Dianne Fortson, a Mount Union alumna and Wall of Honor recipient, continues to give back to her community through leadership and service.
By DELANEY RONK | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mount Union, Pa. — For Dianne Fortson, Mount Union is more than just the place where she went to school—it’s where she began to discover her purpose. Today, she plays many important roles in her community. She serves as commander of American Legion Post 24 in Huntingdon, leads children’s programs and Bible study groups, and teaches Sunday school at Mount Hope Baptist Church. However, before all of her leadership and service, she was a student at Mount Union Area High School.
One of her most memorable moments from high school came as a surprise. She reminisced, “While standing in line for the baccalaureate program, someone told me that I had made the honor roll, something I hadn’t even realized. What stood out most to me, though, was seeing my aunt, who worked as a custodian at the school, crying with pride.” It was a simple but powerful moment that stayed with her long after graduation and showed her how meaningful even small achievements can be.
Her time at Mount Union helped guide her future in a major way. As a member of the Future Nurses Association, she was encouraged by the school nurse to pursue nursing, and that encouragement stayed with her. After graduating, she attended the Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing, where she completed a three-year program that provided hands-on clinical experience from the very beginning.
In 1977, she began her military career after being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the nursing field. Although she was not deployed overseas, she takes great pride in serving her country and being part of something larger than herself. Her education and training prepared her for the structure, discipline, and responsibility required in the military, and she remained connected to her values by staying active in her church. She served on church councils while on active duty and relied on her faith and sense of community no matter where she was.
She also credits strong mentors for helping her succeed, especially Colonel Nora Kendall, who recognized her potential early on and selected her for advanced officer training in Alabama. Although the experience was challenging, especially as a woman, it helped build her confidence and leadership skills.
Looking back, Fortson believes Mount Union taught her lessons that stayed with her far beyond high school, especially the idea that no one is better than anyone else, but no one is less than anyone else either. This mindset, along with pride in her hometown, has guided her throughout her life. Growing up with eight siblings and a widowed mother, she experienced both challenges and the support of a close-knit community that helped her family through difficult times.
Her connection to Mount Union has remained strong over the years. She has been involved with the alumni association for the past decade and often serves as a master of ceremonies at events. This is her way of giving back to a place that had such a meaningful impact on her life. She also hopes current students take something valuable from their time there. Fortson reflected, “I appreciate being on the Wall of Honor, as it has allowed me the opportunity to influence future generations and inspire goals for them.”
Being recognized on the Mount Union alumni wall is an honor she deeply appreciates, but more importantly, she values how it inspires others. She has seen how it encourages younger students, including those she teaches in Sunday school, to think bigger about their futures. Although she says she didn’t realize the kind of influence she would have, her story continues to inspire others and serves as a reminder of what can come from strong values and determination.
She encourages all past and current Mount Union students to “Aim high because it doesn’t matter your background, gender, or race. You have to aim high for yourself because you deserve to reach whatever height you want to try to jump.”
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
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