By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
PORTVILLE — Eighty-three Portville Central School seniors graduated Friday night in an outdoor commencement on the football field in front of the school.
The Senior High School Band played the processional and Shaela Spring sang the National Anthem. The invocation was given by Hailey Edwards.
In five minutes, Senior Class President Delaney Grandusky related the high points of 13 years the class experienced from ecology camp to Covid to their senior trip.
In concluding, she said, “I know that so many of these people behind me will grow up to do amazing things in life, and I for one cannot wait for what crazy rollercoaster that is life has in store for us.”
Delaney added: “I couldn’t ask for anything less than all the memories and stories I have created for the past 13 years of my life at PCS, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with all of you. So, thank you class of 2024 we had a good run.”
Salutatorian Jessica Marie Daley told classmates how lucky they were.
“We are blessed to live in a community that fosters growth and believes in the potential of every student,” Daley said. “And I would like to thank my fellow classmates, because you have made this journey enjoyable. We’ve watched each other grow for all this time, yet this is only the beginning.
“Portville’s Class of 2024. We’ve come so far from the young children we once were. It always seems that time flashes quickly before our eyes, so make sure to cherish every moment that you have with your friends and family. Remember that it is okay to take things slow when you need to, because there’s no reason to rush through life,” she said.
“There’s a quote that I really love from one of the greatest comic strips of all time, Calvin and Hobbes, where Calvin suggests, “If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently,” Daley said.
Valedictorian Gwenyth Elliott Mitchell told the story of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was targeted by the Taliban for advocating for young women’s education and shot in the head when she was 15. She survived and continued her efforts fighting for women’s rights to an education, which won her the Pulitzer Prize.
“The only weapon this young girl had was her voice, but that scared the Taliban more than any deadly weapon ever could, and for good reason,” Mitchell said. “As Former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan once said, “Education is the great equalizer of our time. It gives hope to the hopeless and creates chances for those without.” And that is exactly why the Taliban needed to stop Malala, because a group like that can’t remain in control over a population that has access to education.”
Mitchell added: “If the harrowing tale of Malala has taught us anything, the way to get you a shot, to achieve your wildest imaginations, to do something important is to keep on learning. That doesn’t mean you need to go to college or get a PhD, it means that every day, whether at your job, in a classroom, or anywhere else you may be, you need to learn something new, because knowledge is the most powerful tool we have. It is the key to success, and it will stick with you throughout your life, opening doors for opportunities that are beyond your wildest dream. Thank you! Go Panthers and Go Blue!”
District Superintendent Thomas Simon and Board of Education President Daniel Wenke presented diplomas to graduating seniors. The graduates are:
Skye H. Anderson-Lunn, Aurora K. Andrianoff, Olivia Ann Artlip, Hailey Ann Studley, Emylee Bailey, Monica Bailey, Lillian Grace Bentley, Danielle Roxann Breidenstein, Noah A. Brown, Thomas Robert Buckvich, Gracie M. Carter.
Demi Jade Chudy, Kaylin Conklin, Jessica Marie Daley, Allyson Davenport, Olivia G. Dean, Lylian Leigh DeArmitt, Avery Bianca DeFazio, Brannon Andrew Dickerson, Emilie M. Edick, Ashley Ann Edwards, Hailey LaFawn Edwards.
Alaina Elliott, Emma C. Elliott, Hayden D. Emley, Kevin R. Estabrook, William Howard Everitt III, Michael R. Fahnestock, Mattison M. Foster, Joseph Thomas Funden, Xavier Thomas Geise, Brock Adam George, Caidyn Mykel Gilroy, Delaney Grandusky, Austin Budd Grant Greinert, Mackenzie Harmon, Aryanna Marie Hatch.
Ava Beth Haynes, Elijah David Clifton Herne, Zoey Elizabeth Hoak, Kaedon Christopher Holcomb, JustinMichael Howard, Madison Taylor Jobe, Emily J. Jordan, Meghan Elise Lyle, Nikalaus J. Manroe.
Molly E. Marshall, Emily Ann Miller, Gwenyth Elliott Mitchell, Keaton Noller, Kyle J. North, Ethan David Obergfell, Karsen E. Padlo, Zachary Lee Perkins, Luke William Petryszak, Steven W. Pettit, Emily Taylor Proctor.
Trinity Faith Richardson, Kerri Ann Rocheleau, Madison Jean Saltsman, Jacqueline Elizabeth Scanlon, Kaiden John Scanlon, Emily Elise Schultz-Cone, Dayton R. Shaw,
Allison Jean Smith, Shaela E. Spring, Andrew John Steighner, Tyler Nicholas Stives, Milena Vaughn Stone, Landon N. Strade, Ryan James Swartwout.
Simon Stuart Szymanski, Madeline Thorton, Troy David VanSickle, Seth Nathanael Vos, Drake Paul Wiedemann, Marcus W. Wilson, Jenna Lee Wyant, Julia Lynn Wyant, Lucious Valentino Young, Konner Nathaniel Zajicek, Samuel J. Zeigler and Logan John Zwack.
Awards and scholarships were presented by High School Principal Lawrence Welty, Jr. They included:
Portville Faculty Association Excellence in Education Scholarship — Jessica Daley, Emilie Edick and Gwenyth Mitchell.
Frair Fund Award — Hayden Emley.
Dawne Evans Joseph Scholarship Memorial Award — iWilliam Everitt.
Dr. Louise Merrick Memorial Scholarship — Sky Anderson-Lunn, Jessica Daley, Olivia Dean, Emilie Edick, Emma Elliott, William Everitt, Zoey Hoak, Gwenyth Mitchell, Jackie Scanlon, Dayton Shaw, Allison Smith and Shaela Spring.
The 2024 Art & Antique Committee Scholarship Winners — Jessica Daley, Emilie Edick and Gwenyth Mitchell.
Michele Foss Bartholomew “Good Person” Scholarship — Skye Anderson-Lunn and Avery DeFazio.
Jamestown Community College’s USA Scholarship — Allison Smith.
NYS Scholarships for Academic Excellence — Jessica Daley, William Everitt, and Gwenyth Mitchell.
ACE scholarship — Emma Elliott and Samuel Zeigler.
Laura Jopling Scholarship — Jessica Daley and Gwenyth Mitchell.
Portville Sports Boosters Exceptional Athlete Award — Lillian Bentley and Luke Petryszak.
Ancient Order of the Hibernians scholarship — Avery DeFazio.
Virginia E Stauffer Memorial Scholarship — Skye Anderson-Lunn, Madeline Thornton, Jenna Wyant, Julia Wyant and Samuel Zeigler.
Chuck Bretzin Jr. Scholarship — Olivia Artlip and Hailey Edwards.
Connect Life Scholarship — Lillian Bentley and Julia Wyant.
American Red Cross Scholarship — Avery DeFazio.
Student Council Scholarships — Olivia Dean, Emilie Edick, Emma Elliott, Aryanna Hatch, Ava Haynes, Kaedon Holcomb, Meghan Lyle, Ethan Obergfell, Luke Petryszak, Madison Saltsman, Jacqueline Scanlon, Allison Smith and Jenna Wyant.
Robert “Dean” Travis Memorial Scholarship — Ava Haynes.
Portville American Legion Scholarships — Demi Chudy, Brock George and Karsen Padlo.
The Dave Waugh Memorial Scholarship is given this year to two students who exemplify the characteristics that were so important to Mr. Waugh in the classroom and in sports. These students always gave 110% both on and off the field. The winners of these $1000 awards are Avery DeFazio and Kaedon Holcomb.
Harold E. Moulton Scholarship — Emilie Edick and Hailey Studley.
Hearts For Isabella Memorial Scholarship Award — Avery DeFazio.
Amaranth Verna Harbeck Memorial Scholarship — Aryanna Hatch and Ava Haynes.
Portville Alumni Association Scholarship — Jenna Wyant and Julia Wyant.
The Cattaraugus-Allegany Dream It. Do It. Impact Award — Jessica Daley.
Allegany County Area Foundation scholarships — Olivia Dean, Emilie Edick, Ava Haynes, Hailey Studley and Seth Vos.
Cattaraugus County Community Foundation Scholarships — Dayton Shaw, Shaela Spring and Hailey Studley.
Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship — Avery DeFazio.
The Burt Scholarship — Zoey Hoak.
Signe H. Johnson Scholarship — Madeline Thornton.
Dresser-Rand Employees Scholarship — Oliva Artlip, Gracie Carter, Emilie Edick, Emma Elliott, Delaney Grandusky and Ava Haynes.
Arnold McHone Sr. Manufacturing Scholarship — Konner Zajicek.
John J Murphy Family Scholarship — Madison Jobe.The Eva M. Taggerty Memorial Scholarship — Seth Vos.
Ben & Rose Schwabenbauer Educational Scholarship — Julia Wyant.
Dr. Donald A Wormer Family Scholarship — Zoey Hoak and Allison Smith.
Daniel and Patrick McCarthy Scholarship — Andrew Steighner.
Portville College Scholarships — Lillian Bentley, Gracie Carter, Jessica Daley, Olivia Dean, Avery DeFazio, Emilie Edick, Hailey Edwards, Emma Elliott, Delaney Grandusky, Aryanna Hatch, Ava Haynes, Kaedon Holcomb, Madison Jobe, Meghan Lyle, Molly Marshall, Gwenyth Mitchell, Zachary Perkins, Jacqueline Scanlon, Dayton Shaw, Allison Smith, Shaela Spring, Andrew Steighner, Hailey Studley, Jenna Wyant, and Julia Wyant.
