By Mary Maselli
MANAGING EDITOR
As the Class of 2015 proceeded down the aisle, donned in their blue and white gowns, their friends and family looked on with pride and admiration.
The 2015 Baccalaureate Ceremony was held in the conference rooms, packed with friends, family, faculty and staff, all to support this year’s graduating class.
The evening began at 7:30 pm, on June 19, with a welcome by SCS principal, Mr. Anthony Buttacy, and an opening prayer by Academic Dean, Dr. Lynn Swaner. After the prayer, senior Faith Schneider performed “Thank You Jesus” beautifully.
Mrs. Marisa D’Ulisse speaking encouraging words to the senior class. Photo by Mrs. Eve Whitehorn
Senior Seo-hyeon “Jane” Kim gave a heartwarming speech about her time at SCS. She touched on some of the aspects of SCS that made her high school experience truly unique: chapel every Thursday, Link Mentoring, and the care from each teacher. She awarded special thanks to her host family, the Erdvigs, and to all of the other people in her life she considered family: Mrs. Eve Whitehorn, Mrs. Ellen Gennaro, Mrs. Lisa Eichenlaub, and the Iaconis family. Jane met all of these people through her time at SCS, and her life has changed for the better because of them.
She advises her fellow classmates, “Never forget the importance of your family.”
After Jane’s words began the presenting of awards.
The first presenter was Dr. Lynn Swaner. She presented the Congressional Merit Award, on behalf of Congressman Lee Zeldin. This award was presented to Salutatorian Leah deNyse and Valedictorian Benjamin Damon.
SCS Alumna Grace Heaphy presented her Grace Music School Scholarship to Faith Schneider for her excellence in music. Grace Music School is in Northport, NY.
Mrs. Linda Reuter presented the next award on behalf of the P.T.O. This award is based on enthusiasm and a spirit of servant-hood. Jonathan Cruzate and Rebecca Giancana were the recipients of this award.
The SCS Chairman’s Award was presented, by Mr. Lawrence “Larry” Anderson, to Yeonji Kim for her academic excellence.
Mr. John Long presented an award in the amount of $1,000 to Christi Clinton for her efforts in the field of missions, and her plans to continue missions’ work in the future.
Mr. Joel Maus, SCS Dean of Student Life, then presented the Fenimore Family Honor Scholarship Award. This is an award in the amount of $500 per recipient for displaying honor in all activities and toward all people. This year’s recipients were Rachel Russo and Paul Martin.
Mrs. Eve Troiano, member of the SCS music department, presented Giordano D’Ulisse with the NYSCME award, in the amount of $100 for musical excellence. Jordan Sanchez received the SCMEA award in the amount of $100, also for musical excellence.
Guidance Director, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, presented two students the NYS Board of Regents Award(s). The first recipient was Benjamin Damon, with an award in the amount of $1,500. The second recipient was Giordano D’Ulisse, with an award in the amount of $500.
The following students received the President’s Award for Educational Excellence:
Anna Casmass
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Leah deNyse
Matthew Drzymala
Giordano D’Ulisse
Kevin Erdvig
Rebecca Giancana
Serena Huang
Jane Kim
Wendy Kim
Yeonji Kim
Elizabeth Morea
Christina Ogé
Victoria Paveglio
Jordan Sanchez
The following students received the President’s Award for Educational Achievement:
Andrea Jeon
Paul Martin
Joshua McCarty
Jon Mee
Shannon Paprocky
The President’s Awards were awarded on behalf of President Obama, through a letter from him.
Next, Mrs. Carolyn Sanicola presented Excellence in Achievement awards to Jon Mee and Joshua McCarty. Mee is pursuing business with a focus in sports, and McCarty is studying next fall in Pennsylvania.
The next point in the evening was bestowing each honor society member with his or her appropriate cord(s) for commencement.
National Honor Society:
Presented by Mrs. Carolyn Sanicola
Anna Casmass
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Leah deNyse
Matthew Drzymala
Giordano D’Ulisse
Kevin Erdvig
Rebecca Giancana
Serena Huang
Andrea Jeon
Jane Kim
Wendy Kim
Yeonji Kim
Christina Ogé
Jordan Sanchez
Arista (Math and Science):
Presented by Mrs. Karen McDonough
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Leah deNyse
Giordano D’Ulisse
Rebecca Giancana
Andrea Jeon
Jane Kim
Wendy Kim
Yeonji Kim
Josh McCarty
Jordan Sanchez
National Spanish Honor Society:
Presented by Ms. Franshuas Rodriguez
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Leah deNyse
Giordano D’Ulisse
Kevin Erdvig
George Flores
Rebecca Giancana
Christina Ogé
Victoria Paveglio
Faith Schneider
Grace Tomasini
Halle Wias
Tri-M (Music) Honor Society:
Presented by Mrs. Robin McCourt
Heartstrings (Orchestra)
Rebecca Giancana
Andrea Jeon
Wendy Kim
Shannon Paprocky
Jordan Sanchez
Joyful Noise (Concert Band)
Anna Casmass
Giordano D’Ulisse
Kevin Erdvig
Faith Schneider
Promise Singers (Vocal Ensemble)
Jonathan Costanza
Lindsey Eugene
Jiovani Fleurimond
Jane Kim
Yeonji Kim
Christina Ogé
Victoria Paveglio
Grace Tomasini
National Art Honor Society:
Presented by Mrs. Marisa D’Ulisse
Chelsea Bauman
Charles Bellini
Craig Buchanan
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Giordano D’Ulisse
Leah deNyse
Kevin Erdvig
Rebecca Giancana
Serena Huang
Joshua Hughes
Alina Iaconis
Jane Kim
Wendy Kim
Yeonji Kim
Paul Martin
Elizabeth Morea
Alisha Munoz
Christina Ogé
Shannon Paprocky
Julia Muller
Victoria Paveglio
Jordan Sanchez
Grace Tomasini
Snow Xia
National English Honor Society:
Presented by Mr. Michael Troche
Chelsea Bauman
Anna Casmass
Christi Clinton
Jonathan Cruzate
Benjamin Damon
Leah deNyse
Matthew Drzymala
Kevin Erdvig
Rebecca Giancana
Wendy Kim
Yeonji Kim
2015 was the inaugural year for the Scholarship of Distinction, presented by Mrs. Karen McDonough. The Scholarship of Distinction is a $500 scholarship awarded to one student from each of the six honor societies.
Arista: Jordan Sanchez
National Honor Society: Jonathan Cruzate
Tri-M: Anna Casmass
National Art Honor Society: Elizabeth Morea
National Spanish Honor Society: Leah deNyse
National English Honor Society: Christi Clinton
Mr. Patricio Nieto took the stage next to announce the athletic awards.
Athlete of the Year was Charles Bellini, for his hard work and dedication on the boys varsity soccer and basketball teams.
Rebecca Giancana was awarded this year’s Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for her leadership on the girls varsity soccer team. Rebecca will be playing for Summit University in the fall.
The Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award was presented to Benjamin Damon for his leadership and dedication on the varsity baseball team, in assisting them achieve back-to-back Class D State Championships. Benjamin will be attending Liberty University in the fall.
After the awards, senior Jonathan Cruzate shared a few words about his experience at SCS. He placed a special emphasis on the importance of Christian education, claiming, “I met God here.” He shared scripture along with personal anecdotes of his time at SCS.
“SCS fostered my desire for knowledge,” Cruzate said. He encourages his classmates to feed into that desire for knowledge as they venture into this new chapter in their lives.
Reverend Paul Russo, father of senior Rachel Russo, delivered a special message to the class of 2015. He read a letter, from him to his daughter, retelling his memories of their life. He then applied it to each senior, praying it would be a blessing to them. In his prayer over the class, he prayed that they may never lose their love for the Father, just as He has never lost His love for them.
Reverend Lawrence “Larry” Falco closed out the evening with his own words of encouragement for the class. He reflected on their times together, and he sent them off with the promise from God, “I will be with you!”
The SCS family wishes the best for the class of 2015, and is looking forward to cheering them at the Commencement Ceremony, on June 20, 2015 at 10 am.
The Messenger 