Jeff Metcalfe graduated with the Sterling High School class of 1971 and quickly entered a world of sports journalism that he is still an active and contributing member of today.Metcalfe was no stranger to Sterling Public Schools, as his parents Richard and Estella Metcalfe worked for many years in the Sterling Schools district as a principal and teacher, respectively. His siblings Carole ’72 and David ‘78 also attended Sterling Public Schools. Jeff’s successful career in sports journalism could be well predicted based on his interests and activities in high school and college. In his educational career, he was a member of the National Honor Society, an Illinois State Scholarship finalist, a participant in Boys State, a member of the French Club, and a variety show co-chairman. On top of this, Metcalfe was an active staff member of The Script as the sports editor, the yearbook staff at SHS, a basketball manager, and a participant in golf, tennis, and intramural sports. During his time at SHS, he covered SHS sports for the Daily Gazette. This experience would help him greatly as he transitioned to college. Jeff attended the University of Illinois from 1971-1975, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and was also a Daily Illini sports writer. He also contributed to the yearbook while he attended the university. After college, he took a job with the Colorado Springs Sun from 1975-1985 where he served as sports editor until he took a job at the Phoenix Gazette/Arizona Republic, where he is still employed today.His accomplishments include covering a range of sports from high school to NFL (primarily college) and covering a total of 13 Olympics thus far. Metcalfe will be covering the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, in February which will be his 14th Olympics overall. He also earned numerous newspaper contest awards, including awards from Associated Press Sports Editors, Colorado Springs Press Association, Arizona Governor’s Council on Aging, Arizona Press Club, Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors, Arizona Newspapers Association, and Best of West. Jeff also won the 1993 Phoenix Newspapers Silver Ingot Award for outstanding work performance, the 1998 Phoenix Newspapers Silver Ingot Award for consistent excellence in work performance, and the 2004 Phoenix Women’s Sports Association outstanding journalist award. When asked for a comment regarding his election, Jeff Metcalfe responded: “Growing up in Sterling and attending Sterling High School impacted my life is every imaginable way. Teachers such as Don Wiggington, Nancy Kuhnert and Marie Dickson were instrumental in elevating my ability to learn and think at a higher level. Basketball coach Gene Hall nurtured my love of sports by allowing me to not only be team manager but write game stories afterwards for the Daily Gazette, a job that Principal William Yemm recommended me for. It’s humbling to be recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award from a school that gave so much to me and from a 1971 class with so many accomplished graduates, whom I am honored to represent.” Currently, Metcalfe’s work has been seen in The Arizona Republic, as well as other Gannett owned publications, such as USA Today. His upcoming coverage of the 2018 Olympics will be on display in USA Today. Jeff has been married since 1994 to Dr. Laura Schaffer Metcalfe. Their son Brennan was born in 1997.