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Join us Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Edgewood Country Club for an unforgettable evening as we celebrate the “stars” of the Woodland Hills School District. We are proud to honor Joelisa McDonald, Distinguished Alumni of the Year, Class of 2008 and Mayor of Rankin, PA, along with Erin Wall, Distinguished Educator of the Year, AP English teacher and founder of the Student Summit. We are also pleased to announce that we will honor our schools’ Social Workers for their efforts to end hunger in our district.
 

Feel like a celebrity as you walk the red carpet and pose for photos with our “paparazzi” in front of our new, glamorous Starry Night Gala backdrop! Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres while you browse our incredible silent auction, featuring artwork by Woodland Hills students, experiences, fine jewelry, and more. Raise a glass of wine in celebration of our honorees. Then, dance the night away to hits performed by Walkin’ Rosie, Pittsburgh’s premier cover band featuring talented Woodland Hills School District alumni!

 

Don’t miss this magical evening of glamour, celebration, and community spirit! 

Announcing our 2026 Distinguished Honorees:

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2026 Distinguished Educator of the Year

ERIN WALL


AP English 11, English Honors 10, English 11

Student Summit Founder

Erin Wall was chosen as this year’s Distinguished Educator of the Year for her compassion, leadership, and unwavering dedication to students. For more than twenty years, she has inspired generations as a teacher, mentor, and advocate. She founded the Woodland Hills Multi-District Student Summit, now in its seventh year, uniting students from over 30 districts. Erin’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom and truly sets her apart.

Read Erin's Nomination Here...

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2026 Distinguished Alumni of the Year

JOELISA MCDONALD

 

Mayor of Rankin, PA

Class of 2008

Joelisa McDonald was selected as this year’s honoree because she embodies everything the Distinguished Alumni award represents: leadership, service, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to the Woodland Hills community. A proud graduate of Woodland Hills, Joelisa has dedicated her life to lifting others. Her heart for service, loyalty to the district that raised her, and ability to turn challenges into hope truly set her apart among an extraordinary field of nominees.

Read Joelisa's Nomination Here...

2026 Distinguished Service Award

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Kellie Irwin

Woodland Hills High School

Brittany Miller

Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academy

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Sarah Rivers

Edgewood Elementary STEAM Academy

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Kiersten Snyder

Woodland Hills
High School

Danielle Zurisko

Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy

The Social Workers of Woodland Hills School District are being honored for their exceptional leadership and commitment to combating student food insecurity. Through Backpacks of Hope and the High School Food Pantry, they provide vital support to students and families, ensuring access to nutritious food during weekends, breaks, and times of greatest need — making a lasting impact on our school community.

With Special Guests:

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ROBERT CARR
Event Emcee
WHHS Band Director, Junior Musical Director, Spring Musical Assistant Director

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WALKIN’ ROSIE
Live Entertainment
Featuring Woodland Hills Alumni!

Tickets and Tables

VIP Table: $1,300

  • Premier dinner seating for 8 guests at one table

  • Two bottles of wine at your table

  • “Last Look” during the Silent Auction: you and your guests will have VIP access for the last ten minutes of the auction to place final bids

  • 8 Diamond Raffle Tickets: one ticket for you and each of your guests to win our signature diamond

  • Hors d’oeuvres/Dinner/Dessert

Community Supporter Table (Non-Profits Only): $850

  • Seating for 8 guests at one table8

  • Diamond Raffle Tickets

  • Hors d’oeuvres/Dinner & Dessert

VIP Tickets: $150

  • Hors d’oeuvres/ Dinner/ Dessert

  • Wine at your table

  • “Last Look” during Silent Auction

  • 1 Diamond Raffle Ticket

General Admission: $100
Teacher Tickets: $80

  • Hors d’oeuvres/Dinner/Dessert

Program Ads

Send our Honorees your Best Wishes! All guests will receive a copy of the Souvenir Event Program. Plus, a digital version will be sent to over 4,000 of our supporters! Ads due Friday, February 20. Need help creating your ad? We are here to help! Just send us an email and we'll take care of the rest! 

FULL PAGE: $100

HALF PAGE: $50

QUARTER PAGE: $25

Silent Auction

Silent Auction

Our Starry Night Gala silent auction is already shaping up to be one of our best yet, and that’s thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors listed below. 


Special shoutout to Texas Roadhouse Monroeville — not only were they our very first silent auction donor, but they reached out to us, unsolicited, to support this event. That kind of community spirit truly means the world to us!


Another big thank-you to Nothing Bundt Cakes Monroeville, who has a special treat in store for every guest at the gala. We promise—you won’t want to miss this sweet surprise!

 

While we are thrilled with how this auction is coming together, we still need our community’s help to make it extraordinary. Just imagine how amazing this auction could be if Woodland Hills alumni, parents of students, and local business owners all came together to donate an item, experience, or service.

 

Donors are recognized:
• In social media posts like this one
• On our website
• In our gala souvenir program
• In email newsletters sent to over 4,000 supporters

 

Interested in donating? Click the button below!


Thank you for helping us shine a little brighter for our students, teachers, and schools!

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CHECK BACK OFTEN! MORE UPDATES COMING SOON!

Donate

 

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Woodland Hills Foundation #10660819

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Who we are

 

The Woodland Hills Foundation is an independent non-profit 501(c)3 dedicated to supporting the Woodland Hills School District and its communities by strengthening the educational experience of our children.  

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