Trio of teachers, dozens of students honored at Golden Apple Awards Mass

Just two days before Ascension Thursday, the Gospel reading during a special Mass celebrated inside St. Amelia Church in Tonawanda recalled Jesus Christ telling His disciples of his imminent departure from them. 

“Isn’t this similar to what you do as educators and formators?” asked Bishop Michael W. Fisher during the following homily.

That question was posed to teachers in attendance at the Golden Apple Awards Mass, held Tuesday evening, May 27. Three teachers were being honored by Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Schools for their exemplary work in the classroom and community.

“The Golden Apple Award honors a teacher who goes above and beyond in their dedication to education and the Catholic faith,” explained Julie Gajewski, assistant superintendent of academic services for Catholic Schools. “This award celebrates a teacher who brings the Catholic faith to life in the classroom, shows a strong commitment to professional development, engages and excites students about learning, and collaborates with the school community. This teacher exemplifies the values and mission of our Catholic schools through their exceptional contributions and positive impact on students and the school.”

Following the Gospel reading, from John, Bishop Fisher spoke of the relevance of the passage, as educators were now less than a month from saying goodbye to their students as the school year winds down.

“I’m sure many of you at this time of the year feel a certain sense of sadness, maybe grief, of letting go of those students who you have taught and grown with, for some maybe through their whole childhood,” he said. “But now you must let them go to that next transition in life for them to grow and to mature.

“My dear friends, our Gospel is showing us that Jesus has to ascend to the Father so that he can send the Holy Spirit to empower each one of us in our mission and our call, our call to spread the Good News, to seek the truth and to lead that life of virtue,” the bishop continued. “You let your students go at this time, maybe some of you from grade school, eighth grade onto high school, maybe some from high school now on to college, and maybe some from college into our world today. At some point we have to leave, leave it to them to take what you have taught them, so that they can again spread their wings and increase and nurture that holiness and that faith and that seeking of truth that each one of them has been given.”

Following Mass was the presentation of the Golden Apple Awards. Denise Amato of SS. Peter & Paul School in Williamsville, Mary Lou Plesac from Southern Tier Catholic School in Olean, and Mary Makar from St. John the Baptist School in Kenmore are this year’s honorees.

Just before they were introduced, new Catholic Schools Superintendent Joleen Dimitroff offered remarks, joining the bishop and others in an expression of gratitude to the teachers, and also students and their families.

“Thank you so much for entrusting your children to us. They are so special, and I certainly cannot wait to watch them grow through my tenure here as superintendent in heart, mind and spirit and Catholic faith,” Dimitroff said. “Most importantly, tonight, I want to thank our wonderful teachers who are being recognized. Thank you so much for your dedication and hard work. Also, to all of our students that are here today, keep your faith and be a good person.”

Dozens of students were honored as well, receiving certificates in recognition of their nominations throughout the school year for virtue and character awards. 

“In our Catholic schools, we strive to form students who live, learn and lead as disciples of Christ. Our monthly focus on both virtues and character traits represent key aspects of our faith and personal development, which guides our mission,” Gajewski said.

The students were called up based on the month for which they were honored. Here is the full list of honorees who were recognized at the Mass:

September – Faith & Welcoming

Nativity of Mary – Connor Plessinger

Nativity of Our Lord – Josephine Randle

Notre Dame Academy – Emma Chase

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Aurora Kirk

Queen of Heaven – Coralyn Comerford

St. Amelia – Bianca Alderson

St. Christopher – Audriana Phoenix

St. Gregory the Great – Rosemary Sendlak

St. John Vianney – Grace Modzelewski

St. Joseph Regional School – Graham Stein

St. Mary Swormville – Manny Ruiz

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Abigail Johnson

St. Stephen – Benjamin Gallegos

October – Honesty & Sportsmanship

Nativity of Mary – Aleza Zimdahl

Nativity of Our Lord – Maya Roussev Scott

Notre Dame Academy – Shaylyn Murphy

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Francis Pham

Queen of Heaven – Riley O’Neil

St. Amelia – Grayson Opoka

St. Christopher – Rocco Zanassi

St. Gregory the Great – Louisa Baritot

St. John Vianney – Leah Timms

St. Joseph Regional School – Austin Culliton

St. Mary Swormville – Lydia Marren

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Elaina Petko

St. Stephen – Natalia Curry

November – Stewardship & Service

Nativity Mary – Jack Spear

Notre Dame Academy – Connor Law

Queen of Heaven – Benjamin Davis

St. Amelia – Sicily Benintende

St. Christopher – Autumn Tessier

St. Gregory the Great – Patrick Horner

St. John Vianney – Emma Grace Targia

St. Joseph Regional School – Delia Yunker

St. Mary Swormville – Liam Rowley

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Colette Chouchani

St. Stephen – Theodore Miller

December – Generosity & Appreciation

Nativity Mary – Melina Barbarosa

Nativity of Our Lord – Ben Miranda

Notre Dame Academy – Ava Dufrense

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Nora Rafoth

Queen of Heaven – John Ward

St. Amelia – Grayson Mantione

St. Christopher – Jayde Rae

St. Gregory the Great – Robert Glazer

St. John Vianney – Lorenzo Pattacciato

St. Joseph Regional School – Dahlia Plimpton

St. Mary Swormville – Francesca Mineo

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Sophie Gian

St. Stephen – James Sutherland

January – Gratitude & Determination

Nativity Mary – Mariella Hoertz

Nativity of Our Lord – Angelina Moran

Notre Dame Academy – Padriac Allman

Notre Dame Academy – Connor Bradley

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Daniel Gostylo

Queen of Heaven – Jessica Kreppel

St. Amelia – Riley Gawrys

St. Christopher – John Simonian

St. Gregory the Great – Carina Mirabella

St. John Vianney – Jason Gravius

St. Joseph Regional School – Olivia Boehly

St. Mary Swormville – Logan Suttell 

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Ava Klein

St. Stephen – Nicholas DeNora

February – Reverence & Inclusion

Nativity of Our Lord – Olivia Gloss

Notre Dame Academy – Ava Pahl

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Kassidy Jay

Queen of Heaven – Jacob Ridgway

St. Amelia – Elias Gruhalla

St. Christopher – Gabriella Olivero

St. Gregory the Great – Juliana Cornell

St. John Vianney – Ilyana Rose

St. Joseph Regional School – Mabel Murphy

St. Mary Swormville – Shannon Terrill

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Aria Hora

St. Stephen – Veah Cabin

March – Mercy & Sacrifice

Nativity of Mary – Walter Greene

Nativity of Our Lord – Evie Gradwell

Notre Dame Academy – Jacob Rosado

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Charles Mercuri

Queen of Heaven – Brooklyn Hayes

St. Amelia – Carena Savoia

St. Christopher – Sophia Durno

St. Gregory the Great – Dora Peer

St. John Vianney – Eliana Watson

St. Joseph Regional School – Everleigh Dailey

St. Mary Swormville – Isabella Costello 

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Evelyn Zarcone

St. Stephen – Allyson Miller

April – Justice & Problem Solving

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Julie Glaub

Queen of Heaven – Jacob Setter

St. Christopher – Brynn Niedermier

St. Gregory the Great – Nathan Moss

St. John Vianney – Evelyn Haslinger

St. Joseph Regional School – Owen Ford

St. Mary Swormville – Olivia Gualtieri

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – McKenzie Cedro

St. Stephen – Lucas Saldana

May – Zeal & Optimism

Nativity of Mary – Abby Hartman

Nativity of Our Lord – Aislin Ragan

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament – Teagan Aiken

Queen of Heaven – Jack Bevilacqua

St. Christopher – Mariana Gregson

St. Gregory the Great – Dominic Glamuzina

St. Joseph Regional School – Lexi Anderson

St. Mary Swormville – Grace Kisailus

SS. Peter & Paul, Williamsville – Aubree Schwertfeger

St. Stephen – Rory Caver