Congratulations to our 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees!
On Friday, October 9, 2015 PBS inducted four new members to the Alumni Eagle Hall of Fame. We are honored to have these alumni representing PBS in their communities.
The Alumni Eagle Hall of Fame Award in Abundant Life is given to an alumnus who exemplifies a Christ-centered life and is considered an example and inspiration to all those around them. This year’s recipient is Tyler Tullos.
After graduating from PBS in 2001 Tyler went on to graduate from LSU with a BS in Business Management. Prior to graduation, he married Crystal and together they served on the pastoral ministry staff at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge for nearly ten years as youth pastors and youth internship directors.
At the beginning of 2011 Tyler and Crystal moved to Boston, MA to plant a church called StoryHeights and now serve as its founding and lead pastors. They launched StoryHeights Church in January 2012 in the middle of a blizzard, and are grateful that nearly 4 years later the church has thawed and is healthy and growing.
They have four kids: Whitaker (8), Campbell (6), Peter-Beaux (3), Tyler’s one and only princess, Bennett-Claire (4months) and a golden-doodle named Lloyd Gary Tullos.
Tyler would like to thank Coach Matt Shelton and Coach Jeff Lilley, fellow co-founders of the SWG, for inspiring him to always “HEAR THE BELL!”
Since Tyler could not make the trip to Baton Rouge for the presentation, his mom, Lynne Tullos and his sister, Meghann Tullos, a PBS Alumnus from the class of 2000, accepted on his behalf.
The Alumni Eagle Hall of Fame Award in Academics is given to an alumnus who has excelled in academics, either as a student or teacher, or significantly contributed to the academic development in their community. This year’s recipient is Dr. James “Jim” Wood.
Dr. Wood is a pediatric surgeon and clinical assistant professor of surgery in the LSU Health Science Center Department of Surgery.
He graduated as co-valedictorian from Parkview in 1995. He was a letterman in baseball and football and was named ‘Mr. PBS’ his senior year. The following year, he was honored as an LSU Top Ten Freshmen, and he went on to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology in 1999. In his senior year, he was named one of LSU’s top 25 student leaders, having served as president of four student societies, including Campus Crusade for Christ. While at LSU, Dr. Wood also conducted basic science cancer research as an Undergraduate Research Fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
After college, Dr. Wood attended Vanderbilt University where he obtained a dual degree, graduating in 2005 with a Doctorate of Medicine and a Master’s Degree in English Literature. He was instrumental in the founding of Vanderbilt University’s literature and medicine program, and his Master’s thesis was published in the leading journal in the field in 2005. Dr. Wood was also awarded a diploma in the history of medicine, and he co-founded and co-edited the VMS Literary Review.
As a general surgery resident at the University of Colorado, Dr. Wood conducted clinical and basic science research, and he was given the Ben Eismann Research Award for Best Clinical Science Paper in 2011. To date, he has published 2 book chapters and 12 scientific articles, including one that he co-authored with his wife, Dr. Amelia Wood, who is a neonatologist. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and he has presented his research at numerous national and international academic society meetings.
After completing pediatric surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Dr. Wood and his family returned to Baton Rouge in the summer of 2014. His practice includes all aspects of pediatric general and thoracic surgery, with a focus on minimally invasive surgery. During his short time here, he has founded the first pediatric robotic surgery program in our region of the state.
Throughout his educational career, Dr. Wood has had an abiding commitment to caring for the underserved of our local and global community. He has worked in clinics and hospitals in Venezuela, Peru, Haiti, Cameroon, and Kenya, and he currently serves on the board of directors for Medical Centers of West Africa and regularly participates in short term missions in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His wife, Amelia, is the Director for Global Health for the Our Lady of the Lake pediatric residency program, and the two of them continue to collaborate in their efforts to serve the Lord and His people in the neediest parts of the world.
The collaboration they are most proud of is their children, Josiah, Rebecca Blythe, Luke and Ambrose. Jim was thrilled to have Amelia, his kids and his mom, Becky, accompany him for the presentation.
The Alumni Eagle Hall of Fame Award in Arts is given to an alumnus who has excelled in the arts and has significantly impacted other individuals and their community to excel in the arts. This year’s recipient is Wesley Valverde.
Wesley’s love for music began at a very early age. In first grade, he began piano lessons with Parkview’s music teacher, Carol Hall. After graduating from Parkview in 1998, he continued his musical journey as a member of LSU’s drum line from 1998-2001. Wesley honed his skills as a piano player in the The Mixed Nuts, a popular band with wedding and corporate venues from 1999-2010.
Wesley has always felt closest to God through music. After stepping down from The Mixed Nuts, to concentrate on work and his new family, Wesley felt called to continue music through church. Wesley loves worshiping God with music and was blessed to be a part of the worship teams at Goodwood Baptist Church, Florida Blvd. Baptist Church, First Baptist Pontchatoula, and currently at Istrouma Baptist Church, where he and his family attend.
Not only was Wesley a 13 year senior of Parkview, he was privileged to return as a teacher for a short period. As an alumnus with fond memories of Parkview, Wesley is proud to once again be part of the PBS family, in the role of parent. He and his wife, Lisa Maestri Valverde, have a son, Owen, in first grade and a daughter, Lila, in Pre-K 4.
Wesley always planned to be a doctor. Following a pre-med regime at LSU, he acquired an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences, a minor in psychology, and a Masters in Biochemistry. However, his plans, like so many others, were disrupted after the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Wesley decided to stay in Baton Rouge and pour himself into his family’s business, Lightning Bolt and Supply, where he is now Vice President of Business Development.
God has used Wesley’s love of music to shape his life in many ways- giving him unforgettable experiences, treasured friends, and most of all meeting his lovely wife, Lisa, who as a freshman, went to hear “some band!”
Wesley joyfully accepted his award with Lisa, Owen and Lila by his side.
The Alumni Eagle Hall of Fame Award in Athletics is given to an alumnus who has excelled in athletics, either as an athlete or coach, or significantly contributed to athletics in their community. This year’s recipient is Darry Beckwith.
Darry graduated from Parkview Baptist in 2005. During his latter high school football career he was widely considered the state’s top linebacker and one of the top prospects in the south. Darry was a member of Tom Lemming’s High School All-America team, rated No. 9 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN, 3A Defensive MVP in Louisiana as a senior, first team 3A all-state and was named to the New Orleans Times Picayune’s Top 20 Blue-Chip list for Louisiana. As a senior he made 135 tackles, including 20 for losses, and six sacks en route earning 3A defensive MVP honors. Darry was part of a defensive unit that reached the 3A state quarter finals in 2004. Totaling 140 tackles as a junior and earning honorable mention all-state recognition.
After high school Darry received a football scholarship to LSU. He capped his LSU career by playing in 47 games, starting 34 times. He earned second-team All SEC honors in both 2007 and 2008, was a 2008 Dick Butkus Award Finalist and a member of the 2007 National Championship team. Darry was a three year starter at middle linebacker for the Tigers. He had a recorded 189 tackles, 11.5 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks during his collegiate career. He signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Charger for two seasons. After returning to Baton Rouge, Darry went back to LSU and earned his degree in interdisciplinary studies, with an emphasis on sports management.
Darry is currently employed with Mike Toups State Farm Insurance in Geismar, Louisiana. He has recently established the Darry Beckwith Foundation. His goal is to help student athletes realize there are numerous avenues to success other than sports. He also wants to inspire and make a lasting impression in their lives and to assure them that God has a perfect plan for them. His motto is: “Success is created with the two P’s –Price and Process.”
Darry was proud to have his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Darry Beckwith Sr., and his sister, Marisha, with him for the presentation.
Thank you to Barclell Photography for providing our photography!