Emmy-award winning Shady Side Academy alum to give commencement address
An Emmy-winning sports producer will address the 2022 graduating class during Shady Side Academy Senior School’s commencement exercises on June 3 in the Michael J. Farrell Stadium.
Bentley Weiner, who graduated from SSA in 1992, is vice-president of HBO Sports Documentaries at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Recent films include “Tiger,” a insider look at the career and daily life of professional golfer Tiger Woods and “100 Foot Wave,” a big wave surfing series.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be coming back to Shady Side to give the commencement address,” Weiner said.
SSA’s Class of 2022 includes 127 graduates. The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed on YouTube, available here.
“We are proud to welcome Bentley home as both a celebration of her many accomplishments and as a living example to our graduates of the positive difference they can make in the world,” said Bart Griffith, Shady Side Academy president and a 1993 graduate.
Weiner joined HBO in 2000 as a production assistant, working her way up to her current position.
Weiner’s Emmy’s include:
2020 Outstanding Edited Sports Special or Series (“24/7 Kelly Slater”)
2017 Outstanding Short Sports Documentary (“State of Play”)
2011 Outstanding Edited Sports Special (“24/7 Penguins/Capitals”)
2009 Outstanding Edited Sports Special (“Calzaghe/Jones 24/7”)
2005 Outstanding Studio Show Weekly (“Inside the NFL 1977”)
In 2008, Weiner began producing and directing the groundbreaking documentary series “24/7”, profiling professional athletes such as Kelly Slater, Tiger Woods, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquaio and Sydney Crosby.
That series won 15 sports Emmy awards in multiple categories.
While a student at SSA, Weiner was named Most Valuable Player in lacrosse and field hockey, garnering a girls’ lacrosse career scoring record.
She played lacrosse and earned a degree in history from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
Weiner resides in Manhattan and serves on the board of directors of Reel Works, a media and film-related mentoring program for underserved youth of New York City.
“My years at the Senior School were truly the most formative of my life,” Weiner said. “And have had a direct and meaninful impact on my career.”
“That’s what I hope to convey to the graduates on Friday—that someday, they’ll be able to say the same things about their time at Shady Side.”
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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