Every year, select graduating students from the Diocese of Allentown Catholic high schools and special learning centers, as well as select eighth graders from the parishes across the Diocese, are recognized for their exceptional academic and faith-based achievements at the Bishop’s Catholic Scholar Society Awards.
The event, held annually to honor students “who demonstrate the beliefs of a Catholic education, by exemplifying the tradition of excellence based on Christian values,” brings together families to honor these students. This year, $125,000 in scholarships were presented to the honorees as raised by the Because We Are Catholic Annual Appeal.
This year the event was held at Bethlehem Catholic High School on April 26. Master of ceremonies was Sam Malone, CAT Country 96. Father Stephan Isaac, Chaplain of Bethlehem Catholic High School, began the ceremony with an opening prayer.
“We thank you [Lord] for the gift of your Church and the gift of Catholic education,” Father Isaac began. “Bless and protect all our beloved students, especially these recipients today of the Bishop Scholar Awards. Please bless and sanctify their families.”
Father Isaac also asked for the prayers for Pope Francis whose funeral was held prior to the ceremony.
Madelyn Araniego, a freshman at Bethlehem Catholic High School, sang the National Anthem. Dr. Dean Donaher, Principal of Bethlehem Catholic, gave the welcome.
“The students recognized in this program have demonstrated exceptional academic ability, leadership qualities, and a deep sense of purpose,” said Donaher. He quoted Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things from Christ who strengthens me.” He described how, aside from their academic skills, these students have set themselves apart by being rooted in faith and empowered by the grace of God.
Dr. Michael St. Pierre, Superintendent of Catholic Education for the Diocese, spoke of how this ceremony not only recognizes achievements in faith and academics, but it is also a time to recognize the hope around us and to show gratitude for that. “This morning, we are honored to award over $100,000 in scholarships to students who have excelled, not only academically, but who lead with kindness and serve others with their whole heart.”
Special Learning Center Awards were given to one student from each of the three special learning centers to help them continue their Catholic education:
- John Paul II Center for Special Learning, Shillington: Jeremy Adame
- Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown: Carlos Morales
- St. Joseph Center for Special Learning, Schuylkill Haven: Ben Shellhamer
- Two seniors from each of the six diocesean high schools were awarded a Catholic High School Awards scholarship to help them in their pursuit of higher education:
- Allentown Central Catholic High School: Theresa Gasser and Lucas Mushrush
- Berks Catholic High School, Reading: Aloyska Gonzalez and Amado Morales
- Bethlehem Catholic High School: Ruthie Tocci and Rhys Santiago
- Marian Catholic High School, Tamaqua: Alyssa Porambo and Connor Rehnert
- Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville: Carleigh Palmieri and Samuel Spolski
- Notre Dame High School, Easton: Tina Andreano and Andrew Shupe
Malone invited all the eighth-grade students to line up to be awarded their Bishop’s Catholic Scholar scholarships to pursue their high school education at one of the Catholic high schools in the Diocese.
“The selection committee reviewed each student’s application which included their academic achievements, leadership skills, integrity, ability to work with others, activities and service to their school, parish and community, and a recommendation received by their teachers, principal, and their pastor,” said Malone of each of the recipients. These students and their parishes are:
- Alexander Aguilar of Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena
- Giuliana Agures of St. Joseph the Worker
- Madison Antolick of Holy Rosary
- Yulian Badia of St. Paul
- Auriella Bechtel of Divine Mercy
- Ella Bones of St. Richard
- Lilly Brigido of Assumption BVM
- Adrianna Carocci of St. Thomas More
- Lola Carrizo of Notre Dame of Bethlehem
- Aaliyah Carter of Divine Mercy
- Tyler Coad of Holy Family
- Juliette Cortez of St. Jane Frances de Chantal
- Jaliyah Cosme of Holy Infancy
- Nicholas Costa of Notre Dame of Bethlehem
- Siobhan Crews Notre Dame of Bethlehem
- Joseph D’Angelo of St. Catharine of Siena
- Ty Dawson of Queenship of Mary
- Jenayla Delpino of Holy Infancy
- Kohen Draper of St. John Baptist de la Salle
- Caroline Dunn of Saint Anne
- Shaun Echevarria of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Emma Elias of St. Joseph the Worker
- Cole Felty of St. John the Baptist
- Colin Fitzpatrick of Assumption BVM
- Dina Flynn of Holy Guardian Angels
- Nicholas Gallagher of Immaculate Conception BVM
- Alexander Garcia of Holy Infancy
- Gisella Geremia of Holy Trinity
- Madelyn Ann Glessner of Holy Guardian Angels
- Lauren Gloria of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Edison, Gomez, Jr. of St. Margaret
- Ivann Gonzalez of Sacred Heart
- Emily Goodman of Holy Family
- Ella Grabowski of St. John the Baptist
- Theodore Groucutt of Immaculate Conception BVM
- Janelys Gutierrez of St. Margaret
- Anthony Hauser of St. Ignatius Loyola
- Carly Hill of St. Catharine of Siena
- Calyssa Hodgskin of St. Anne
- Makayla Hoole of Holy Family
- Zachary Huber of St. Jane Frances de Chantal
- Aiden Jacob of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Carleen Johnson of Sacred Heart
- Joshua Kahr of St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Cash Lee Kalkiewicz of St. Joseph the Worker
- Sarah Karwejna of St. John Baptist de la Salle
- Kylie Kisenwether of St. Joseph
- Owen Kunkel of Assumption BVM
- Casey Lagodney of Holy Family
- Margaret Langan of Holy Trinity
- Joshua Lanza of St. Ignatius Loyola
- Reagan LeClair of St. Joseph
- Piper Lerch of Holy Family
- Selina Lin of St. Catharine of Siena
- Isabella Link-Spiess of St. Charles Borromeo
- Brady Loftus of St. Clare of Assisi
- Crystel Lombaida of St. Paul
- Emily Lorence of Holy Cross
- Benjamin Manning of Holy Family
- Harold Marks, IV of Holy Family
- Samaria Martinez of Holy Infancy
- Jillian Maruscak of Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Luca Massa of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Levi McCullion of Immaculate Conception
- Jacob Mills of St. Patrick
- Madelina Moyer of Sacred Heart
- Liana Mulero of St. Ann
- Andrew Mummey of St. Richard
- Ana Mushrush of St. Thomas More
- Jason Nguyen of St. Paul
- Tessa Nistal of Saint Anne
- Alexandra Pangaio of Queenship of Mary
- Brody Peiser of Holy Rosary
- Jiovani Peña of St. Peter the Apostle
- Ariana Perez of Notre Dame of Bethlehem
- Joey Pickel of Saint Anne
- Eddie Puello of Holy Infancy
- Isabelle Quiros of Assumption BVM
- Grace Rinaldi of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Francesca Roberts of St. Ignatius
- Loyola Maria Rodriguez of Holy Infancy
- Saray Rodriguez of St. Joseph
- William Rosado of Holy Infancy
- Maxzim Salce of Notre Dame of Bethlehem
- Alison Schearer of Holy Guardian Angels
- Joanna Scheide of Assumption BVM
- Colin Sedora of St. Joseph the Worker
- William Sharkazy of St. Joseph the Worker
- Ava Stankavage of Holy Cross
- Jensen Stewart of St. Joseph the Worker
- Alexander Stoves of St. John XXIII
- Abigail Marie Strauss of St. Patrick
- Lillian Swauger of St. Jane Frances de Chantal
- Bentley Swiatek of Assumption BVM
- Roy Sword of St. John XXIII
- Daniel Trezise of St. Clare of Assisi
- Francis Uhrin of St. Clare of Assisi
- Abby Upanavage of St. Joseph
- Hatangimana Vincent of Holy Infancy
- Alexandra Visco of St. Joseph the Worker
- Alice Walton of St. Catharine of Siena
- Silvana Ward of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
- Adam Zawisza of St. Ambrose
- Alexandra Zellers of Holy Guardian Angels
Bishop Schlert closed the ceremony with some remarks. “To our Catholic Scholars, for many of you, this may not be the only award you are receiving at this time of year,” said Bishop Schlert. “This is the time of year of many different awards, academic awards, athletic awards, awards for the arts, awards for service and community involvement….
“You can receive lots of awards based on your scholarship, but this is a Catholic Scholar Award. I would like us to focus on the word Catholic because, you see, scholarship is easily measured. The Catholic part is not easy to measure.
“This is given [to you] for you being a Catholic Scholar, for living your faith, for promoting your faith, for making His name a part of your daily life and letting Him influence your decisions. You’ve chosen to live in a way that’s noticeable to love as a disciple of Jesus Christ.”
By Jennifer Russel
Photo by Nick Chismar.
