CONNELLSVILLE — Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School honored three members of its community at the Mardi Gras Auction Gala March 2 at Anthony’s Party Center, Uniontown. Shelley Bortz, Class of 1992, was the Outstanding Alumna; Dennis Martin, Class of 1976, was the Outstanding Community Leader; and Julie Yankovich, art instructor at the school, was the Outstanding Educator.
Bortz holds multiple women’s basketball records for the Lady Gators, including most points in a career, 1,977. She received a full scholarship to play basketball at Gannon University, Erie, and her career path took her to a number of cities as a news anchor and reporter. She returned to Pittsburgh and WPXI-TV Channel 11, where she is anchor of the “Skylights Highlights” high school football show and a general assignment news reporter. She and her husband, Bob Ligashesky, a member of the Steelers’ 2008 Super Bowl champion team, have a 9-year-old daughter.
Martin, who received a business management degree from Penn State, is an associate real estate broker and a licensed appraiser at Coldwell Banker Laurel Ridge Realty, an active member of the Fayette County Board of Realtors and a member of the Greater Connellsville Chamber of Commerce.
Martin is a parishioner of St. Aloysius Parish, Dunbar, where he serves on the parish pastoral council. He married his high school sweetheart and classmate, Rita. They have three adult children, all of whom graduated from Geibel Catholic.
Yankovich, a Geibel Catholic educator for 12 years, teaches art to grades 7-12. She is the Student Council sponsor and oversees the school’s social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
Yankovich received a degree in art education from California University of Pennsylvania and holds a certification in art education (K-12) from Carlow University, Pittsburgh.
