Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame

CLASS OF 2026

Randy Zigo

Randy Zigo, Class of 1978, became a successful local artist with a specialized focus on surrealism, sign and logo design, and wildlife. Not only did he positively impact the Mercer community, but Randy also introduced his artwork to countless people across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through his passion and creativity. During the summer of his senior year, Randy had the honor of attending the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts at Bucknell University in 1977. Upon graduation, Randy began a successful career as an archive technician and micrographics specialist at the Mercer County Courthouse. It was also during this time that Randy designed the official seal for Mercer County, Pennsylvania. To this day, Randy’s artwork is featured as the courthouse letterhead. Additionally, the Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania have commissioned Randy’s designs on multiple occasions.

The artwork of Randy Zigo has been recognized numerous times throughout his life. Randy received First Place honors in the Pennsylvania State Parks Art Competition for his McConnell’s Mill piece. He is also a three-time winner of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Working Together for Wildlife artistic competition. During 2016, visitors of the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg would have seen Randy’s artwork, which was created for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Additionally, Randy’s creations have been featured on multiple covers of Pennsylvania Game News (January 2010, April 2016, and February 2020). This monthly publication from the Pennsylvania Game Commission has more than 25,000 subscribers and a circulation of more than 75,000. Randy is receiving a posthumous induction into the Mercer Area School   District Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, as he passed away at the age of 62, on November 22, 2022, but his legacy and artwork continue to be appreciated and accessible to many Pennsylvania residents and visitors.

Monica (Baker) Kurzejeski

Monica Kurzejeski, Class of 1988, has spent her career turning spaces into lively, welcoming communities. From the bustling aisles of the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market to the executive offices of Albany Convention Center Authority, Monica’s legacy is defined by a relentless drive to foster economic opportunity and regional pride. Monica has left a lasting mark on Troy, New York. Over nearly a decade, she started as Economic Development Coordinator and worked her way up to Deputy Mayor. Monica wasn’t just managing the city, she was driving change. She led big projects like the Troy Riverwalk, Troy Downtown Marina and South Troy Pool, and created the Troy Community Land Bank. As Film Commissioner and champion of public art projects like Breathing Lights and Dividing Line, she helped make Troy a go-to spot for culture and creativity. One of Monica’s proudest accomplishments is leading the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market. When she took over, it was a small gathering of about 3,000 people. Under her guidance, it grew to attract more than 12,000 visitors each week, helping turn Troy into a top destination for food, culture, and community.

Monica’s experience isn’t limited to public service. In the private sector, she specialized in historic buildings, juggling the ins and outs of development and maintenance, budgets, and making sure the community always came first. Now, she brings that same energy and expertise to her role as Executive Director and CEO of the Albany Convention Center Authority. Monica’s commitment to the Capital Region goes beyond her job title. She volunteers as Chair of the Capital Region Chamber Load Committee, serves as Treasurer for the Troy Community Land Bank, and works with the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. Her driving force is a real passion for people and places and a love for making communities better. When she is not working, Monica enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her husband Walter, their three kids, and their growing family.

Howard E. Winklevoss, Jr.

Howard E. Winklevoss, Class of 1961, is a renowned academic and business technology entrepreneur. After Mercer High School, he matriculated to Grove City College where he earned a degree in Accounting and met his wife Carol Jean Leonard. Howard later went on to earn MS and MBA degrees from San Jose State University, a PhD in Economics from the University of Oregon, and an honorary MS from the University of Pennsylvania. After his graduate studies, Howard became a professor of Actuarial Science at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1981. As an academic, he authored several books, including Pension Mathematics with Numerical Illustrations, wrote numerous academic articles, and won the Elizur Wright Award for his contributions to the field of insurance.

After teaching for more than a decade, he entered the private sector, founding multiple ventures, including Winklevoss Consultants, a company that builds software for the actuarial consulting community to model and administer defined benefit pension plans. Winklevoss Technologies was acquired by Constellation Software in 2023. In 2024, Howard donated bitcoin to his alma mater Grove City College to support student entrepreneurship, faculty development, and innovative programs to ensure an exceptional education for future generations. In recognition of this transformative gift, Grove City College named its business school the Winklevoss School of Business in his honor.

After seeing the positive impact the sport of rowing had on his identical twin sons Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who became Olympic rowers, Howard founded RowAmerica and built multiple rowing clubs to grow the sport of rowing in America. Because of his efforts, thousands of people have had the opportunity to learn, compete, and experience the magic of the sport of rowing.