From Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie - May 2025
May is the month the District inducts its Niagara Falls City School District (NFCSD) Distinguished Alumni class. In 2025, we are pleased to announce our newest honorees: Jawdat Mustafa, M.D., Niagara Falls High School Class of 2011; Fritz Proctor, Niagara Falls High School Class of 2015, and Cynthia (Cindy) Di Laura Devore, M.D. Niagara Falls High School Class of 1965. Their photographs and words of wisdom will adorn the hallways of every NFCSD school. They will join esteemed graduates such as the co-founder of Orange Theory Fitness, an Academy Award-winning costume designer, Broadway stars, a college president, a spiritual advisor to President Biden, and an Emmy Award-winning director of photography - that's quite a crew. There are many others to add to this list. What makes them so special to the NFCSD is that they are all Niagara Falls High School graduates: LaSalle Senior High School (open 1935 – 2000), or Trott Vocational High School (open 1932 - 1988). Since 2016, the District has recognized Distinguished Alumni for accomplishing extraordinary things once their time there was over.
Jawdat Mustafa, M.D., Niagara Falls High School Class of 2011 – Dr. Jawdat's return to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is a professional milestone and a heartfelt homecoming for Dr. Mustafa. His commitment to the well-being of his community is unwavering, and his return to the area symbolizes the impact of investing in local talent. His ambition was always to improve the health and well-being of the residents of his hometown, with a particular dedication to underserved populations. The distinguished alumni award celebrates his professional success, commitment to service, and the inspiring journey that has brought him full circle — from a student at Harry F. Abate Elementary, LaSalle Middle School, and Niagara Falls High School to a physician providing compassionate care to the community that shaped him. His academic path continued at Niagara University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. Mustafa earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving honors like the Evan Calkins, M.D., Community-Based Research Fellowship for his work. Currently completing his residency in the Combined Internal Medicine/ Preventive Medicine program at the University at Buffalo, Mustafa has devoted his research and practice to addressing health disparities among underserved populations. His efforts have been widely recognized, earning him accolades such as the Clinical Research Poster Award from the New York American College of Physicians.
Dr. Cynthia (Cindy) Di Laura Devore, Niagara Falls High School Class of 1965 – Dr. Devore is a published author and former speech pathologist for disabled children and adolescents who relocated from Willowbrook State School in 1972. She is a pediatrician specializing in school health and sports medicine in upstate New York. She served as chair of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health and as a member of the Academy's Leadership Forum, an organization for pediatricians. Devore received national recognition from the American Academy of Pediatrics for distinguished service and dedication to the mission and goals of the Academy for her work in school health. She also received New York State recognition for distinguished service to high school athletics. Devore is a volunteer first responder of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps.
Fritz Proctor, Niagara Falls High School Class of 2015 – Fritz Proctor is a painter with over nine million followers on TikTok, one million followers on YouTube, and over 250,000 followers on Instagram. He is known for paint-matching videos and videos that document his artistic practice. Proctor received a Bachelor of Arts in studio art from the State University of New York at Buffalo. His exhibits have been popular worldwide with solo and group showings. Currently, he lives in Boston, MA, where he paints from his studio in his home. He has been an employee of the State of Massachusetts Parks Department, making signs in Boston. Fritz worked on some of the street artwork in Niagara Falls' Art Alley, a gallery of murals in the city. Proctor's paintings combine his relationship with nature and his own experiences. Niagara Falls Art Teacher Rob Lynch is among his greatest supporters and influencers.
Since 2016, the District has recognized Distinguished Alumni for accomplishing extraordinary things after their time at the District was over. These select alumni are chosen to give current students hope and understanding and to show them that they, too, can be successful.
