National Honor Society induction among highlights of Junior Awards Ceremony

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.