By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ALLEGANY — Ninety-two Allegany-Limestone seniors graduated during commencement ceremonies Saturday afternoon at the Middle-High School Theater.
It was the school district’s 29th commencement since the Allegany and Limestone school districts merged.
Members of the High School Chorus sang the Star Spangled Banner to open the ceremony. Theft also sang the alma mater.
Middle-High School Principal Joseph Steger welcomed family and friends who filled the theater seats and congratulated the graduates.
Allegany-Limestone Board of Education President Susan Schifley presented medals to Valedictorian Xavier Hilmey and Salutatorian Sughosh Kondur.
In his Salutatory address, Kondur thanked teachers, administrators, coaches, lunch ladies, janitors, bus drivers and officer personnel for “making your time here at ALCS the best that it could be.” He had a special thanks for his mom and dad “for your unconditional love and support since pre-school.”
Valedictorian Hilmey said, “community and support are crucial for success.” He also spoke about “the importance of taking risks, being supportive and persevering through challenges.”
He said, “I consider every graduate of the class – every single student here today – has created a community we’ve been able to capitalize off that unique opportunity has allowed us to shape each other’s lives significantly. Changing someone’s life is not hard. Just say hi in the hallways and putting a smile on the person.”
School counselor Ashley Malpiedi, District Superintendent Anthony Giannicchi, Stenger and assistant principal Kevin Straub, and members of the Board of Education presented diplomas.
The graduates are:
Aldon Ambuski, Gracie Amore, Niklas Andrae, Tyler Babb
Molly Berlinski, Jenna Billings, Devon Bish, Colton Boser, Kellan Brady, Hannah Buck, Luvasia Byrd, Pierra Byrd, Robert Casey, Spencer Chamberlain, Dante Cleveland.
Sean Conroy, Lilly Coulter, Katherine Crawford, Jesse Decker, Thomas DePuy, Anna DeRose, Trinity Distrola, Caleb Duncan, Raylynn Dunkin, Samuel Eaton, Kevin Edwards-Hardy, Connor Ellison, Megan Fisher, David Ford.
Makayla Foster, Mariah Foster, Michael Frederick, Jackson George, Mia Giannicchi, Olivia Graham, Kaleigh Griesbaum, Tyler Griffin, Xackery Grover, Emma Hagen, Zachary Hagle, Tullah Hasselberg, Alexa Henderson. Amelia Herzog, Xavier Hilmey, Carlee Jacoby, Emma Jankowski, Dennis Johnson, Evan Johnson, Ethan Jones,
Jarod Kiel, Hailie Kirtz, Sughosh Kondur, Ryan Lechner, Ciara Ledford, Zakary Linza, Aubrey Luce, Rayleah Magara.
Molly McCarthy, Jeremiah Moore, Donavin Morrison, Joshua Nolder, Andrew Opperman, Kyle Paar, Paige Pecorella, Hannah Peters, Michael Peterson, Ryleigh Peterson, Alaina Quattrone, Luis Ramirez, Joshua Rhow, Louie Rickert, Andrew Riordan, Aaliyah See, Erin Sheehy.
Tyler Slocum, Alexis Smith, Kayla Smith, Nicholas Snyder,
Star Starr, Aubrey Stout Peters, Calvin Straub, Dylan Studley, Addison Thornton, Ellie Townsend, Kadence Trea, Hayden Washington, Lillian Weinman, Anna Widger, Jaelyn Wojewoda-Ko, Aaron Wolfe and Nathan Wolfe.
Scholarships and awards were also presented:
Academic Booster Club Awards: Xavier Hilmey, Sughosh Kondur, Megan Fisher, Gracie Amore, Lilly Coulter, Jaelyn Wojewoda-Ko, Alaina Quattrone, Emma Jankowski, Evan Johnson, Andrew Opperman, Jesse Decker, Katie Crawford, Connor Ellison, Sean Conroy, Aubrey Luce, Paige Pecorella, Robert Casey.
ACS Alumni Scholarship: Amelia Herzog, Gracie Amore, Ciara Ledford.
Allegany American Legion (Sons of) Charles Harbel Post #892 College Award: Gracie Amore, Kadence Trea, Michael Frederick.
Allegany American Legion-Legionnaire/Auxiliary Achievement: Gracie Amore, Alexa Henderson, Jesse Decker, Katherine Crawford, Paige Pecorella.
Allegany American Legion: Richard Straub Memorial Trade School or Apprentice Award: Megan Fisher, Alexa Henderson.
Allegany Memorial PTA: Xavier Hilmey.
Allegany Public Library Memorial Association Fund: Michael Frederick.
Allegany-Limestone Teachers Association: Jenna Billings, Anna DeRose, Kevin Edwards-Hardy, Emma Jankowski, Paige Pecorella, Aubrey Luce, Connor Ellison.
Big 30 Senior Classic Award: Sean Conroy.
Carol Swanson Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts: Olivia Graham.
Cattaraugus-Allegany Dream It. Do It. Impact Award: Sughosh Kondur.
Chautauqua Cattaraugus County Board of Realtors Scholarship Fund: Michael Frederick.
Chipmonk Community Hall Scholarship: Aubrey Luce, Colton Boser.
Christine Conner Memorial Scholarship: Jaelyn Wojewoda-Ko, Paige Pecorella.
Class Scholarships
Class of 1972 Academic Award in Memory of Thomas Feneran: Aubrey Stout Peters, Tyler Slocum.
Class of 1981 Scholarship: Michael Frederick.
Clem and Ida Martiny Scholarship: Paige Pecorella
Colt 45 Strong Scholarship: Amelia Herzog.
Dennis Jones and Wayne Johnston Memorial Dice Run: Michael Frederick.
Don and Bern Holcomb Memorial Scholarship: Addison Thornton.
Dorothy T. Karl Scholarship: Paige Pecorella.
Dr. Rudy Burt Scholarship: Ciara Ledford.
Dresser Rand Employees Scholarship: Gracie Amore, Sughosh Kondur.
Dustin Jae Fleming Memorial Award for Creative Arts: Kaleigh Griesbaum.
Enchanted Mountains Exchange Club Scholarship: Ciara Ledford.
Francis D. Pezzimenti Memorial Scholarship: Kevin Edwards-Hardy, Amelia Herzog, Mia Giannicchi, Paige Pecorella, Sean Conroy, Megan Fisher, Michael Frederick, Alaina Quattrone, Gracie Amore.
Frank A. Martin 111 Memorial Scholarship: Amelia Herzog, Katherine Crawford, Mia Giannicchi, Xavier Hilmey.
Frederick G. Grace Memorial Scholarship Award: Michael Frederick.
Gregory D. Spring Perseverance Scholarship: Robert Casey, Colton Boser, Gracie Amore, Kevin Edwards-Hardy.
High Point Federal Credit Union Scholarship: Mia Giannicchi, Emma Jankowski, Jesse Decker.
J. Michael Shane and City of Olean Firefighters Scholarship: Kevin Edwards-Hardy, Paige Pecorella.
James Zwald Memorial Spanish Language Award: Addison Thornton.
Jonathon Teuscher Award: Robert Casey.
John J. Murphy Scholarship: Megan Fisher, Sughosh Kondur.
Joseph and Cecily Higgins Scholarship: Sughosh Kondur.
Joseph D. Thropp Memorial Award: Joshua Nolder.
Kathleen Messer Bell Memorial Award: Jesse Decker, Kaleigh Griesbaum.
Knights of Columbus, Council 1220 Award: Robert Casey, Sean Conroy, Megan Fisher, Alaina Quattrone.
Kothari Family Fund Healthcare Scholarship: Amelia Herzog.
Limestone Union Free Alumni Scholarship: Michael Frederick, Kevin Edwards-Hardy, Carlee Jacoby
Louis Ensworth Charitable Foundation Trust Scholarship: Amelia Herzog, Tyler Babb.
Michele Foss Bartholomew “Good Person” Scholarship: Amelia Herzog, Alaina Quattrone.
Mohammed and Sakeena Iqbal Healthcare Award: Emma Jankowski, Megan Fisher.
Nelson M. Beard Memorial Scholarship: Colton Boser.
NHS-Distinguished Service Award: Kevin Edwards-Hardy
NHS-Outstanding Honor Society Member: Gracie Amore.
NHS-James Doyle NHS Scholarship: Olivia Graham.
NHS-Scholastic Excellence Award: Xavier Hilmey.
Nicolas G. Pendl Memorial Scholarship: Addison Thornton, Ciara Ledford, Katherine Crawford.
NYS Award for Academic Excellence: Xavier Hilmey, Sughosh Kondur, Mia Giannicchi, Amelia Herzog.
Odis Barber Memorial Scholarship: Amelia Herzog, Paige Pecorella.
OHS Class of 1983 Scholarship: Molly Berlinski.
Olean Lions Club Bert Dohl Memorial Scholarship: Paige Pecorella.
Ora and Bernard Gavin Scholarship: Gracie Amore, Michael Frederick, Ciara Ledford, Emma Jankowski.
Pat McGee Memorial Nursing Scholarship: Olivia Graham.
Patricia McCarthy Memorial Scholarship: Colton Boser.
Reva “Ma” DeArmitt Memorial Scholarship Fund: Ciara Ledford.
Robert and Marjorie Schaumleffel Rotary Scholarship: Mia Giannicchi.
Ryan Aderman Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Slocum, Ryan Lechner, Megan Fisher.
Sara Mollica Memorial Scholarship: Jaelyn Wojewoda-Ko
Shaun Costa Memorial Scholarship: Kevin Edwards-Hardy
The Ancient Order of Hibernians Scholarship: Megan Fisher, Xavier Hilmey.
The Long/Vossler Scholarship: Jenna Billings.
Virginia Stauffer Scholarship: Ciara Ledford, Michael Frederick, Xavier Hilmey, Mia Giannicchi, Megan Fisher, Gracie Amore, Olivia Graham.
William S. Bielecki Celebration Scholarship: Ciara Ledford.
