Several distinguished honors and the 2022 induction to Canisius's Robert Bellarmine Chapter of the National Honor Society highlighted Tuesday’s Junior Awards Ceremony in the historic Scaccia Auditorium.
"This past week, we celebrated and bid farewell to the class of 2022," said Principal Andrea Tyrpak-Endres. "Today, we gather to highlight the achievements of our rising seniors, to celebrate the accomplishments of our new student leaders – the class of 2023.
"The National Honor Society’s traits of scholarship, leadership, service and character mirror our own Jesuit ideals. The young men inducted this morning exemplify each of these characteristics."
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NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
William Oh (scholarship), Christopher Huddy (service), Thomas Webb (leadership) and William Wind (character) each lit a candle representing the four qualities held in high esteem by the society while Michael Scime outlined each quality.
NHS co-moderator Erin Conley, a teacher in the English department, inducted the following students by leading them in the National Honor Society pledge:
Jacob R. Ackerman
Michael P. Anain
Evan G. Appelbaum
Maxwell J. Barney
Alexander S. Beecher
Vincenzo J. Cercone
Owen C. Close
Jack R. Cosgrove
Zachary J. Crogan
Connor A. Devans
Landon R. Fried
Luke Granto
John D. Hannon
Chase D. Harbold
Dylan A. Heyworth
Evan L. Healy
Christopher A. Huddy
Maxwell W. Ilecki
Evan D. Izatt
Ashton A. Joseph
Nicholas W. Kerwin
Frank "Casey" LaForce
Colin Laschinger
Nathaniel P. Leonard
Donald F. LoFaso
Nolan R. Lyndaker
Matthew C. Marusza
Nathan C. Mascia
Maxwell O. Mathien
Alexander S. Mecca
Patrick D. Nettina
William H. Oh
Daniel B. Peyser
Andrew D. Rubino
Michael J. Scime
Shafay Shahzad
Mason M. Sherk
Thomas Stofer
Triton A. Travale
Adam W. Trubish
Thomas J. Vanner
Thomas E. Webb
John R. Whirl
William P. Wind
Adam J. Wittmann
Eliott J. Wurst
SPECIAL AWARDS
Billy Hartigan Award
The Billy Hartigan Scholarship Award is in memory the 2008 graduate who passed away at the age of 24. This year's award was presented by Billy's siblings, Mary Kate and Patrick, an alumnus from the class of 2014, to Daniel Peyser.
The Hartigan Scholarship is awarded to a student who devotes his time, intellect, and passion towards something larger than himself. The recipient has firm beliefs in his Catholic faith, selflessness, and brotherhood that he uses to make the community around him stronger.
At Canisius, Billy played varsity baseball and received the James Lilly Award for his knowledge, commitment, and passion of the game. He was an All-Catholic cross country runner and involved in the Campus Ministry retreats and service opportunities.
"Billy loved Canisius and cherished his time as a student," Tyrpak-Endres said during the award presentation.
He graduated with honors from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering and was hired by an international oil and gas company in Houston, Texas. While working, he studied at Rice University for his master’s degree in engineering.
Six months after graduating from RIT, Billy was diagnosed with a very rare, terminal cancer.
"It was not education, awards, or money that would give Billy the strength to handle this devastating news," Tyrpak-Endres said. "Rather, his experiences here at Canisius with faculty, staff, coaches, and fellow students that carried him through this most difficult time. All the lessons he learned here, from both success and failure, gave him the courage to face this final fight with dignity, grace, and faith."
In addition to a scholarship, the award includes "a plaque depicting St. Ignatius kneeling before our Blessed Lady," Tyrpak-Endres said. "The words inscribed on the plaque are from St. Ignatius: 'Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.'
"This is exactly how Billy lived his life."
* The Francis B. Jenkins Class of 1939 Scholarship was awarded to William Oh, Patrick Nettina and Ashton Joseph.
The scholarship was established in 2002 by Mrs. Thelma C. Jenkins and her children in loving memory of her husband Francis. Fran, a member of the class of 1939, attended Canisius High School on a full tuition academic scholarship. This scholarship was established in recognition of Fran’s lifelong devotion to the Classics. Awarded on the basis of academic achievement, the winners are juniors who are third-year Latin students who intend to study Latin as a senior. The recipients are students who have demonstrated enthusiasm, strong commitment and devotion to the Classics.
* The Richard J. Cobler Class of 1970 Scholarship, which is given to a junior who exemplifies Richard's spirit and skill in the sciences, was presented by Mrs. Agnes Cobler, his mother, and Dr. JoAnne Cobler, his sister to Luke Granto.
The award was established in 2010 by the Cobler family. Richard J. Cobler was a member of the class of 1970 and a Columbia University graduate. He also received his doctorate in Oceanography from Oregon State University. These are a mere sampling of his accomplishments. On Friday, Sep. 28, 1979, while sailing en route from Honolulu to Tahiti, it is believed that Richard was swept overboard, while setting up an experiment on deck. His body was never found. This was truly a loss of a gifted person.
* The Patrick G. Kwiatkowski ’72 Scholarship which has been established in honor of the late Patrick Kwiatkowski – alumnus, former bowling coach, and member of the Canisius High School Athletic Hall of Fame – was presented by Mary Jean Kwiatkowski and sons Matthew Kwiatkowski '09 and current bowling coach Michael Kwiatkowski '99 to Dante Calvaneso.
This scholarship provides partial tuition support for a student with demonstrated financial need and is also a member of the bowling program. The selected student-athlete must also exemplify the characteristics and values that Coach Kwiatkowski held dear – dedication, commitment, excellence, perseverance and a belief in the Canisius High School Bowling family.
* The President of the United States Award for Educational Excellence is given to students with high academic success, initiative, integrity and leadership qualities. Students receiving this award have cumulative averages that place them in the top 10% of their class.
Jacob Ackerman
Vincenzo Cercone
Landon Fried
Dylan Heyworth
Maxwell Ilecki
Evan Izatt
Ashton Joseph
Nathan Mascia
Patrick Nettina
William Oh
Michael Scime
Adam Trubish
Thomas Webb
* The President of the United States Award for Educational Achievement is given to students who work hard and have demonstrated tremendous growth, commitment, and intellectual development. Students receiving this award have cumulative averages that place them in the top 20% of their class.
Maxwell Barney
Alexander Beecher
Owen Close
Connor Devans
Luke Granto
Evan Healy
Christopher Huddy
Nicholas Kerwin
Nathaniel Leonard
Daniel Peyser
Shafay Shahzad
Tommy Trinh
Eliott Wurst
COLLEGE AWARDS
The Alfred University Scholars Award is given to Jack Kreuzer.
The Chatham University Book Award is presented to Patrick Gibbons.
The Clarkson University Achievement Award recipient is Evan Healy.
The Clarkson University Leadership Award is presented to Adam Trubish.
The Elmira College Key Award is given to Triton Travale.
The Harvard Book Prize recipient is William Oh.
The High Point University Junior Scholar Program recognizes Luke Granto and Daniel Peyser.
The LeMoyne College Heights Award is presented to both Dylan Heyworth and Michael Scime.
The Niagara University St. Vincent DePaul Medal is presented to Matthew Fronczak.
The Rensselaer Medal is presented to Nathan Mascia.
The Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Medal and Scholarship is awarded to Shafay Shahzad.
The Saint Bonaventure Scholarship Award is given to Justin Ball, Brendan Batchen, Braeden Grzybek, John Hannon and Stephen Zipp.
The Saint Lawrence University Book Award honors Ryan Brown.
The University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award recipient is Nolan Lyndaker.
The University of Rochester Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award and Scholarship in Humanities and Social Sciences is presented to John Whirl.
The University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award recipient is Ashton Joseph.
The University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology award goes to Landon Fried.
The University of Vermont Award given to Frank “Casey” LaForce.
The Wilkes College Leaders Award are presented to Nathan Rokitka.