Randolph Central School District

The evening began with a warm welcome from Superintendent Kaine Kelly, who highlighted the impact each award recipient has made within the district and the broader community.

"It is our hope that future graduates will see these inductees as people worthy of emulation," said Kelly. "We believe that the Wall of Fame helps instill a sense of pride in our community while sharing the successes of our past graduates."

The first inductee honored was Captain Halle Lienhart, who graduated from Randolph Central School in 2016. After earning a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, she was commissioned as an engineer officer in the United States Army.

CPT Lienhart was the first woman from the 37th Brigade Engineer Battalion to earn her Ranger Tab, and her other qualifications include Air Assault, Airborne, Sapper Tab and Senior Rated Jumpmaster. Earlier this year, she moved to Fort Campbell in Kentucky to take command of a sapper company, which consists of 120 soldiers. She told the audience that she is excited to continue her education and military service.

"It's been a fantastic four years in the Army," CPT Lienhart said during her remarks. "I think it really does grow from your roots. A couple of my old coaches are in here who can probably say that I was a tryhard. I was always a three-point shooter. And yeah, I really loved the stuff. I was in gym class every time I could get the chance."

The next inductee to be recognized was Louise (Waite) Freeman. A 1971 graduate in the top 10 of her class, Freeman studied elementary education and music at SUNY Fredonia and graduated summa cum laude. She later completed her master’s degree in elementary education at Buffalo State College.

A 35-year teaching veteran at Randolph Elementary School, her involvement in school activities included coaching the wrestling cheerleaders and JV boys soccer team as well as serving as the vocal director for several elementary and all-school musicals. She was also inducted into the Cattaraugus County Sports Hall of Fame for her many years of promoting soccer programs in the area. Even though she retired in 2016, she continues to fill in as a substitute teacher for the district.

"Long story short, I just love the Randolph community," said Freeman. "I do really enjoy still teaching and subbing, and I will be filling in for another long-term maternity leave this year. And I just really enjoy helping out in the community. It's just so rewarding to stand here and see so many faces that I saw as five-year-olds coming into my classroom, or seven-year-olds, or teenagers learning to sing and act."

The third inductee, Brooke (Adams) Langworthy, graduated from Randolph Central School in 2007. She was on the four-time sectional champion cross country team and was the individual sectional champion her senior year. Her love of running has led to many achievements, including Chautauqua Striders' Runner of the Year from 2014 to 2019.

After completing six of the fastest and hardest marathons to qualify for, Langworthy earned her Abbott's World Marathon Majors medal in 2018. The following year, she won the Buffalo Runner of the Year award. She is currently credited with 229 race wins and counting in the Greater Buffalo Area. Some of her biggest running accomplishments include breaking 18 minutes in the 5k, a 10K personal record of 37:47, a half-marathon personal record of 1:24:23 and a marathon personal record of 2:57:40.

"I think it's ironic that on this exact golf course over 20 years ago, my love of long-distance running started," said Langworthy. "Near this very location was the last mile of our home cross country course. My high school running career began because of my teachers and coaches of RCS who believed in me and saw potential."

Langworthy later acknowledged and thanked the Randolph community. "Your spirit, your passion, your commitment to your student-athletes has inspired so many others like me," she said. "So no matter what your journey is, remember: It's a great day to be a Cardinal, wherever you may be."

The final inductee of the evening was Dr. E.J. Brace, who graduated from Randolph Central School in 1992. He played varsity sports during high school, including soccer, basketball, volleyball and baseball. He was also the captain of the three-time defending champion academic bowl team and competed in the Texaco Star National Academic Championship at Rice University.

Dr. Brace later obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Duke University and a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan. He went on to a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where he continues his research on preventing neurodegeneration in the brain.

"I study these small wires called axons that connect brain cells from one another," said Dr. Brace. "They're really long and vulnerable, they have to last a lifetime. So if you took a typical classroom in Randolph, the axon would stretch all of the way to Chicago. They're really long."

After 20 years of research, Dr. Brace's team developed axonal degeneration inhibitors that are currently in phase-two clinical trials. "Hopefully in three to five years, it will get good results and, hopefully, it will have an impact on humanity," he said.

The evening wrapped up with parting comments by Dr. Brace. He thanked his aunt, his grandmother and his mother for their teaching service. "Between the three of them, about 30-plus years, about 75 percent of the kids in Randolph have gone through one or more of their classrooms," he said. "That's a great legacy."

Randolph Central School's Wall of Fame honors graduates, current and past staff members, current and past board of education members, and community members. Those chosen have distinguished themselves in a specific field of endeavor, civic affairs, humanitarian affairs and activities meriting special recognition or who have had a positive impact on the district or the community. A nomination form for 2025 inductees is available on the district’s website.