The Sycamore Education Foundation (SEF) is proud to announce that three outstanding Sycamore High School alumni have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Since 2013, the Distinguished Alumni Awards have been presented annually to Sycamore High School alumni who have maintained a high standard of excellence and made a significant contribution in their fields of endeavor. This award is a tribute to graduates who have shown exceptional personal, community, and/or professional achievements. This year’s recipients include Virginia Sherrod ’72, Wright B. Geroge ’61, and Chad McGehee ’99.
Virginia Sherrod, Class of 1972
As a student at Sycamore High School, Virginia demonstrated not only academic excellence but also a deep sense of community and kindness. Her passion for learning, combined with her commitment to helping others, set her apart. She was actively involved in many school activities, including the Pep Club, Girls Athletic Association, Homecoming Court Representative, and Future Homemakers of America (FHA). Her dedication to school spirit and her peers earned her a spot on the Homecoming Court, where she ran for Homecoming Queen and represented the values of leadership and community.
Beyond her high school years, Virginia’s impact has continued to grow. She has dedicated much of her life to public service, leadership, and community involvement. She became the first African American to serve as Acting Administrator for the Sycamore Moose Lodge 1506, where she led with integrity and vision. As the first African American City Councilwoman, Virginia continues to serve her community with distinction, advocating for positive change and working tirelessly to improve the lives of those around her.
Virginia is also an active leader with SIMBA/SIMA, an organization dedicated to fostering community development and empowerment, where she serves as an Elder. Her leadership extends beyond politics, as she serves as Vice Chair for the DeKalb County Demacrats and a board member of the League of Women Voters. In addition, Virginia is a passionate advocate for local issues and is deeply involved in the DeKalb County Community Gardens, where she works to address food insecurity and promote sustainability in her community.
Her professional accomplishments and service to others reflect the same values instilled in her by her parents: love, wisdom, and a commitment to bettering the world around her. She has shown us all that true leadership is not just about personal success but about lifting others along the way.
Wright B. George, Class of 1961
An African proverb states “It takes a village to raise a child.” To Wright, Sycamore was that village. Raised by a single mother and grandmother, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, the Boy Scouts Troop 16 and most of all the high school and grade school administrators, teachers and coaches provided the needed structure for Wright’s upbringing and development. Seventh grade teacher, Mr. Norman W. Graper, was instrumental at a critical time in that process. Wright graduated from Sycamore High School in 1961. While attending Sycamore High School, he was elected President of his junior class. He received two letters for varsity football and two letters for varsity wrestling. He was selected as a Little Seven all conference linebacker for the undefeated 1960 football team.
Wright graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1966 with degrees in mathematics and economics. As a member of ROTC, upon graduation Wright was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force. Wright paid 100% of his expenses to complete his studies as the University of Wisconsin. Wright was assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base where he entered Undergraduate Pilot Training, a 53 week course that taught students how to fly supersonic aircraft. Upon graduating from UPT, Lt. George was assigned to fly the C-141 Starlifter Transport plane for the Military Airlift Command. Wright spent the next four years flying Air-Lift, Air-Evac and mortuary combat support missions in and out of Vietnam.
On August 26, 1971, Captain Wright B. George was awarded The Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster by the United States for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight in the Vietnam Theater from October 30, 1967 to July 26,1971. In addition, he also received a Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. From 1975 to 1978 after completing his active duty, Captain George spent three years in the USAF Reserves flying C-141’s on international missions. While on active duty and the Reserves, Captain George was promoted to an Instructor Pilot Rating teaching aircraft systems, basic flying skills and international flight rules to junior pilots.
Upon separation from active duty in 1971, Captain George applied to and was accepted at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration. While attending Harvard Wright’s area of concentration was finance and flight transportation. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Wright spent 30 years flying international for Eastern and United airlines. While at Eastern Airlines, Wright was the Chairman of the Eastern Airlines Pilots Pension Trust Committee. For three years one of Wright’s Board members (friend and fellow Eagle Scout) was former President Gerald R. Ford.
In 1979, Wright started a real estate investment company known as DEC Management. Along with his Sycamore high school quarterback and best friend, David E. Cudden, Wright created an enterprise that owned and operated multiple apartment buildings in the DeKalb area and three apartment complexes in Chicago. Other real estate ventures include the Harriet Jane Byes Farm in South Grove Township in Clare, Illinois. The company also owns and operates properties in New York City and Vail, Colorado. Since retiring Wright and Mary split their time between Fort Myers, Florida and Vail, Colorado pursuing his two favorite hobbies, tennis and skiing. Wright is the proud father of two sons, Wright Brett George of Vail, Colorado, and CW Blake George of Ogden, Utah. Wright is an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Sycamore and was confirmed 70 years ago, February 20, 1955. Wright B. George is an Eagle Boy Scout as are his two sons.
Chad McGehee, class of 1999
Chad McGehee, M.A. M.Ed., is a performance coach, meditation teacher, scientific collaborator and trusted expert working at the intersection of elite performance and rigorous meditation training. At the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department, Chad became the first ever Director of Meditation Training in major college sports. Chad is an honorary research affiliate of the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison and co-founder of Inner Edge Meditation.
Chad’s expertise is in meditation training and research in high performance environments. Through his trainings, talks and consulting he supports individuals, teams and organizations. He uses a teaching approach that incorporates findings from his cutting edge research along with accessible ways to integrate meditation practices into overall training. He is passionate about the benefits of meditation training for individuals and teams interested in greater performance and well-being.
Chad’s work has been featured on ESPN, in the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Business Insider and as a co-author in peer-reviewed scientific journals. His training has been integrated into a range of environments including K-12 education, FBI SWAT Teams, the elite Hostage Rescue Team in Quantico, VA, Fortune 500 companies and elite athletics. He is passionate about bringing rigorous and accessible meditation training to life as strength and conditioning for the mind.
