Dr. William A. DiCuccio II was named the Butler Senior High School Class of 2024 Distinguished Graduate Award winner. Submitted photo

Butler Senior High School’s Class of 2024 has announced that Dr. William A. DiCuccio II, M.D., class of 1966, is its choice for the 44th annual Distinguished Graduate Award.

DiCuccio, a retired longtime family physician in Butler, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at St. Vincent College before enrolling in Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he earned a Pennsylvania Doctor of Medicine designation in 1974.

DiCuccio completed his medical internship at Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia the following year.

DiCuccio returned to Butler to open a family practice, where he served the community as a private practitioner for three decades.

During his years as a prominent physician in the community, DiCuccio served as the first vice president of medical affairs for Butler Health System, where he also served as chairman of the department of medicine, medical staff president and chairman of the credentials committee.

DiCuccio also held community leadership positions, including vice chairman at Butler County Community College and a board member at the Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center.

After retiring from family practice, DiCuccio continued to serve for five years as the executive director for Sunnyview Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

DiCuccio saw poverty in the developing world while on a vacation with his wife to Villa Hermosa, Dominican Republic, where he witnessed a lack of septic systems and drinking water and limited electricity.

The experience moved the DiCuccios to start the Hope project in 2005. DiCuccio served as director of the Mission Development Villa Hermosa, My Eternal Refuge, and in this role oversaw the construction of a school, installment of a water purification plant, and the addition of a large church, as well as a medical clinic.

The Hope project continues to make additional improvements to Villa Hermosa by expanding the services at the clinic, adding two floors to the school and improving environmental conditions for the villagers.

The senior class announced their selection of DiCuccio as Distinguished Graduate Award winner on June 7 at commencement.