Hall of Honor
The Hall of Honor, established in 2006, recognizes West Aurora alumni who have distinguished themselves through significant accomplishments or service beyond their high school years. Honorees are celebrated throughout the Hall of Honor weekend.
On Friday, inductees meet with students, tour the high school, visit classrooms, enjoy lunch prepared by the Culinary Academy in the Blackhawk Café, and receive their plaques, which are permanently displayed in the front foyer of West High School. On Saturday, they are honored at a banquet at Two Brothers Roundhouse, where they are presented with replicas of their Hall of Honor plaques.
The Hall of Honor program aims to celebrate alumni who have made significant contributions at the regional, national, and/or international levels, in their field of endeavor and through humanitarian efforts. It also seeks to inspire West Aurora students by showing them that these accomplished individuals once walked the same halls.
The A+ Foundation welcomes nominations of distinguished alumni for future induction. Please submit nominations by September 1. For questions, contact Director of the Hall of Honor, Anne Sweeney, at amsweeney@gmail.com.
Nomination Submission Requirements
Before you begin, please have the following information ready. This form does not save progress.
Nominator Information
• Full Name
• Email address
• Phone number
NominEE Information
• Full Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Graduation year
Impact & Achievements
For the below bullet points, provide a narrative and examples of the nominee's level of impact at the regional, state, national, or international level:
• Impact in their field of endeavor
• Humanitarian contributions
Nomination
Timeline
Submissions Due: September 1
Selection Decision: December 1
Announcement of Hall of Honor Inductees: January
Hall of Honor 2 Day event: Third Friday and Saturday of April
A+
Foundation
Distinguished Alumni Hall of Honor
Banquet
Save the Date:
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
5:30 PM
Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora
2026 Nominees
Brigadier General Matthew Brancato, Class of 1995, has had an extraordinary military career, demonstrating leadership, dedication, and service to the United States Air National Guard. He is currently the Commander of the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Michigan, where he oversees the readiness of over 1,700 Air National Guardsmen and manages federal and state missions.
Brancato graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999. He completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, earning his wings in 2001. His first assignment was at Charleston Air Force Base, flying the C-17 Globemaster III in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In 2008, he transitioned to Hector Field where he flew MQ-1B Predator Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and later became the Functional Area Manager for all Air National Guard Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance platforms. From 2017 to 2019, Brancato commanded the 163d Operations Group at March Air Reserve Base, California, overseeing over 250 personnel, four squadrons, and a Formal Training Unit, helping shape the next generation of Air Force leaders.
His impact continued when he served as Senior Executive Officer to the 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon from 2022 to 2023. Brancato completed multiple high-level leadership programs, including the National War College (2020). His service has been recognized with numerous military decorations.
Brancato has also made significant humanitarian contributions through his work as President and Co-Founder of Holbrook Farms Retreat, a nonprofit organization supporting Gold Star families—the surviving spouses and children of fallen military service members. Holbrook Farms Retreat has become a nationally recognized sanctuary for healing, support, and community-building. Brancato has played a key role in shaping the retreat’s programming, ensuring that families receive the emotional, psychological, and social support they need to rebuild their lives.
Brancato’s military leadership and humanitarian efforts make him a powerful role model. His rise from a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to Brigadier General showcases the impact of hard work, integrity, and perseverance.
Captain William (Bill) J. Laz, Jr., (deceased) Class of 1965, was a leader of Naval servicemen and servicewomen; was a subject- matter expert for nuclear ships & safety; and, after his service to the country, he continued to improve naval ship performances & solve naval ship problems.
Ret. Captain Laz became a career Naval officer during the late 1960’s. He graduated from Annapolis in June 1969 and served his country until he retired in 1999.
During his time in the Navy, he rose to the rank of Captain and had two ship commands: The USS Dahlgren 43, a non-nuclear ship, and the USS Mississippi 40, a nuclear cruiser. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and Commanding Officer for the Surface Nuclear Propulsion Mobile Training Team located in Norfolk, VA. He was responsible for the nuclear related training for all nuclear Cruisers, all nuclear Aircraft Carriers, and nuclear repair capable Tenders. After this assignment he became Captain of the USS Mississippi (1992-95). And in 1996, he was assigned as captain of the CINCLANTFLT Propulsion Examining Board
Capt. Laz had a notable post-Naval career as Manager at Newport News Shipbuilding from1999-2015. He was able to apply his years of naval experience to create new protocols and products to advance naval shipbuilding. During this time, he was involved in creating & improving various aspects of the next generation of naval fleet.
During his outstanding 30-year service, Ret. Captain Laz became responsible for certification of all conventional propulsion plants of ships located on the east coast & Persian Gulf. He inspired and mentored many fellow naval servicemen/women. A scholarship is currently being crafted for a WAHS senior who hopes to enter military service.
Phillip Edward Van Lear, Class of 1970, In the decades since his 1970 graduation from West Aurora High School, Phillip Edward Van Lear has generously poured out his talents in art, culture, education and youth athletics, painting a striking portrait of a person with a love for humanity founded upon a notable humility.
Phillip Van Lear’s first career is as a professional actor with more than 60 roles to his credit in live theater, television and film. He has directed and produced works in various Chicago-area theaters and taught and coached in studios and at the college level. He was the recipient of the Jeff Award for Best Ensemble for the Next Theater Company’s production of Are you Now or Have you Ever Been. He also won a Black Theater Alliance award for his role as Paul Robeson in that production. Phillip received a Jeff Nomination for Best Direction of the play Home performed at the Chicago Theater Company. He was also nominated (Lou Award) as Best Actor for the 2023 production of Between Riverside and Crazy. In addition, he has a second career as a pastor, leading the men’s ministry at Harvest Bible Chapel.
Phillip has dedicated his skills to organizations such as the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the Rabb-Venable Foundation and the Alcon Corporation where he serves as a national and international patient advocate and speaker.
His kindness, gentleness and generosity towards all cannot be fully represented in this brief portrayal but I am sure they are gifts all of us within the West Aurora High School community can laud and share far and wide.