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Panther Partners
PANTHERpartners!
Everyone’s connection to Academy Avenue includes a powerful backstory. These Panther Partner tales are as unique and individual as each of the students who grace the halls of the Academy. The three couples featured here were happy to share the twists of fate that initiated their lasting bonds. Relationships, whether friendships or something more, are the ties that bind the Academy to the heart and build the hope of bright futures for every student who graduates as a Panther.
Mark ’74 and Janet (Chesky ’74) Scholl
Mark and Jan met during their junior year at Sewickley Academy, but their first date did not occur until the last month of their senior year. The couple’s initial friendship grew during lacrosse season – Mark was a starting defensemen on the team and Jan was one of the team’s managers. Since Coach Dick Webster and his assistant, Rev. Hastings, believed in the mantra “look good-play good,” the players would drop off their helmets prior to a game for inspection by the managers. Jan and her co-manager diligently touched up the nicks and scratches on the helmets with black and crimson paint. This was often a challenging task as Coach Webster ran tough practices and the helmets frequently looked like they had been through a war zone. It was at those moments, when Mark handed his helmet to Jan, that the relationship sparks were ignited.
They were married in April 1976. Jan went on to Duquesne University School of Law and worked in various legal roles including law clerk, assistant district attorney, and attorney for KidsVoice. Mark joined Parker/Hunter, Inc. in 1983 as a financial advisor and remained with the firm as it transitioned to Janney Montgomery Scott, a financial consulting company. He is currently with Janney in the Sewickley office as First Vice President.
During their 46 years of marriage, Mark and Jan had three children: Erin, a registered nurse, Laura, a PhD married to Stephen Daniel, and Jonathan, an MD. They have been further blessed with four grandchildren ranging in age from 9 to 18 years.
The couple continued dating in college where they also continued to be Panthers at the University of Pittsburgh.
Thomas Mulholland ’15 and Katarzyna Goebel ’15
Photo credit: John Doucette Photography
Walter ’10 and Marielle (Hampe ’10) Nogay
In February 2008, during a rehearsal for the Senior School musical, Guys and Dolls, Walter Nogay ’10 gave Marielle (Hampe ’10) Nogay a bouquet of tulips and a hand-written Valentine’s Day card. The card ended with a question: “Will you be my Valentine?” Marielle’s response began their nearly 15-year love story. After graduating from Sewickley Academy, both Walter and Marielle attended the University of Notre Dame. Both graduated in 2014; Walter with a B.S. in physics and Marielle with a B.A. in English. During the holiday break of their junior year at Notre Dame, Walter popped “The Question” at PPG Square under the Christmas tree. The newly engaged couple then embarked on a semester abroad together in London. Married in 2015, Walter and Marielle took photos at Melodia Plaza and nearby Way Park between their church ceremony and the reception at the Edgeworth Club. The two locations commemorated their journey from high school sweethearts to husband and wife. completing graduate school in Washington, DC, the couple moved back to Pittsburgh and currently live in Wexford with their threeyear-old son, Tristan, and one-yearold daughter, Genevieve. Walter is in his ninth year as teacher of physics and chemistry. Before becoming a mom, Marielle worked as an English language arts teacher. Now, she provides writing training and one-on-one coaching as an instructor at Bold Type, a writing consultation company. Both Walter and Marielle were inspired to become educators by the remarkable teachers who touched their hearts and minds at Sewickley Academy. As former Head of School Mr. O’Connor foretold in his annual opening of school remarks, Walter and Marielle’s journey has been full of adventure, full of discovery. “We hope our Ithaka is still far off on the horizon; that the journey lasts for years,” said Marielle. “We have loved where we have been, and we look forward to all to come.”
Kat and Thomas met in Grade 2 when Thomas first joined Sewickley Academy. Kat was a lifer, having attended the Academy since kindergarten. After leaving chocolate in Kat’s locker for two years in Middle School, Thomas finally found the courage to ask Kat on their first date in their freshman year of high school. They attended a Steelers game, and that excellent first date led to a relationship that lasted throughout high school. Thomas and Kat continued to date throughout college and law school and will soon be wed on December 3, 2022.
Kat graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 2021. Thomas graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019 and the University of Michigan Law School in 2022. He currently works as the Legal Operations Manager for the real estate startup, Pacaso.
