Dr. Robert J. Fresch and James “JD” Pisula became the first Westerville Central High School graduates to be inducted into the school’s brand new Alumni Hall of Fame.
Westerville Central High School inducted two graduates into its first Alumni Hall of Fame at a luncheon and ceremony held April 15 – Dr. Robert J. Fresch and James “JD” Pisula. Both men received their diplomas from Central in 2006. 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 and he praised the pupils for their honesty and respectful perspectives which help identify and find solutions to district-wide concerns. He also thanked this year’s group of Hall of Fame inductees for the example they have set.
Dr. Fresch shined in high school both athletically and academically. He was a three-year letterman in football, track and field and was a three-time All District, All Metro and special mention All-State athlete. He also lettered in swimming and basketball, and was a two-time Academic All OCC football player. Dr. Fresch was a member of the National Honor Society and Central’s Academic Varsity Top Ten.
He graduated cum laude from Denison University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. While at Denison, Dr. Fresch was a chemistry department fellow, biochemical genetic research team leader, mortarboard member, football recruiting coordinator, and youth skills clinic coordinator. He was a four-year letterman in football and was nominated three times as the National Division three.com Player of the Week. He also earned the prestigious Ernie Godfrey award, which is given to the top scholar athlete. He worked in the community tutoring and teaching children about prescription drug abuse.
After graduating from Denison, Dr. Fresch attended Ohio University, where he earned a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine. During medical school he was the medical provider for the Athens Marathon and also provided health care at the Free Clinic in Columbus.
Currently, Dr. Fresch is serving as resident physician with the Kettering Health Network for OB/GYN medicine with a special focus on maternal fetal medicine. He was recently nominated as the 2014-1015 Resident of the Year in the Kettering Health system.
After graduating from Westerville Central, JD Pisula went to work for Governor John Kasich. He served as Advance Coordinator, where he managed hundreds of public appearances with senior business executives and politicians. Then, he worked for the Ohio Treasurer of State as a Project Manager and, eventually, as an Investment Officer, where he was the primary portfolio manager for a $4 billion fund.
Pisula is currently employed as Deputy Director of Investments for the Ohio Treasurer of State, where he oversees the investment of 15 billion taxpayer dollars and nearly 10 portfolios. He will graduate this summer from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, after serving two years as Treasurer of the MBS Student Council, all while taking two or three night classes per week. Pisula married a fellow Westerville Central alum, Kelly Sabo, in June of 2014.