local School district, she coached volleyball and helped with the youth basketball program.

Bergman passed away from an undetected heart condition in August of 2021. In her short time on this earth, she touched many lives as a teammate, friend, teacher and coach. The Ashley Bergman Award is presented annually to a deserving United Local and Southern Local female athlete who exemplifies her characteristics of sportsmanship, hard work, dedication and caring for others.

Bergman’s memory also lives on through the Kim and Ashley Bergman Memorial Foundation that promotes kindness and supports athletic events for United and Southern Local students. This year, the Kim and Ashley Bergman Memorial Foundation annual 5 K race held at the Columbiana County Fairground drew over 150 participants.

Richard Farmer

Class of 1966

Athletic Accomplishment

Dick Farmer graduated from United High School in 1966. He was an outstanding athlete, earning 12 varsity letters in four years. Over his four years of playing football, he scored multiple touchdowns. As a team co-captain, he received the following honors: 1965 Columbiana County Coaches All Star Squad- First Team, Alliance Review All Star First Team and All Ohio Offensive Lineman- Second Team.

Farmer also excelled in basketball. During his senior basketball season, as co-captain, he scored 810 points. He also ran the 440 in track and competed in the high jump. In 1965 and 1966, he represented United in high jump at the state track meet in Columbus.

Farmer worked for Ohio Edison as the line leader with 40 years of service. After he retired, he worked as a disaster line assessor. He traveled all over the United States and Puerto Rico assessing electrical line damage from hurricanes, tornados, ice storms and floods. He has been married for 58 years and has three children, all of whom graduated from United. He has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He and his wife live in Salem.

William H. Prosko

Class of 2008

Academic/Career Accomplishment

A 2008 graduate of United High School, Prosko played football and ran track. As a senior he was captain of the boys track team. He was an active member of the National Honor Society and Ruriteens, serving as Ruriteen president. He was the 2008 National Ruriteen of the Year.

Prosko received an appointment to the United State Army Military Academy at West Point. Excelling academically and athletically, he was a three-year letter winner in football and a member of the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl Championship team.

After graduation from West Point, Prosko applied for and was selected for US Army Special Forces training, one of the most rigorous and highly skilled military units. As a member of Special Forces, he served his country for 11 years from 2012 to 2023, attaining the rank of major.

After leaving the military, Prosko attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, earning an MBA. He is a member of the Soldiers to Sideline non-profit organization and is President of the United Gridiron Club. He currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lauren and three children.

Dave Rea

Class of 1978

Athletic Accomplishment

Dave Rea attended United High School from 1974 to 1978. He was a three-time letter winner in football and track. During the years that he played football, United was a football powerhouse and he played a big part in their back to back TCL championships.

In 1976 and 1977, he was part of the TCL back to back championship teams. In 1977, Rea’s senior year, he had 42 tackles and 112 assists. During that season he was unanimously nominated for the Columbiana County All Star Team, first team, linebacker. Rea was the team’s defensive captain and set the United record for the most tackles. Rae was of the three United seniors, (Ron Menning, Scott Jensen, and Dave Rea) to be named along with Coach Fred Johnson to the Associated Press All Northeastern Ohio Grid Team.

Rea resides on in Hanoverton with his wife, Becky. They have three children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He works for Columbiana County and continues to follow the United Eagles football accomplishments.

Dr. Abby Burch Schreiber

Class of 2002

Academic/Career Accomplishment

Abby Schreiber began her college career while a freshman at United High School, taking post secondary classes at Kent State. An active member of the National Honor Society, she participated in many activities and was the Class Salutatorian.

Her higher education began with a Bachelor in Arts degree in History and Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University, which led to a Masters Degree in American Material Culture from the Winterthur Program in American Culture, University of Delaware. This academic interest led to a PhD in History from the Ohio State University. Schreiber’s major was in the area of Colonial and Early US History with minors in economic/quantitative history and Atlantic history.

As an academic, Schreiber has taught Early American history and public history at Towson University, The College of William and Mary and at the Ohio State University. She is currently a research fellow at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. She began her family while working as a PhD candidate at the Ohio State University. She has been married for 13 years to Weston and is the mother of two beautiful children, Olive, 9 and Emory, 6. She and her family live in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Kelly E. Tenzek

Class of 2002

Academic/ Career Accomplishment

A 2002 graduate of United High School, Kelly Tenzek was active in National Honor Society, band and choir. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies at Ohio University in 2006. She earned her Master’s Degree in Communication Studies with certification in Conflict Dispute and Resolution from Missouri State University in 2008. She then earned her PhD in communication studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2012.

Tenzek’s academic career has included many academic appointments, research studies and over 35 published articles. She is very involved in community health work with aging adults, including interests related to medication safety, bringing awareness to stressors of caregivers and end of life communication. She has taught communication classes overseas in Singapore and presented her research work in Germany, the Czech Republic and across the United States.

Tenzek lives in Williamsville, New York with her husband of 13 years, Dr. Jacob Neiheisel, and with their 5-year-old daughter Ada. She is a professor of communication at the University of Buffalo.

The United Golden Eagle Award

Jamie Scott Wright

Forest Lanes Lounge

Jamie Scott Wright and his business Forest Lanes and Lounge were nominated for the United Wall of Fame Golden Eagle Award because of all that he does publicly and anonymously for the Hanoverton Community and United Local Schools. He is always willing to help or volunteer when needed. He consistently holds events and activities for those in the community who are going through a hard time or are in need of help. These fundraisers include spaghetti dinners, breakfasts, raffles, Poker Runs and 50/50 drawings. He has supported the “Make A Wish Foundation” and the Autism Society.

In 2018 Wright was an important influence in the development of a United High School Varsity Bowling team. He opened his lanes and gave his support and time to the boys and girls bowling teams. The student athletes practice at Forest Lanes and compete against other school on the same lanes. He keeps the lanes oiled and ready for their competitions. Due to his support, the United bowler athletes have been very successful. Four students have received scholarships. Two bowlers have qualified for state competition, the 2024 boys team went to Nationals in Philadelphia and this year, one bowler was won the Division II state championship.

Wright and his wife Becky reside in the Kensington area. They have two sons and six grandchildren.