Westerville North High School inducted three alumni into its Hall of Fame at a luncheon and ceremony held on April 5 – Alan Briggs, Steven Boyer and Elizabeth Cocuzzi. The school’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee selected those honored from a pool of applicants who graduated at least 10 years ago, have demonstrated success in their career, and have made significant contributions to their community. Superintendent John Kellogg meets with the Student Advisory throughout the school year.
Alan Briggs is a 1978 graduate of Westerville North. While in high school, he participated in theater and served as a photographer for the yearbook. He was also active in National Honor Society. Briggs attended Otterbein for one year and then transferred to the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Photography. He earned a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Chapman University in California. He also holds a Certificate of Aerospace Management from the Community College of the United States Air Force. Briggs was a photographer for three years before joining the U.S. Air Force. In 1991, he served in the Persian Gulf War. When Desert Shield became Desert Storm, his squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flew 40-50 combat and search and rescue sorties each day for six weeks leading up to the ground war. His squadron accounted for 25 percent of all enemy armor destroyed during the war. For his service, Briggs received the Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze star devices. Currently, he works for the Defense Logistics Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. He and his family live in the New Albany area. Dr. Ben Hartnell nominated Briggs for this honor.
Steven Boyer graduated from Westerville North in 1997, where he was involved in many groups including Amnesty International, Key Club, Mock Trial and National Honor Society. He was also a class officer and a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. Boyer attended the Julliard School in New York City, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001. Since then, he has been performing as an actor, producer, writer and comedian for stage, film and television. He earned a Best Actor Tony nomination for his role in Hand to God, and performed in I’m Not Rappaport. He also acted in major motion pictures like Did you Hear about the Morgans?, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Bridge of Spies. Boyer volunteers for political causes in New York; Pennsylvania, and Nevada. He supports organizations like Food and Water Watch, which promotes healthy food and clean water. He lives in New York City. Boyer was nominated by Scott Paynter, Michelle Feige and Chris Willmore.
Elizabeth “Lizz” Cocuzzi graduated from North in 2003, where she was active in Student Council, Lacrosse, diving, yearbook and blood drives. She, too, was a member of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. She graduated from Kent State University with a B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing. When in college, Cocuzzi volunteered at Olympus Fashion Week in New York City; interned at the Ransom Agency in New York; was involved with the Fashion Student Organization at Kent State; and played club Lacrosse. She volunteered after Hurricane Katrina to clean, roof houses and rebuild. From 2007 to 2011, Cocuzzi worked at Macy’s in Polaris, Easton, and at the Eastland Mall, receiving many awards. Currently, she is a Manager of Online Merchandising for DSW. She is the communications chair for MYSELF, an LGBTQ and ally group that inspires DSW associates, partners and customers to live with PRIDE. Cocuzzi also participates in MYLIFE, a women in leadership and ally group at DSW focusing on helping women grow as leaders. She lives in New Albany and was nominated for the Alumni Hall of Fame by Kathy Cocuzzi.