During our 156th Commencement Exercises, an early portion of the ceremony was dedicated to special graduation honors, including a very special award to a very special recipient. 

During our 156th Commencement Exercises, an early portion of the ceremony was dedicated to special graduation honors, including an award that showed yet again the quality and quantity of outstanding educators at CHS.

The Bene Merenti Award is presented to members of the faculty at Jesuit schools in recognition of 20 years of teaching, serving and leading.

"It's a dream come true." 

Those are the words of John Ricotta '05 upon being named the Director of Athletics at Canisius High School. 

Ricotta, a longtime member of the championship CHS Basketball coaching staff, comes to 1180 Delaware Ave. following a 15-year career in professional sports in Buffalo.

Our unparalleled Higher Achievement Program finished its fun four-week run Friday as families and friends joined us for the HAP Awards ceremony in Scaccia Auditorium.

We mourn the loss of Kibler, a standout swimmer at CHS who went on to swim collegiately and graduated last year from Xavier University. He passed away July 15 following a battle with cancer. He was 23.

During our 156th Commencement Exercises, an early portion of the ceremony was dedicated to special graduation honors, including: The Midshipman First Class Jeffrey R. Korn Memorial Award, which was presented to Matthew Carver ’26 of Williamsville.

During our 156th Commencement Exercises, an early portion of the ceremony was dedicated to special graduation honors, including: The Philippe B. Piedad Accolade Award, which was presented to Nazariy Drofych ’26 of Kenmore.

“I will always remember his bright smile ... he was the definition of a student athlete.”

That is how CHS Soccer Coach Orville Roberts thinks of the late Matthew Mayer ’24.

Visitation is Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at C. Mertz and Son Funeral Home, Inc., 911 Englewood Ave., Buffalo.