Greater Latrobe alumna honoree cites benefits of sports, outdoors, support of Flight 93 Memorial

Award plaques inside the Unity home of Dawna Bates. A 1966 Greater Latrobe gradute, she is being honored in March as the 2024 Alumna of Distinction.

Dawna Bates in her Unity home. A 1966 Greater Latrobe gradute, she is being honored in March as the 2024 Alumna of Distinction.

This patriotic quilt crafted by Dawna Bates of Unity fetched $8,000 at an auction benefiting the Red Cross.

Dawna Bates of Unity and architect Paul Murdoch pose with a chime in the Tower of Voices structure at the Flight 93 National Memorial site near Shanksville, Somerset County. Murdoch’s firm contributed to the design of the memorial.

Dawna Bates of Unity poses with a drape she fashioned for the 2011 unveiling of the Wall of Names near Shanksville. The marble wall at the Flight 93 National Memorial lists the names of passengers and crew who perished on Sept. 11, 2001 when the plane hijacked by terrorists crashed at the Somerset County site.

Dawna Bates of Unity serves as a volunteer ambassador, assisting vistors to the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Somerset County.