PCHS Distinguished Alumni 2025
The Pekin Community High School District No. 303 Board of Education has established the Distinguished Alumni Award to recognize individuals who were educated and inspired by our school system. Those selected for this honor have distinguished themselves by virtue of their outstanding contributions to the school, community, or society in general. They serve as role models to inspire current and future generations of students.
This year we are honored to recognize six individuals who make up the Class of 2025 Distinguished Alumni. These recipients will be honored in conjunction with Pekin Community High School’s Homecoming festivities on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Dr. Martin J. Neumann
A 1995 graduate of PCHS, Dr. Martin J. Neumann then went on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue a degree in Nuclear Engineering focused on Plasma Physics and Material Interactions. While on campus, he was an emerging student leader of Sigma Phi Delta Fraternity, Illini Pride, Orange Krush, Student Alumni Association and other campus organizations. Dr. Neumann also completed fundamental research on plasma-surface interactions that led to work at Georgia Tech on the Star Wars defense program for the Department of Defense and Motorola on production of advanced communication devices.
Following completion of his undergraduate degrees in 1999, Dr. Neumann entered graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign obtaining both a MS and PhD in Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering with a research focus on plasma processing of materials for biomedical application, material characterization, plasma source modeling and characterization and Extreme Ultraviolet Lithograph (EUVL). His PhD thesis on Lithium Debris Removal by Sputtering and Evaporation for EUV Optics and applications was turned into a physics book that has been widely used as a reference book for those working with Lithium Sputtering in battery, semiconductor and defense applications. Upon completion of postdoctoral study, Dr. Neumann became a faculty member at Illinois leading a research group of 30 students continuing this research work, as supported by the DOE, NSF and leading global technology companies.
In 2010, Dr. Neumann left academics and joined View, Inc, a private smart glass start-up as a leader of research and development. This company secured over $3B in funding to develop and bring to the commercial market the first smart windows. Dr. Neumann, as Chief Operations Officer, led development, construction and ramp of the first high volume manufacturing facility of this nature. He then led the company through their initial public listing on the NASDAQ exchange.
Dr. Neumann is the author of over 30 journal articles, a dozen patents and 3 books. He is regularly called as an expert witness in technology related matters. He currently is an executive at Lam Research where he leads operations to support advanced semiconductor manufacturing. He currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Adrienne, and two children, Everett and Violet.
Angela Pham
A graduate of the class of 2005, Angela Pham was born in Galveston, TX, but grew up in Pekin. After graduating from Pekin High, she studied Journalism and English at Eastern Illinois University.
Upon graduation, Angela’s early career involved writing for newspapers, magazines, trade publications, and editing for a book publishing company. Just a few years after college, she moved to New York City and got a job as a content strategist at PwC, the second-largest professional services firm in the world. She became a manager at PwC’s Thought Leadership Institute, where she project managed, edited, and wrote executive communications and produced thought leadership insights on topics related to tech disruption, operational change, and regulatory concerns.
Angela pursued her interest in business and technology at Facebook, now Meta, where she worked as a user experience content design manager and product lead, driving and executing hands-on product and content team strategy for Zuckerburg-driven priority projects, from news feed integrity, emerging markets, Reels, Stories, and more. She also worked on Meta’s first-ever content standards for machine-learning suggested content. She was recently featured on Meta's website for starting a workplace group on socioeconomic diversity and for her work on the inclusive product council, which focuses on equity and making the social media app experience good for everyone.
Angela also served as the head of content design at DoorDash before returning to Meta to work on AI and trust & safety. Angela currently lives in Manhattan.
R. David Tebben
A 1964 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Mr. Dave Tebben then graduated in 1968 from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance.
Dave first worked as a District Sales Manager representative for Pekin Insurance. He later purchased the Kelly Insurance Agency, which he operated as Tebben Insurance Services for 40 years.
He also was a member of the national faculty for the Agency Management for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors and was a past faculty member at both Eureka College and Illinois Central College.
Dave was first elected to the Pekin City Council in 1987 and was re-elected in 1991. He served both terms as Commissioner of Public Health and Safety. In 1995 he won his first term as Mayor, and in 1999 he won a second term. Dave was once again elected Mayor in 2007. During his time as Mayor, Dave represented Pekin at the local, regional and state level through many organizations such as President of the Heart of Illinois Mayors' Association and as Vice-president of the Illinois Municipal League. He was proud of his economic development efforts and was known as a consensus builder.
He had a great love for Pekin and participated, supported and led many community events and organizations, including the United Way of Pekin, the former Pekin Jaycees, the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and served as a presenter and moderator for its annual Leadership Academy. He also was the first clue writer and medallion hider for the annual Pekin Marigold Festival.
He was a member of a variety of area clubs including the Kiwanis Club of Pekin, the Pekin Moose, as well as a founding member of the Pekin R/C Club to name a few.
Mr. Tebben is survived and celebrated by three daughters, Shannon, Tiffany, and Stefanie as well as eight grandchildren
Jim Robison
Jim Robison, a 1980 graduate of PCHS, is a nationally and internationally known artist and sculptor, specializing in carving wildfowl. He has not only been recognized and awarded at national and worldwide festivals and competitions but also has sold his work to businesses, private galleries, and clients all over the world.
Jim was introduced to carving a duck decoy in seventh grade at Edison Junior High School, and although he demonstrated artistic abilities in other areas, he quickly learned to love birds the most. He joined the Illinois Valley Woodcarvers while at PCHS and met a man named Dick LeMaster, a highly renowned carver who became Jim's mentor. It just so happened that Richard Stolley, the founding editor of People Magazine (and also another PCHS Distinguished Alumni Award recipient), was passing through and saw an article about Jim. Mr. Stolley wrote an article about Jim which appeared in People Magazine, which led to a short film produced about him. Following all this attention, Jim began entering national and world competitions, all while still attending Pekin High School.
After high school, Jim got a factory job at ADM. While working, he spent his free time researching birds for his artwork and learned that he loved raptors the most.
The sport of falconry became an obsession and by 1980 he was a full fledged, licensed falconer. At this point in his life all he wanted to do was practice falconry and carve wildfowl.
With the help and support of his wife Sheri, Jim quit his factory job and dedicated himself entirely to becoming an artist. The CEO of ADM, where Jim had worked, wanted to commission a piece of artwork from him. Before he turned the carving over to his first client, he took the piece to the Maryland Waterfowl Festival, the premier wildlife art festival in the United States. Word spread and Jim sold everything he had in stock. From that point on, he has never looked back.
Jim wanted to have a way to have his own falcons at any time and occasion for hunting and for models for his sculptures. After acquiring special permits, as a second business, he now breeds and sells birds of endangered species to those who cherish the sport of falconry worldwide. He began visiting the Middle East to bring his birds to their world as well as to procure new prospects for his artwork. Jim Robison is a former PCHS art student whose sculptures today stretch worldwide.
Dr. Christine Urish
A 1983 graduate of PCHS, Dr. Christine Urish began at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL and went on to earn both Bachelor and Master degrees from Western Michigan University in Occupational Therapy. She completed her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education from the University of Iowa in 2005 majoring in Rehabilitation Counselor Education.
She has been an Occupational Therapist in various locations and currently practices as a Senior Occupational Therapist at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In addition to this practice, Dr. Urish has also spent her life dedicated to teaching in higher education. She has been a professor at both the University of Iowa and St. Ambrose University and currently serves as a professor and capstone coordinator at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
As both an esteemed practitioner and scholar, Dr. Urish has presented extensively throughout the U.S. and worldwide on a variety of topics in the fields of mental health, counseling, and occupational therapy. Dr. Urish’s presentations are only surmounted by the number of publications she has written focused on the field of occupational therapy and mental health as well. She has also written and received countless grants supporting students' future pursuit of health careers and summer camps and mental health advocacy endeavors.
Dr. Urish has been named Professor of the Year at St. Ambrose twice and Distinguished Alumni at the University of Iowa in addition to several other professional accolades. She was also named as an Outstanding Occupational Therapist of the Year in Iowa twice, and Mentor of the Year at Drake University in 2024. Dr. Urish has spent her professional career advocating for students, families, mental health, wellbeing and occupational therapy for individuals and communities.
Fredrick “Bud” VonBoeckman
Born in Pekin in 1915, Frederick “Bud” VonBoeckman graduated from Pekin High in 1933. He was considered the greatest athlete pound for pound that the high school had put out at that time.
He joined his father's painting business after graduating from high school. F. VonBoeckman Paint Company was originally opened as a Notions Store in the 1890s by his grandfather but was turned into a paint store in the 1920s. After painting mostly commercial buildings and homes, he then branched out and began contracting to paint high-line towers all over Illinois. In the 1960s, Bud was securing contracts from Commonwealth Edison and Illinois Power as well as Wisconsin Electric throughout the respective states.
Bud was known as a great shortstop player who was honored as a member of the ASA Fast Pitch Illinois Softball Hall of Fame and has a plaque at the ASA National Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. He was a member of the Illinois Coaches Basketball Hall of Fame.
Even after his playing days in sports were over, he was still involved with Pekin High sports. Bud was one of the key forces behind the construction of the football stadium. His company painted the new bleachers. He was also the driving force behind the creation of Ball Diamond One in the Pekin Park, where a monument honoring all Pekin Softball Hall of Fame members was erected in 1992.
Bud was a member of the Pekin Downtown Businessmen Association and a forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. He helped bring the Harlem Globetrotters to play at the West Campus gym and later at East Campus for years. Even as Bud grew older, he continued to support PCHS sports. He helped with the construction of the Boys and Girls Club building and Shade Park. Notorious Pekin coaches Dawdy Hawkins and Harry Anderson considered Bud their greatest supporter and even talked about him during the naming of the Dawdy Hawkins gym ceremony.
There was probably nobody who loved his town and his high school more than Bud VonBoeckman. He was a successful businessman and an active member of his hometown. So much so that Pekin’s Mayor, Larry Homerin, proclaimed August 3, 1990, Bud VonBoeckman Day to honor his achievements.