YOUNGSTOWN Mooney group honors '04's Distinguished Alumni

This is the eighth year that the awards have been presented.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Cardinal Mooney High School Alumni Association presented its 2004 Distinguished Alumni Awards at a prayer service Thursday. This year's awardees were Kathleen Coppola Villella and Terry Reardon, both of Boardman.
The awards have been presented annually for eight years. Awardees must "demonstrate a continuing concern and dedication for others by embracing the Cardinal Mooney motto of Sanctity, Scholarship, and Discipline."
Villella, a 1969 graduate of Cardinal Mooney, is a teacher at St. Joseph's School in Austintown. She joined the staff at St. Joseph's in 1983 and teaches religion, American history, spelling, health, social studies, reading and self-esteem. She co-chaired the OCSAA accreditation for St. Joseph's. She also has taught at St. Christine's School in Youngstown and Our Lady of Loretto grade school in Pittsburgh.
"Kathy can always find time in her busy schedule to help the students of Cardinal Mooney or St. Joseph's," said Sister Jane Marie Kudlacz, Mooney principal. "She reflects the ideals of Cardinal Mooney in all that she undertakes."
Golden Apple Award
In 2003, Villella was awarded the Golden Apple Award by the Diocese of Youngstown in recognition of leadership, professional development and service to the church and community. She also is listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers.
She is a judge for the Cardinal Mooney speech team and has served as class captain for The Cardinal Challenge, the Alumni Association's annual fund drive, co-chairing the effort twice. In addition, Villella served as treasurer of Cardinal Mooney's Home and School Association from 1996 to 2002.
At St. Joseph's, Villella organized and coached the first girl's basketball team and served as assistant track coach and cheerleading moderator; she also introduced and coordinated the Fun Learning Summer Camp at the school. In addition, she served as treasurer of the school's booster club.
She is a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Jude's parish in Columbiana and participated in the parish's marriage preparation program. Villella has been a presenter at Catholic education conferences and has been active in the Youngstown State University English Festival.
Villella earned a bachelor's degree from Youngstown State University. In addition, she has done graduate work at Kent State University, Walsh College and the University of Phoenix. She and her husband, Ed, are the parents of three children, Samantha, Nikki and Brent, all Mooney graduates.
Funeral home owners
Terry Reardon is a 1981 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School. He and his wife, Judy Higgins Reardon, a 1983 Mooney graduate, are partners in the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, with chapels in Poland, Canfield and Austintown. He is a graduate of Xavier University and completed his professional preparation at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science.
Reardon is a lector at St. Charles parish and a member of the parish athletic club. He belongs to the Poland Knights of Columbus and the Canfield Rotary Club, where he has served as president. He is particularly proud to have been a member of the inaugural board for First Night Canfield. In addition, Reardon has served as president of the Mahoning Valley Gaelic Society and received the "Gael of the Year Award" in 1996. He is also active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Austintown Growth Foundation.
A lifelong supporter of Cardinal Mooney High School, he has hosted numerous students as part of the school's Career Day program and also has served as a classroom speaker in religion classes studying life and dying issues. He has been involved in the school's annual auction and has been a member of the school's alumni board for more than 10 years, serving as both vice president and president. Reardon has been a class co-captain during The Cardinal Challenge and also has served as a co-chairman of the campaign.
"Terry is an effective representative in the community for the values that he learned while a student here," said Sister Jane Marie. "He gives freely of his time and talents to benefit all whom he comes into contact with on a daily basis."
The Reardons have two sons, John and Terrance, and two daughters, Bailey and Delaney.