Independence, Ohio – Top scholars at Independence High School have been recognized in two ceremonies.
A special dinner was held for the 24 senior students named summa cum laude and dozens more from across all grade levels were honored with gaining an academic letter for their performance.
The 37th annual academic excellence dinner was held in May 30 by the Independence Board of Education to celebrate the achievements of the 24 students nominated as summa cum laude.
“We celebrated the exceptional achievements of our top scholars who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence,” said Mike Janatovich, Independence High School Principal. “Their dedication and hard work are truly inspiring, and we are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”
He added the dinner served as a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of the Independence High School Class of 2024′s top scholars. The event was a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the invaluable contributions of its educators in shaping the lives of their students.
The Summa Cum Laude honorees included Cassandra Adams, Ally Biondi, Danielle Buyansky, Christine DiSalvo, Thomas Erdman, Joseph Jana, Landon Jatsek, Joseph Jirmasek, Wiktoria Kulesza, Stephanie Laskowski, Bryanna LeRoy, Camryn Mazzola, Mary McGreal, Khalil McDonald, Alana Nowak, Maggie Panichi, Mark Pillar, Ellie Polter, Emily Richards, Catherine Rieger, Gabrielle Rodriguez, Callia Shumay, Joseph Walchanowicz, and Matthew Wisniewski.
Each student also had the opportunity to honor a teacher, coach, or advisor who had been most influential in their educational journey at Independence Local Schools. The recognized educators included Jessica Crooks, Micki Dotson, Shawn Fahey, a CVCC teacher, Carol Fowler, Anna Gross, Jamie Hogue, Kyle Kovach, Scott Maretka, Bill McGuinness, Mike Morefield, Meg Popa, Scott Stasek, Darlene Stefanski, Jill Wagner, retired, and Eric Wells, retired.
Earlier in the month the school named students who had earned an academic letter by maintaining a GPA of 3.7 or higher for the first three quarters of the school year.
Janatovitch congratulated the students and said: “This academic letter represents your commitment to educational achievement. We are immensely proud of your hard work and serve as wonderful examples to your peers.”
“The academic letter recipients exemplify the passion for learning and spirit of excellence that makes Independence High School a standout educational community.”
Freshmen earning their letter were: Daniel Alrabady, Penelope Averre, Jose Caban, Alyssa Carriero, Carmen Chen, Benjamin Cober, Claire Dailey, Jamie Donovan, Kylie Hanobik, Giovanni Hasrouni, Julia Jurkiewicz, Robert Kalman, Noelle Kitagawa, Katelyn Ksiazka, Lilia Pawuk, Mia Percaciante, Alexandra Polcar, Sophie Polter, Melina Rodriguez, Rylee Shepard, Ryan Suhy, and Caden Wateska.
Sophmores earning a letter or pin for second year of achievement were: Matilda Averre, Brooke Balser, Samuel Bernhardt, Allison Bohrer, Gianna Carlucci, Vincent Carriero, Brooke Coldsnow, Lauren Dalrymple, Sam DiGeronimo, Matthew Dubitsky, Landon Eichler, Emily Gibbons, Rabecca Gibson, Elyse Grill, Owen Jenks, Anna Jirmasek, Matthew Jirmasek, Samantha Kandzer, Addison Kolar, Paul Kundmueller, Autumn Lasich, MaryAnne LeRoy, Matthew Liepert, Lindsey Lieu, Gianna Londrico, Nathan Lu, Tate McGovern, Gracie “Axl” Mindzora, Madelyn Mudra, Nora Olexa, Braden Owen, James Panichi, Brooke Patton, Sofia Pichert, Steven Polasko, Max Prosinski, Tatiana Randjelovic, Mia Ricotta, Liam Rienerth, Anderson Sears, Vitali Serediuk, Matthew Shamblen, Mae Sheehan, Lucy Spencer, Giada Spisak, Gabrielle Tokich, Brooke Vollman, Grady Wachs, Victor Walchanowicz, Megan Washington, Alexander Waski, and Haley Wilson.
Juniors earning the honor were: Nicholas Adams, Joanna Alrabady, Ian Babb, Anna Beacher, Jacob Butcher, Jonathan Chen, Samuel Crooks, Maria DeCapua, Keira Donovan, Molly Dubitsky, Madelyn Flynn, Anthony Freeman, Nina Funk, Sabrina George, Joseph Graham, Adrian Harb, James Kitagawa, Thomas Ksiazka, Isabella Makhlouf, Macey McGhee, Evan McNamara, Charles Meyer, Justin Mintz, Alberta Moreal, Emily Novak, John Ottaviano, Sam Pascarella, Alexander Patterson, Ryan Phan, Paige Priebe, Angelo Rodriguez, Linna Si, Ella Sliwinski, Sofia Smotek, Owen Szymanski, Marissa Taylor, Isabel Trombetta, Ronin Tschetter, Alexandria Velez, Avery Vilcheck, Dyanne Wang, Anna Waski, Mia Whieldon, and Aaron Zambito.
And seniors gaining an academic letter were: Cassandra Adams, Kenneth Aldridge, Andrew Becker, Nathan Bernstein, Ally Biondi, Eliza Botzman, Luke Burmeister, Adriann Buyansky, Danielle Buyansky, Christine DiSalvo, Alexander Eisenmann, Thomas Erdman, Matthew Hebert, Joseph Jana, Colton Jatsek, Landon Jatsek, Joseph Jirmasek, Amanda Kaufman, Nathaniel Kingzett, Jack Korinek, Wiktoria Kulesza, Stephanie Laskowski, Bryanna LeRoy, Camryn Mazzola, Khalil McDonald, Mary McGreal, John Paul Musni, Alana Nowak, Maggie Panichi, Aleeya Pavlick, Tobia Perfetti, Mark Pillar, Ellie Polter, Emily Richards, Catherine Rieger, Makena Rini, Jack Robson, Gabrielle Rodriguez, Isabella Rose, Callia Shumay, Wyatt Snyder, Raymond Sorace, Alainna Teare, James Vincent, Jacob Vitron, Joseph Walchanowicz, and Matthew Wisniewski.
