JANESVILLE Two of Janesville School Districts most distinguished alumni will take their place on the Craig High School Honor Wall.
Stephen Nickols, a 1967 Janesville Senior High School graduate, and Jihan Bekiri, a 2003 Craig High School graduate, will be inducted in a ceremony Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Craig Auditorium.
A standout scholar-athlete, Nickols played college football on a scholarship at St. Norbert College in De Pere. He owned an accounting firm in Janesville for 36 years. Nickols was a founding member and president of the Morning Rotary Club, was the first chairman of the Jaycees Haunted House, was a St. John Vianney School Board member and a Janesville Youth Baseball coach for more than two decades.
After completing an undergraduate degree at Marquette University and earning a masters degree in international development from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Bekiri built a distinguished career championing inclusive workplace practices, the district said. Bekiri was named one of Madisons 40 Under 40, which recognizes young professionals who make a difference in the greater Madison business community. Her civic leadership experience includes serving on the YMCA Board of Directors, shaping policy on Gov. Tony Evers Council on Equity and Inclusion and helping transform the local American Heart Association CycleNation campaign into a top-performing fundraising force.
Craig Principal Alison Bjoin said Nickols and Bekiri exemplify the very best of the schools legacy.
Their dedication to civic responsibility, leadership, and lifting up others serve as a powerful inspiration for our current student body and the entire Janesville community, Bjoin said.
Admission to the ceremony is free but attendees must RSVP by the day before the ceremony by contacting the main office at 608-743-5210.