Three more former Wildcats soon will join Wheeling High's growing Alumni Hall of Fame.

The school today will welcome back Lawrence Pan, Dana Miroballi and James Whittington - all graduates who officials say have made enough of an impact since high school to warrant a "Distinguished Alumni" distinction.

The three will spend the day at their alma mater, attending a 7 a.m. reception, spending time talking to teens in classes, tailgating with staff before the football game and being honored at a special ceremony at halftime of the varsity game.

Each will receive a plaque and be listed in the school as a Distinguished Alumni, a title five other Wheeling High grads have earned since the program's inception in 2002.

Wheeling High, like other Northwest Suburban High School District 214 schools, uses its program as a way to honor people from its past and celebrate them as role models for students of the present.

The awards go to Wheeling alumni who have graduated at least 10 years earlier and demonstrated a high level of achievement in their profession, made significant contributions in their chosen field and exhibited continued leadership, character and service.

This year's honorees are:

 James Whittington, Class of 1966: Whittington has devoted more than 30 years to education, including 24 at Wheeling High.

He earned a doctorate of education in school administration from Vanderbilt University in 1984. He held numerous administrative roles at Wheeling High before taking over as principal of York Community High and, four years later, becoming the first principal of Vernon Hills High.

In that role, he facilitated all phases of transition to a new school, including hiring staff and developing a budget.

 Lawrence Pan, Class of 1968: Pan received a Ph.D. in physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1983, after doing a dissertation on "The Control of Breathing During Physical Exercise." He joined the physical therapy faculty at Marquette University two years later.

He's published more than 50 research articles in journals, and two book chapters. He has mentored Marquette students in initiating the Marquette Challenge, a nationwide effort to challenge students to raise money for the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research.

 Dana Miroballi, Class of 1988: Miroballi got a law degree from Indiana University in 1995.

She is an attorney adviser for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. As part of that job, she often deals with threats to national security.

She has assisted in leading successful American Medical Association lobbying efforts on student loan debt relief and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. She also has raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society.