Keynote speaker: Students from Orleans County take ‘grit’ with them to college, new careers

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ted Lewis, president of the Lyndonville Board of Education, gives the closing message during the banquet on Tuesday. “A heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you,” Lewis said. “Thank you for inspiring your classmates, your teachers, and this entire community. Go forth, and make us proud. Leave your mark on the world, but most importantly, never stop learning, growing, and reaching for your dreams.”

LYNDONVILLE – The Top 10 graduates for the Class of 2024 in Orleans County’s five school districts were honored at a banquet on Tuesday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.

Albion returned to the event for the first time in more than a decade, joining Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina. Albion stopped being part of the Top 10 because the district did its own academic honors convocation celebration for students with GPAs at 90 or above. The district, however, wanted to get back to being part of the Top 10 dinner with the other schools in the county.

Callie Updike, a 2021 Holley graduate, gave the keynote address at the 38th annual Orleans County Academic Excellence Awards Dinner at the White Birch Golf Course. Updike has completed three years at Columbia University, an Ivy League college where she is studying film and creative writing. She plans to graduate in 2025 and then pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

The students, who will all graduate later this month, were praised for their hard work, and often late nights of study.

“We celebrate the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and a thirst for knowledge,” said Ted Lewis, Lyndonville’s Board of Education president. “You’ve pushed boundaries, excelled in your academics, and left your mark on your school and on this county.”

The keynote speaker for the event was a recent Top 10 grad. Callie Updike was the salutatorian for Holley in 2021. She was the class president, Student Council president, and was heavily involved in the school music program. She just completed her third year at Columbia University, majoring in film and creative writing. She expects to graduate from the Ivy League college next year and then will pursue a career as a screenwriter in television or film.

Updike said she was only 16 when she was accepted into Columbia in New York City on a full-ride scholarship. She and 12 percent of her classmates come from rural areas.

She sees that as an advantage. Most of her classmates haven’t ridden a four-wheeler or seen a cow. Many of her classmates come from tremendous wealth, with parents paying $60,000 a year – for kindergarten.

“Even if they have a fancier education than me, I would not change a single thing about the way I grew up,” Updike said. “My work ethic, my grit, my ability to relate to people, my appreciation for life and the opportunities I’ve been given because of growing up in Orleans County give me an advantage.”

She remembered attending the Top 10 dinner three years ago, and feeling a sense of fear – “the fear of letting people down, of growing complacent, of living a life I’m not proud of.”

Even now, after three years at Columbia and internships in NYC, some feelings of fear creep in, Updike said.

But her Orleans County roots steady her, and motivate her to not only pursue her dreams but want to help lift up other people.

“You are going to make beautiful, successful and happy lives for yourselves, as long as you believe you will and trust your determination will take you all the way,” Updike said. “There are things out of your control but if you take all the things you can control and make the best of them, as you have done so far, you will get where you need to be.”

The Albion Top 10 include, from left: Erin Weese, Gina Sidari, Lucy Rivers, Ella Papponetti, Meganne Moore, Kevin He, Jett Conn, Kayla Burgio and Jason Anstey. Missing from photo: Finnegan McCue.

The Top 10 in Medina include, from left: Scott Schultz, Baileigh McAdoo, Iyla Lilleby, Sawyer Kingsbury, Emma Jacobs, Layne Hodgins, Camryn Eick, Conor Crandall, Caiden Class and Alexander Balaban.

Kendall honored its Top 11 – 10 seniors plus a junior graduating early. From left include Nathaniel Smith, Hunter Richards, Christopher Nettles, Sarah Laitenberger, Lucas Jones, Paige Hardenbrook, Megan Gates, Louis Conte, Noah Clark, Hannah Brundage and Sophia Barnard-DeCann.

Lyndonville’s Top 10 include, from left: Tisha Zeitz, Elizabeth Whipple, Hannah Songer, Hailey Skowneski, Jocelyn Mack, Bradley Jisa, Austin Gardner, Katelynn Breeze, Daniel Barry and Madalynn Baker.

Holley’s Top 10 include, from left: Ryleigh Weader, Leigha Walker, Layne Walker, Kayla Neale, Gabriel Lindsay, Grace Fuller, Caitlin Dobri, Cavan Bennage and Jasmine Apicella. Missing from photo: Isabella Thom.

Elise Quincey

HOLLEY – Elise Quincey, a 2023 Holley graduate, has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship through the Spencerport Rotary Club.

Quincey is the recipient of the 2024 Spencerport Rotary Scholarship in honor of Roger Ressman. Quincey is a sophomore at SUNY Brockport majoring in sustainability and minoring in political science. She plans to become a global sustainability advocate on graduation.

Elise served as president of the Holley Interact Club last year and has been involved in community events for several years. As a member of SUNY Brockport Rotaract, Quincey participated in leadership, team-building and community service activities including the annual Canal Clean-up in April.

A colleague states that Quincey “shows enthusiasm for making a positive impact on her small-town community and beyond…Elise aspires to work collaboratively with communities and policy makers to develop legislation that will support the protection of our planet, focus on ending poverty, and promote the well-being for people of all ages.”

The Spencerport Rotary Club took over the Brockport Rotary scholarship after Brockport Rotary folded about two years ago.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans Hub held an awards program on Thursday evening at the Hoag Library, presenting plaques to “Outstanding Citizens” from 2023. We also presented two from 2021.

Pictured from left in front includes Susan Walders, Jenn Thom, Joe Gehl, Scott Christ and Annette Finch. In Back: Gary Kent, Brooke Kemblowski (accepting for her father Gary Derwick), Melisa and Jovannie Canales, Brett Sobrieski, Diane and Neil Valentine (parents of Evan Valentine). Missing from photo: Susan Oschmann.

Orleans Hub used to have an annual awards program to recognize our Outstanding Citizens that we pick for each year. These are people who pulled off a major community project or inspired others to take action on pressing issues.

We stopped having the awards program in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. Last night we were thrilled to have the winners back for a gathering. We also presented the awards for Annette Finch and Evan Valentine from 2021. Back then there wasn’t a bigger gathering and we wanted to give out those awards in front of other people.

Annette Finch retired in 2021 after working 44 years on the front lines of helping local people in need work through a crisis. Finch worked as director of emergency services for Community Action, a high-stress job where she managed food drives, toy drives and other events to bring in resources for people served by the agency.

Finch did a lot behind the scenes in helping people to not have utilities shut off and find emergency housing. She was a steady presence, a voice of encouragement and master problem solver for people in very challenging predicaments.

Evan Valentine of Holley pushed to finish his Eagle Scout project, despite being hospitalized with leukemia. He fought the disease for 2 ½ years and inspired the Holley community with his optimism and perseverance through it all.

Evan would pass away from leukemia on Feb. 21, 2021. His Eagle Scout project was dedicated on June 5, 2021. A team of scouts and volunteers follow his instructions and built a veterans’ wall around the war memorial in Holley by the Post Office and the American Legion. The stone wall includes a sitting area in front with an inscription, “Forever Remembered – Forever Missed.”

2023 Outstanding Citizens

• Three of the directors of the Albion Betterment Committee worked about a decade to raise money and work out the details for a new bronze statue in Albion in honor of Charles Howard, who started a school for Santas in 1937 that continued in Albion until his death in 1966. The school, which is now in Michigan, continues in Howard’s name.

Gary Derwick, Joe Gehl and Gary Kent launched an ambitious project to honor Howard with a bronze statue, which was unveiled on June 10 last year during the Strawberry Festival with many of Howard’s family members present. The Albion Betterment Committee has spent years honor Howard’s legacy, putting up “Believe” signs, convincing the state to name a portion of Route 31 in memory of Howard, and backing other projects promoting Howard, including two Santa murals in Albion.

The bronze statue was the biggest effort. They raised about $80,000 for the project and hired Brian Porter to create the statue in a likeness of Howard in his Santa suit.

• Pastor Jovannie Canales of the Oasis Church in Medina wants students to be well-stocked with supplies when the school year starts. He also wants their families to be connected to agencies and churches that can make their families stronger. For six years Canales has organized a Family Fun Day at Butts Park in Medina. The event attracted 600 people on Aug. 5. It has grown from the first one in a parking lot. Now there are musicians, many non-profit organizations, lots of free food, BMX bikers and skateboarders, many from the faith community, and numerous school supplies.

• Susan Oschmann pushed for two years to get new basketball courts at Bullard Park in ALbion, lining up fundraising and support for the project. Oschmann rallied the community, including basketball legend Roosevelt Bouie of Kendall, in getting two new courts complete. They opened on Oct. 26.

• Jenn Thom of Medina leads an organization – Operation Honor – that raises money for veterans. She has put on a 5K on Veterans’ Day on Nov. 11 since 2018 as one of the group’s biggest fundraisers.

Thom hasn’t served in the military. She runs an accounting business. Operation Honor is her way of serving veterans who she said sacrificed so much for the country. Many of those vets often find themselves in financial stress. Operation Honor is able to lighten that load whether covering utility bills, car payments, or purchasing heating pellets for veterans in need.

• Susan Walders has been determined to help senior citizens, especially those in nursing home and other care facilities, get outdoors and connect with nature. She sees bike rides as a great way to meet that goal.

Last year she was able to raise $12,000 for a new tri-shaw, a 3-wheeled bike with cushions for two passengers. She has formed a non-profit organizations, Cycling Without Age in Orleans County, with a board of directors.

The bike arrived in late August and Walders took it to The Villages of Orleans on Sept. 27 for the first bike rides, taking residents on a path behind the nursing home. She and her group of volunteers expect to be busy this year going to nursing homes and other care facilities for senior citizens and people with disabilities.

• Scott “Spanky” Christ brought back the Murray Tractor Pull last year after a four-year absence. There was a record-setting crowd of about 1,600 that watched the pulls on July 22, and raised $8,500 for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides hospitality for families with children fighting a serious illness.

Christ is part of a three-generation family that competes in tractor pulling. Christ drives “Just For Fun” in the Super Farm Class and is regularly among the points leaders in that class for the Empire State Pullers. His father Lloyd drives his Heavy Super Stock tractor, “It’s Only Money,” and Scott son’s Travis also competes in the Super Farm Class with “No Expectations.”

• Brett Sobieraski ran a marathon every day for 50 straight days, honoring the memory of Rochester police officer Anthony “Maz” Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022.

Sobieraski, a retired Rochester police sergeant, lives in Kent. He started his “8 States for Maz” jounrey in Florida and worked his way up to Rochester, going 26.2 miles a day.

Sobieraski sought to raise $100,000 for Mazurkiewicz’s family and topped that goal. Along the way he inspired people in the eight states.

Sobieraski said he wanted the officer’s family to feel love and respect from the community, and know Maz’s life of service is deeply appreciated. The response was far more than Sobieraski could have imagined. In the last 5K of the final marathon, 850 people joined him in Rochester.

Provided photo: Kelli Dingle of Albion holds her winning design.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

ALBION – Congratulations to Kelli Dingle, an Albion junior in the Graphic Communications program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

She was recently informed that her submission for the 2024 Taste of Buffalo Tops Poster Art Contest not only was selected for the First Prize winner for the 13 to 17-year-old age category, but also the Overall Grand Prize winner.

She will receive $1,000 for her prize money and her artwork will be used in the creation of the official Taste of Buffalo poster!

“I am so proud of Kelli,” says her Graphic Communications teacher Karen Krull.  “She is an amazing artist, extremely talented and has so much potential. This is very exciting.”

Photos and information courtesy of Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District: A team from Lyndonville won the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon on Wednesday. The team was from Mrs. Wronski’s class, and students included Maddie Baker, James Giarla, Molly Ingersoll and Jocelyn Mack.

LEWISTON – A team from Lyndonville Central School was first among 12 schools and won the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon on Wednesday at the Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.

The team was from Mrs. Wronski’s class, and students included Maddie Baker, James Giarla, Molly Ingersoll and Jocelyn Mack.

The team from Lyndonville also won the Oral Presentation, Current Issue, and Soils portions of Envirothon.

Twelve teams of high school students competed from Albion, Brockport, Christian Academy, Lewiston-Porter, Lockport, Lyndonville, Medina, Newfane, Niagara Academy, Niagara Falls, Niagara Wheatfield, North Tonawanda, Royalton Hartland, Starpoint, Wilson, Niagara Career & Technical Education Center, and Orleans Career & Technical Education Center.

Teams of four to six students in grades 9-12 were tested on wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and a current environmental issue.

This year’s current issue is Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.  Students had to develop a theoretical plan for a school district to help reach renewable energy goals and present for a panel of judges to grade.

The overall winners for Niagara County are from Niagara Orleans County Career and Technical Center. They are from Mr. Kaplewicz’s class, and students include Alex Achtziger-Hughes, Samantha Maciejewski, Miles Manns and Alyssa Nagel.

Roy-Hart’s team from Mr. Sweeney’s class won the Aquatics portion, students included Cayla Burch, Mackenzie Diamond, Vanessa Grant, Joshua Kennedy, Clara Wojciechowski and Adam Yanicki.

A second team from Niagara Orleans Career and Technical Center won the Forestry and Wildlife portions. Students included Shane Beaton, Devin Carney, Cole Handrich, Dakota Ward and Ava Vanoni.

The overall county winners will move on to represent their county at the NYS Envirothon later this month at SUNY Cortland.

A special thank you to this year’s event sponsors M&T Bank, NewRoyal Orchards, and the NYS Forest Owners Association – Niagara Frontier Chapter for providing breakfast, lunch, and Envirothon shirts for the students.

Exams and proctoring were provided by the Aquarium of Niagara, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and both Soil and Water Conservation Districts from Orleans and Niagara counties.

Vic DiGiacomo of the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee came to discuss future conservation careers and opportunities with students.

The Niagara-Orleans Envirothon is a yearly event for county high school students presented by Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District and Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Envirothon is an environmental competition on different aspects of natural resources.  It gives students hands-on experience and knowledge of the environment to understand how to protect and manage the natural resources around them.

For more information about Envirothon visit www.envirothon.org or www.nysenvirothon.org.

To participate next year please reach out to the Niagara County Soil & Water Conservation District at (716) 434-4949 ext. 4 or email Katherine.pfeifer@ny.nacdnet.net.

Provided photo: Brooke Wells of Lyndonville, a student at Niagara County Community College, is recognized with SUNY’s highest honor for Academic Excellence by John B. King Jr. (left), chancellor; and William Murabito, president of NCCC.

LYNDONVILLE – A local resident has received the State University of New York’s highest honor for academic excellence.

Brooke Wells, daughter-in-law of Jim and Valerie Wells of Lyndonville and a nursing student at Niagara County Community College, was recognized April 11 for her outstanding traits of leadership, campus involvement and community service.

Brooke will complete her registered nurse degree at NCCC in May. While a student in the rigorous registered nurse program, she has served as vice president of the Student Nurses’ Association. She also organized collection drives for Niagara Falls Gospel Mission, Caroline House, Oishei Children’s Hospital and Niagara County Sheriff’s office’s domestic violence unit. In addition, she has facilitated guest speakers and fundraisers with bake sales at the college.

“This was such a wonderful surprise,” Valerie said.

Dr. Julie Woodworth, professor of nursing at NCCC, said, “Brooke has dedicated many hours to her studies in pursuit of her RN degree. She has exemplified the traits of compassion, clinical judgement and empathy in her clinical practice. In addition, she has immersed herself in the NCCC community and has organized those activities and dedicated her time the community. Brooke’s recognition with the SUNY Academic Excellence honor is well deserved.”

Outside of school, Brooke completed an internship program, getting real life experience in healthcare. As a result, she received an EXCEL Certificate of Excellence award from Rochester Regional Health.

After graduating from NCCC, Brooke will be entering the Nursing Residency Program at Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Provided photo: Dr. Michael Weyrauch (Orleans/Niagara BOCES Director of Continuing Education, Career and Technical Education and Instructional Services), Susan Diemert (Literacy Specialist) and Colleen Osborn (Board of Education President) accept the Magna Award in New Orleans.

Press Release/Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES was one of the grand prize winners in the 29th annual Magna Awards program sponsored by the National School Boards Association’s flagship magazine, American School Board Journal.

This year, the Magna Awards recognize school districts and their leaders for their innovative, out-of-the-box thinking to address district challenges. Members of the NSBA Board of Directors Awards Committee selected the winners from district submissions.

“The Magna Awards spotlight innovative programs that are making a difference for students and the communities where they live,” said NSBA Executive Director and CEO Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs. “From providing incarcerated individuals with essential job readiness training and hope for the future to preparing students for the ever-evolving landscape of careers through specialized programs, each of our grand prize-winning programs exemplifies the transformative power of education. These award winners serve as shining examples of what can be achieved when creativity and dedication intersect in the pursuit of excellence.”

There were three grand prize-winning programs and Orleans/Niagara BOCES won in the Under 5,000 enrollment.  The local BOCES was recognized for their Corrections Literacy and Job Skills: A Second Chance program provides incarcerated students and adults the opportunity to take classes and training to increase their chance of employment after release at Niagara County Jail. (You can view a movie about the jail program at this link: https://youtu.be/S24fyIe8Cac.)

Representatives Orleans/Niagara BOCES Board of Education – President Colleen Osborn, Literacy Specialist Susan Diemert and Director of Continuing Education, Career and Technical Education and Instructional Services Dr. Michael Weyrauch – were presenters at NSBA’s Annual Conference in New Orleans in April and were featured in the 2024 Magna Awards video. All winners will be highlighted in the April issue of ASBJ at www.nsba.org/asbj.

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association’s (NSBA) purpose is to ensure each student everywhere has access to excellent and equitable public education governed by high-performing school board leaders and supported by the community.

With members spread across the United States, the Virgin Islands, and Canada, NSBA is the only national organization representing school boards. Along with its member state associations and member public school districts representing locally elected school board officials serving millions of public school students, NSBA believes that public education is a civil right necessary to the dignity and freedom of the American people and that each child, regardless of their ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, identity, or citizenship, deserves equitable access to an education that maximizes their individual potential.

Provided photo: from left include Colleen Osborn (Orleans/Niagara BOCES Board of Education President), Tricia Andrews (NYSSBA Area 1 Ambassador), Bill Rakonczay and Nicole Goyette (Orleans Career and Technical Education Center Principal).

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Orleans Career and Technical Education Center’s Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering teacher Bill Rakonczay was recognized by the New York State School Boards Association at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Board of Education meeting on April 10.

Mr. Rakonczay was presented with the prestigious award: Champions of Change. The award was created by NYSSBA to highlight the positive programming that brings change to students, communities and the school districts of New York.

Mr. Rakonczay was brought to their attention through E-Clips and an article that was written about him and his program. A committee chose Mr. Rakonczay’s program and Clarence School District Board of Education member, Awards and Recognition Committee member and NYSSBA Area 1 Ambassador Tricia Andrews came to the board of education meeting to present a recognition banner to Mr. Rakonczay.

Over a two-year period in his class, students are exposed to Computer Numerical Machining, Computer Aided Design and Welding Technologies.  Students experience how technology interacts in a real manufacturing environment in labs and local industries.  His students have manufactured parts for the International Space Station with NASA’s HUNCH program.

“I am so honored to have received this award,” said Mr. Rakonczay.  “I love what I do and this recognition means the world to me. I am looking forward to many more years of teaching at BOCES.”