WARREN – The Board of Directors of the Warren City Schools’ Foundation and the Committee of The Warren High School’s Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame have chosen six new members to induct induct during the 33rd Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
The annual event is held at Warren G. Harding High School, 860 Elm Road, Warren.
The purpose of the award is to honor those individuals who, through their performance and achievements, reflect credit on the Warren High Schools (Warren High School, Warren G. Harding, and Warren Western Reserve), so that today’s students may find inspiration from the past and establish goals for the future.
The Alumni Hall of Fame’s Committee and the Warren City Schools’ Foundation Board of Directors will also honor a “Distinguished Faculty” member of the Warren City Schools. Each year, the Board of Directors requests that each inductee of the Hall of Fame name the educators who influenced and inspired their success.
The 2025 recipient of the “Distinguished Faculty Award” is Eileen Patrone, a longtime member of the Warren City Schools faculty who taught History at Warren G. Harding High School, Turner Jr. High and Warren Western Reserve Jr. High.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are:
Karla Thumm Dines (Warren, Ohio)
Following graduation from Warren G. Harding High School in 1974, Karla Thumm Dines continued her studies at Purdue University, receiving her BS in molecular biology and minor in chemistry in 1978. She has been employed as a research biologist at Case Western Reserve University, a chemist at PPG, and in the biopharmaceutical industry in Cleveland, first at Athersys, Inc., a company engaged in the discovery of therapeutic products, and for Copernicus Therapeutics. Copernicus develops gene therapy technologies. For 12 years, Karla was employed by the US Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. as a primary patent examiner in the areas of combinatorial chemistry and biotechnology. As a primary examiner, she made final determinations on the patentability of patent applications. She is currently working as a correspondent for the Warren Tribune.
Lt. Col. James “Knuckles” Fowley, (Eagle River, Alaska)
Lieutenant Colonel James Fowley graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 2000 and Ohio Northern University in 2004. After graduation, James joined the United States Air Force and he served as an Air Battle Manager in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, and Oklahoma from 2004 to 2016. During this time, he graduated from the United States Air Force Weapons School and deployed twice. In 2016, James joined the Alaska Air National Guard where he commanded the 176th Air Defense Squadron from 2021 to 2025.Additionally, he served as the Military Advisor the Alaska State Board of Education from 2021 to present.
Greg Gania (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Greg Gania graduated from Warren G. Harding in 2001. He graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2005 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. While at BGSU, he was involved in the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization, broadcasting four different sports. He also served two years on the executive staff of BGRSO. Gania began his play-by-play broadcasting career with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (03-05). He joined the Erie SeaWolves, Double-A Detroit Tigers, in 2006. After serving as Director of Broadcast and Media Relations, he was named Assistant GM/Communications of the club in 2012. A role he still holds today. Greg made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2018 and was added to their radio broadcast team in 2024.
Jeanna Hondel (Baltimore, Ohio)
Jeanna (Cunningham) Hondel is a proud graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. She continued her education at Youngstown State University on a full Track and Field Scholarship, where she pursued a degree in Civil Engineering. Throughout her academic career, Jeanna earned recognition for her excellence, consistently earning a place on the Dean’s List and being selected for the prestigious President’s Cabinet. Upon graduation, Jeanna relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where she began her career as a Civil Engineer focused on improving municipal infrastructure. In 2009, she earned her MBA “With Distinction” from Capital University, where she also volunteered as a track coach. After obtaining her Professional Engineering License, Jeanna founded Ascension Construction Solutions in 2017, a company dedicated to “Building Great People Who Build Great Things.” Under her leadership, Ascension prioritizes the development of its team, fostering values such as mutual respect, continuous improvement, accountability, and teamwork while delivering exceptional results. Since its inception, Ascension has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition from Mayor Andrew Ginther, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Jeanna attributes her success to her faith, her husband Michael Hondel, their son Gideon, and her family, including her mother Wanda Cunningham and siblings Sye, Katrina, and Markella.
HEATHER N. LOWRY, DDS (Warren, Ohio)
Heather N. Lowry graduated from Warren G. Harding High school in 2002. Her interest in dentistry sparked during her high school years while she worked part-time at her aunt Carol’s dental office. After graduation, she attended The Ohio State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with cum laude distinction. She then continued her education at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2011. Following her graduation, Dr. Lowry worked nearly three years in a clinic setting in Columbus, Ohio. In 2014, she transitioned to an associate position at a thriving dental practice in New Albany, Ohio. Eventually, Dr. Lowry and her husband Danny returned to Warren with aspirations of realizing their own dream. Upon returning, she acquired a small dental practice from Dr. Anthony Antolini. Under her leadership, the practice flourished, and in its ninth year it was awarded the Tribune Chronicle Readers’ Choice Gold Award. Dr Lowry’s commitment to her community extends beyond providing dental care. Over the years, she has actively contributed to various local programs, including the Animal Welfare League, Trumbull Mobile Meals, Warren Baseball League, Girard Robotics, HAC Soccer, Pink Lights the Way, Ross Griffin Memorial Foundation, Raider 5K, Howland PTO and Children’s Rehab Center. Additionally, she is a member of the American Dental Association, Ohio Dental Association and the Corydon Palmer Dental Society.
Charles A. McKean (Manlius, New York)
Chuck McKean is a 1976 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School. After attending Kent State University, then relocating to southern California, he graduated from the Los Angeles Broadcasters program in Hollywood. He began his career at KFOX-FM, in Redondo Beach, as a radio engineer and on-air personality. In 1985, he was hired by Prime Ticket Network, advancing to producer and director, and working on over 1,000 sports broadcasts for the LA Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Raiders, Forum Boxing &; PAC-12 collegiate events. In 1995, he was recruited by KCAL-TV in Hollywood, to lead a new broadcast package for the California Angels. He would also produce and direct the Los Angeles Clippers for KCAL. In 2001, he was hired by WKYC-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, to direct daily newscasts and Cleveland Browns feature shows. He also directed Cleveland Cavaliers NBA basketball. Beginning in 1992 and continuing until 2024, he was an integral part of the Showtime Championship Boxing team as a producer, director and writer. He has directed world class boxing in New York City, Cleveland, Boston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Cancun, Mexico City, London, Manchester and Sheffield, England, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. He was a producer for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2000 Paralympics Games held in Sydney, Australia. Other career highlights include Director for Glory Kickboxing in Milan, Italy, Producer/Director for the Dropkick Murphy’s at The House of Blues in Boston, MA, Producer for M-1 Global Mixed Martial Arts in St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia, Producer/Director Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and Production Executive for Miss World Beauty Pageants held in Washington, DC, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
