Two Plymouth Whitemarsh alums inducted into Distinguished Graduates Organization

Plymouth Whitemarsh High School is proud to announce the induction of two new members to its Distinguished Graduates Organization (DGO): Matthew Friedman, senior producer for CNN, and Andee Axe Dubin, painter and artist.

Mr. Friedman (Class of 2008) and Ms. Dubin (Class of 1975) were honored in a ceremony on May 8 in the high school auditorium. DGO President Mark Hutchinson and Principal Dr. Jason Bacani opened the ceremony by sharing some of the history behind the organization, which meets annually to select Plymouth Whitemarsh High School graduates to induct. Candidates must have been out of high school for at least 10 years and have demonstrated achievements in the areas of academics, arts, athletics, business, humanities, or public service. 

This year's ceremony was the first to be open to the public. Elizabeth Mascaro, Class of 2025, introduced Ms. Dubin and Ronald Keene, Class of 2025, introduced Mr. Friedman. Videos highlighting each inductee were shared before the presentation of plaques, Cassidy Fagan performed the PW Alma Mater, and then attendees enjoyed the opportunity to mix and mingle over refreshments in the cafeteria. Plymouth Whitemarsh High School orchestra students performed during the reception.

Here’s a look at this year’s inductees:

Andee Axe Dubin, Class of 1975

Ms. Dubin graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in 1975 and has gone on to a distinguished career as a painter and artist. During her time at PW, she was involved in art-related extracurricular activities, and credits a teacher she had with inspiring her.

“Mr. Yost was an amazing art teacher and encouraged me to pursue my talents,” she said.

Following graduation, she studied at Moore College of Art, graduating from there with honors and a bachelor’s degree. After graduation, she spent time raising her family but was always producing colorful and vibrant paintings using acrylic and gouache paints along with glitter and beads. Since 2018, she has made a living selling her paintings and was commissioned to produce works for entities such as the Ronald McDonald House and PBS. 

Ms. Axe Dubin has also volunteered her time over the years to teach art to the blind at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

She splits her time between homes in Pennsylvania and Florida and has three children (Jennifer, Perry, and Samantha) as well as three grandchildren.

Matthew Friedman, Class of 2008

Mr. Friedman graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in 2008. During his time in high school, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Town Crier, President of the PW Science Olympiad team, a boys soccer captain, and he also played piano and trumpet for the Jazz Band.

Following graduation, he attended the University of Delaware, where he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper and obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2012. He spent a year living abroad in South America teaching English. In 2014, he was selected for an internship with CNN International, initially covering business and economics.  

In that role, he covered the Greek debt crisis in 2015 and the fallout from Brexit in the United Kingdom in 2016. His career with CNN has taken him all over the world - Puerto Rico, Haiti, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (to name a few). In 2020, he was promoted to producer and covered the economic shock of COVID-19 and protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd. The following year took him to Ukraine, where he reported stories that came as a result of the Russian invasion. 

He was promoted to Senior Producer in 2023 following his award-winning, year-long investigation into the law enforcement failure related to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. For that work, he was honored with a Peabody Award for public service in journalism, three Emmy awards, and the George Polk Award for National Television reporting. He has also received an Edward R. Murrow award for coverage of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and a duPont Award from Columbia University for his Ukraine coverage. 

Mr. Friedman credits PW with teaching him to be curious about the world. 

“The diverse opportunities at PW allowed me to try many different things – even in subjects I wasn’t particularly good at – which primed me for a career in journalism,” he said.

Mr. Friedman lives in Los Angeles with his fiancée, who is also an accomplished journalist. They are expecting their first child in October. His hobbies include hiking, biking, and photography, and following Philadelphia sports teams.