Notre Dame

Notre Dame lost in first round playoffs to the Clyde-Savannah Golden Eagles by 41 to 20.

It was a cold night in Clyde but the Golden Eagles offense and defense were both red hot in the first half of the game, out scoring Notre Dame 28 to 0. Consistent ground drives by the Golden Eagles and two interceptions by their defense put Notre Dame behind.

The second half was a different story. Notre Dame scored 20 points to Clyde’s 13. The offense was able to move the ball on the ground and air, and ended the game with nearly twice as many offensive yards as Clyde, but a total of six interceptions made a come-from-behind win impossible.  

More pictures of the game are here http://jimburns.org/p574779137#h5e40d0f5

Christina Volpe, who scored 23.5 points and 15.8 rebounds per game to help lead the 1999 Lady Irish to a 25-1 season and a state championship in 1999, has died at age 34 at home in South Carolina.

Volpe apparently succombed to cardiac arrest. The cause of her heart attack is unknown.

James Johnson, high school sports reporter for the D&C, has a lengthy and well-done story about Volpe posted this morning.

Press release:

Notre Dame High School is sponsoring a program about good manners for all fifth- through eighth-grade students at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. This interactive program is presented by Beverly Thomas, founder of Buffalo-based Etiquette for a New Generation.

Etiquette for a New Generation's programs focus upon skills to help individuals succeed in the classroom, at home, in the world of business or in a college interview. Application of these manners and skills leads to increased opportunities, greater confidence and improved self-esteem.

Topics to be covered include: Communication Skills, including cell phone etiquette, Social Etiquette, Self Image, Creating a Personal Preference and Elements of Good Sportsmanship.

Notre Dame High School is located at 73 Union St. in Batavia. Cost is $10 per student and includes lunch. Please call 585-343-2783, ext. 100, for more details and to make reservations.

Press release:

The Business Teachers Association of New York State awards the Julian A. Milkes Award for Outstanding New Business Educator each school year. Notre Dame High School is proud to announce that its Business Teacher, Lindsay Warner, is the recipient of the 2015 award.

The Julian A. Milkes Award recognizes exemplary efforts of new business educators early in their careers. Individuals must have made significant contributions to Business Education through some combination of program development, professional association activities, professional contributions (through presentations/publications), and civic and community involvement. They will have been involved in innovative, unique and novel programs and have shown extraordinary professional commitment early in their careers.

Retired principal Joseph Scanlan, Ph.D., said “Mrs. Warner has brought Business Education into the new millennium at Notre Dame High School.”

Lindsay’s hard work and diligence have resulted in Notre Dame obtaining college course accreditation for three high school business courses she currently teaches in conjunction with Genesee Community College.

“She is a mover and shaker who teaches business courses using real life business applications," Scanlan said. "Course requests for the courses she teaches are off the charts as the word has traveled quickly that her classes are indeed the real deal."

Warner also masterminded her senior-level marketing class’s participation in the Virtual Business Competition held at GCC in March. The Notre Dame “Cupcakery” team captured four first-place awards and one for second in the competition with 12 other regional schools. She planted the seed, encouraged them to do their best and oversaw their efforts.

Warner has also started a quality shadowing experience program, which is placing interested juniors and seniors in real-life career opportunities during the school year and summer vacation.

A Notre Dame High School graduate, she received her master's in Education from Nazareth College in 2009. She holds a NYS Professional Certification in Business and Marketing Education. She lives in Le Roy with her husband, Jeremy, and two young sons. Congratulations to Lindsay on this prestigious award!

Press release:

From 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, Oct. 18^th Notre Dame High School will hold its annual Fall Open House for prospective students. Everyone is invited to come “Experience the Difference” of a Notre Dame education.

Teachers will be on hand along with many clubs and sports coaches. The Notre Dame experience is affordable for all, financial aid and scholarships are available.

Notre Dame is a Catholic school with a physically and emotionally safe learning environment welcoming to all. Our Tradition of Excellence continues with a graduation rate of 100 percent for the Class of 2015, with 100 percent attending college earning $4 million in scholarships.

Please join us to learn more about our small school community with big school possibilities. The school is located at 73 Union St. in the City of Batavia. Phone is 343-2783.

Stroll, twist, and jive your way to "Let's Go To The Hop!" -- an old-fashioned sock hop dance organized by Notre Dame High School, the Batavia Peace Garden, and the ARC of Genesee and Orleans Counties.

Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed and to the best dancers! And what's a sock hop without having it in a gym? Student volunteers from Notre Dame High School will be decorating the gymnasium for a 1950s dance, complete with streamers, lights and a balloon arch.

Live music will be provided by The Union Blues, playing all of your favorite hits from the '50s and '60s, including songs by Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and the Comets, and much more! 

In addition, the ARC culinary program will have a buffet featuring root beer floats, hamburgers, soft pretzels, and more for just $5 per person. All proceeds from the buffet will benefit ARC programs.

Tickets to the dance are $10 general admission and $5 for anyone 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at the following locations: Roxy's Music Store (228 W. Main St., Batavia), the Holland Land Office Museum (131 W. Main St., Batavia), from any Peace Garden volunteer or from any member of The Union Blues. Ticket sales are limited to the first 400 people! For more information, call 585-757-2451.

Maya Rademacker tries out a drunken driving simulator during a stop at Notre Dame High School of the Save a Life Tour while her classmates look on. The tour also lets students test their abilities, and learn from their failures, while driving distracted. The drunken driver simulator delays the response of the steering wheel, gas and braking to help provide students with what they might experience if driving while over the legal limit.

Here's a press release from Notre Dame that explains more about the program:

One of the most dangerous temptations our teens drivers face today is distracted driving. Whether it is a text, a call or finding a song on their phone, doing it while driving is not the right decision. Parents of Notre Dame (POND) felt strongly that the students at the school needed to know these dangers. Since this past Spring they have been working to bring in a program to educate the students about the dangers of distracted driving.

“We found the Save a Life Tour online and found they had been at another local school. After speaking with the administration at that school, they highly recommended the program,” said Arna Tygart, POND president. “Since then we have been working to raise the money and set a date to bring this important program to our school and today is the day."

The Save A Life Tour Distracted Driving and Alcohol Awareness Program starts with a general assembly for all students, then students will come down by grade level to experience the hands on exhibits and driving simulators.

“This will give them the real life experience of distracted driving, but without the danger,” Tygart added.

Principal Wade Bianco was right on board with bringing the program to Notre Dame.

“In an effort to continue to provide an emotionally and physically safe environment for our students, and help them build skills that they can use as they navigate the complex world they live in this is the right program for them," Bianco said.

POND added a couple of fundraising events specifically marked to fund this program.

“We would like to thank the community for their support of our fundraising efforts that help to bring these important programs to our students,” Tygart said.

In a rare volleyball matchup, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Batavia Blue Devils met on Batavia's home court Tuesday night as part of the school's homecoming week events. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Batavia squad wore purple socks and headbands.

At first the two teams played nearly even score early on, then Notre dame pulled away to take a 17-12 lead. Batavia took a timeout and settled down, but were soon down eight points and lost by a final of 25-18. 

The second set was a little different. Batavia took the lead early and went up 8-7, with the two teams swapping leads throughout the match. Batavia held on for the win 25-22.

Batavia’s Head Coach Jeremy Mettler said “I challenged them to play harder defense and more aggressive serving and they stepped it up in game two, which led us to victory."

In the third set Batavia rallied early going up 4-1 but then Notre Dame went on a hot streak scoring the next six points. Batavia took a time out. Mettler talked with his team about a few fundamentals and encouraged his players to relax and just play volleyball.

Notre Dame Head Coach Rhonda DiCasolo, with more than 40 years experience coaching, told her players to stop giving away points, get their serves over and not let the crowd get to them. Notre Dame held the lead by eight points most of the set, eventually winning 25-16.

Down two sets to one, Batavia needed a win in the fourth set and never gave in. Down by four early, they rallied and tied the score at six apiece. DiCasolo told her squad to settle down.

"Our passing had to get closer to Mary Cate so she can run the offense," DiCasolo said. "We ran a couple plays that were effective, sparked them to get back on track and started going back to the hitting. I told them to stop the tipping.

"We picked it up. They were scrappy. They were taking everything we were giving them, so I told them to go with our power hitters, Shea Norton, Becca Krenzer and Taylor DiMartino."

Notre Dame took the lead and led the middle of the set and was up 19-15 when Batavia called time out.  

Mettler said Notre Dame is a good team. Mettler told his team to play hard, work hard and hit their target with their passes.

Batavia battled, but Notre Dame held the lead and eventually won 25-17 to take the night three sets to one.

"Tonight’s crowd was awesome on both schools that brought tons of kids out to support their schools," Mettler said. "It was one of the most fun games I have coached in the Batavia High gymnasium. We missed a couple crucial serves here and there in the fourth set.

"Notre Dame played well and they didn’t let up. We kept swinging at them and attacked. We didn’t give up and we fought to the end."

Batavia’s stats:

Tessa Engel -- 15 digs, seven kills & two aces

Taylor Stefaniak -- six digs, 12 kills & two aces

Maddie McCulley -- 10 digs, two kills & 18 assists

Courtnee Yasses -- six aces

Notre Dame's stats:

Shea Norton -- 27 kills, six digs

Mary Cate Miceli -- 28 assists, 13 digs

Rebecca Krenzer -- eight kills

Lexi Gerhardy -- nine digs, five kills

Batavia’s record is now 6-7 and the team plays its next game at home today vs. Greece Olympia. Notre Dame improves to 10-1 and plays away tomorrow at Holley.

For more photos visit to: Steve Ognibene Photography

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played their homecoming game under the lights Saturday night, defeating the Pembroke Dragons 34-7.

The Irish are now 4-0 on the season and alone atop the Genesee Region standings, with Attica losing this weekend to University Prep. 

Notre Dame and Attica square off Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. in Attica.

Against the Dragons, Notre Dame amassed 383 total offensive yards, with 360 coming on the ground. 

Jack Sutherland had 26 carries for 252 yards and three touchdowns. Peter Daversa added another 74 yards and a TD on 10 carries. Etan Ozborne had a rushing touchdown and 33 yards on five rushes.

Connor Logsdon was 3-6 passing for 23 yards, no TDs and no interceptions.

For Pembroke, Reid Miano was 6-12 passing for 105 yards and a TD. Jake Jasinski had 18 rushes for 21 yards. Zack Swank had four receptions for 93 yards. Zach von Kramer had Pembroke's lone TD reception.

On defense, C.J. Suozzi had six and a half tackles, Jake Weatherwax and Etan Ozborne had four apiece. Ozborne also had a sack. For Pembroke, Brian Seweryniak had seven, Dylan Miserantino six and a half, Brandon Kowalski, six, von Kramer, five and a half, and Jack Thomas, five.

At halftime, Notre Dame honored Bill Sutherland, a former head coach who won 111 games, eight GR titles and four Section V titles in 23 seasons. He's been with the school for 41 years. He's a member of the Notre Dame High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Section V Football Hall of Fame. Standing alongside Sutherland is his nephew, running back Jack Sutherland. Presenting the award is current Head Coach Rick Mancuso along with Athletic Director Mike Rapone.

To purchase prints, click here.

Genesee Region Division Notre Dame traveled to Elba Saturday afternoon to battle division rivals the Elba/Byron Bergen Lancers. The rain held off for a warm and windy conference game in which both teams ran 43 plays. The difference in the final score of 29 to 8 was in the rushing. Notre Dame rushed for all of their TDs for a total of 273 yards vs. a game total of 33 rushing yards for the Lancers. After a closely contended, scoreless first quarter Notre Dame was in position to score at the very beginning of the second quarter.

Above, #32 Jack Sutherland’s final effort of a six-yard run is ruled a touchdown by the officials.

The Lancers battled back with an impressive drive ending in a #12 Hochmuth pass to #5 Flores for a 36-yard gain and TD. Followed up by a two-point conversion run by #42 Stevens.

The Lancers led the game for only a few minutes because Notre Dames answered with another TD run by Sutherland and two-point conversion pass from #10 Connor to Sutherland. And so the game progressed with Notre Dame in control through a scoreless third quarter. Notre Dame added 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Sutherland would see the end zone one more time as would #42 Peter Daversa with an 11-yard run.

A couple of late turnovers kept the game interesting and the Lancers always seemed poised to come back but failed to capitalize on a few key plays.

More picture of the players and game are here: http://jimburns.org/p254710282#h587e117d

The Pembroke Girls Varsity Soccer Team had an impressive 4-0 shutout in last night's game against Notre Dame. The girls scored three goals in the first half and added another in the second.

http://francletography.photoshelter.com/gallery/2015-09-17-Notre-Dame-at-Pembroke-Varsity-Girls/G0000zxKjlQPb8qo/C0000o8qnIUWIJ3w

In a key early season Genesee Region matchup, Notre Dame beat Alexander 34-14.

Alexander scored first on a 14-yard run by Jake Wozniak. Notre Dame scored twice in the second quarter, making it 12-8, on a two-yard run by Peter Daversa and a 44-yard run by Jack Sutherland.

Alexander tied the score early in the third quarter on a fumble recovery in the end zone by Josh Hylkema.

The rest of the game was all Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish scored on a 51-yard run by Sutherland, a one-yard dive for a TD by Sutherland, and Deversa scored on a one-yard run.

Alexander finished with 172 yards of total offense to 307, all on the ground, for Notre Dame.

Sutherland gained 185 yards and Deversa had 104. For Alexander, Wozniak rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries.

C.J. Suozzi had nine tackles and Dane Meberlein, 12, and Hunter Marzolf had nine for Alexander.

Suozzi punted twice for 69 yards.

In other Genesee County football this weekend:

• Attica beat Pembroke, 36-0
• Geneseo beat York/Pavilion, 34-28
• Elba/Byron-Bergen beat Holley, 60-14
• Le Roy beat Dansville 28-0 (We should have photos from this game some time tomorrow.)
• Previously: Photos: Batavia beats Cardinal O'Hara 32-8

To purchase prints of photos, click here

Apparently, Le Roy hasn't missed a beat. With a new head coach, new defensive cooordinator, first-time starter at QB, the Oatkan Knights started off 2015 in familiar territory -- by winning.

Le Roy beat Letchworth/Warsaw, in the first game for the two merged programs, 42-7.

The bulk of the offense came on the legs of Nick Eggling, who rushed for 255 yards and four TDs on 20 carries.

Josh Laurie, in his debut as the varsity starter, was 3-4 passing for 19 yards. He rushed 12 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns.

Dom Filio carried the ball seven times for 60 yards and Nate Flint nine times for 51 yards. Single receptions were recorded by Jason Doemling and Ryan Boyce.

On defense, Reed Kacur had nine tackles, Egeling, six and Filio five.

Also in Genesee County's Friday Night Football action:

Alexander beat Finney 47-14. Senior running back Jake Wozniak rushed for 290 yards on 19 carries. He scored four TDs. Dane Heberlein gained 80 yards on 13 carries, with two TDs, and QB Jared Brown had a TD pass of 15 yards to Derrick Bushe and had a two-point conversion through to Dustin Schmeider. 

Notre Dame beat Oakfield-Alabama 26-12. For Notre Dame, Connor Logsdon was three for six for 54 yards passing. Allen Chatt, QB for the Hornets, was 18-33 for 305 yards and a TD. For the Irish, Jack Sutherland ran 29 times for 185 yards with three touchdowns. Peter Daversa ran 12 times for 93 yards with one touchdown. For the Hornets, Sal Schwable had five receiptions for 73 yards, Austin Fisher, one for 71 yards, Jon Harris, three for 66 yards and a TD, Reice Woodward, four for 57 yards and Josia Yantz, four for 34 yards.  Defensively for Notre Dame, C.J. Souzzi had seven tackles as did Casey Midwick. For O-A, Gage Dieterie, seven-and-a-half tackes. Jon Harris, Cameron Smith had seven each, Sal Schwable, six and a half, and six for Josiah Yantz.

NOTE: Section V had an error on the schedule for today's games. Elba/Byron-Bergen hosts Pembroke at 7 p.m. at Byron-Bergen.

Photos by David Boyce.

Any season that Notre Dame doesn't make sectionals might seem like a disappointing year, but Head Coach Rick Mancuso doesn't look on 2014 that way at all for his squad.

"Disappointing? No. We were building all they way through the season and I thought we got better every week," Mancuso said. "I think we're just going to take from last year, where we built to, and keep building going forward here."

All but two of last year's starters are returning this year, and from the looks of things the 2015 team is bigger and stronger.

"We have lot more experience," Mancuso said. "It makes it a lot easier, what we're trying to go through, what we're trying to teach them and we don't have to go over a lot of things. We're a lot sharper. We're fine-tuning more than coaching from the base up."

Key returners include CJ Suozzi at tight end, Ethan Osborne at full back, and half-back duties will be split between Peter Daversa and Jack Sutherland. Mancuso has yet to name his starting QB.

"We have a great group of kids," Mancuso said. "Our linemen look great. They've spent a lot of time in weight room since November and starting to show. I
really think our conditioning is probably the best we've seen in the long time."

It will take a record of 5-2, maybe even 6-1 for a spot in the post-season. It will be a week-by-week, game-by-game effort to get there, Mancuso said, but he seems to like his team's chances.

Notre Dame High School ranks in the Buffalo Business First's top 15 percent of all secondary high schools in Western New York for eight consecutive years.

For 2015, Notre Dame ranked 17th out of 136 secondary high schools in WNY. The school was also rated the No. 1 secondary school in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties and No. 1 private catholic coeducational high school in WNY for eight consecutive years.

In athletics, the Fighting Irish interscholastic athletic program ranked 10th for two consecutive years and No. 1 in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans counties.

"I have to stay that I'm very proud of our students," Principal Joseph Scanlan said. "They work very hard and you don't get to achieve those kind of accomplishments without hard work. I'm proud of our teachers, faculty and staff. They have high expectations and encourage our students to do the best and it's paying off."

Every year Business First ranks schools based on academic performance. All the schools are judged in areas including regents exam scores, graduation rates and levels of diplomas.

For math and science regents' scores, the school received a 5 out of 5 recognition. For English regents scores, the school received a 4 out of 5 recognition.

"The tradition has been students are going to come here and do a good job in school and their going to be leaders and give back to the community," Scanlan said. "Put all those things together and they line up with results like we got."

Notre Dame's Class of 2015 Valedictorian Abigail Bleier and Salutatorian Natalie Moulton were ranked in the top 100 academic students in WNY. Each of the 40 graduating students are headed off to college and received $4.5 million in scholarships.

Other high schools in Genesee County that were in the top 100 high school ranking included Oakfield-Alabama, Elba, Alexander, Byron-Bergen, Pavilion, Batavia and Le Roy. For a complete list of all the high school rankings, click here.

Press release:

The Batavia Lions Club recently presented its annual scholarships and awards for the 2014-2015 school year.  

Each spring, several graduating seniors at Batavia High School and Notre Dame High School apply for these scholarships, are interviewed by a committee of Lions Club members, and are chosen to receive $1,000 toward their college education. In addition, selected students from each high school are awarded the Art Roth Fine Arts Award and the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award.  

The final award is the Batavia Lions Club Award in Communications, which is presented to a Genesee Community College student in memory of two former Lions and local media legends – Paul Bostwick, the former managing editor of the Batavia Daily News and James H. Gerrety, the former news director of WBTA.

During the high school football season each fall, members of the Lions Club man the food stands at each stadium to sell snacks during each home game.  The proceeds are used exclusively for the scholarship and awards program.

Genesee Community College’s Jenna Wozniak won this year’s Batavia Lions Club’s Award in Communication.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.

Top photo: Notre Dame’s 2014-2015 winners are (including Retiring Principal Dr. Joe Scanlon (L) and Athletic Director Mike Rapone (R): Emma Francis, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, Anna Spring, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award, and scholarship winners Lydia Moens and Anna Warner.

Bottom photo: This year’s Batavia High School winners are from left: Samir Jain, winner of the Bill Cook Scholar Athlete Award, scholarship winners Madison Kabel, Mica Pitcher, Katie Kesler, Allison Della Penna, and Ava Haitz, winner of the Art Roth Fine Arts Award.

Thursday, Batavia Kiwanis honored the top students at Notre Dame High School.

Top photo: The Top 10 -- Emily McCracken, Olivia Marchese, Janelle Fancher, Lindsey Bender, Lucas Hull, Dennis Bleier, Abigail Bleier [Valedictorian], Anna Spring, Natalie Moulton [Salutatorian], and Emily Vandenbosch.

Photos and info provided by Joseph Scanlan, Ed.D.

Theresa Kehl, ND Vocal, Instrumental and Drama Society director, with Anna Spring ’15, who earned the Instrumental Award, Lydia Moens ’15, who earned the Vocal Award, and Anna Warner ’15, who earned the Citizenship Award, and Kiwanis President Theresa Asmus.

Notre Dame High School held its 2015 commencement ceremony Saturday evening at the school.

Several students and supporters of the school received honors and awards during the ceremony.

The valedictorian was Abigail Bleier and the salutatorian was Natalie Moulton.

Anna Warner was named Woman of the Year and Joseph Falkowski III, Man of the Year.    

National Technical Honor Society Memberships went to Emma Francis and Emily Vandenbosch.

Special recognitions awards were:

• Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education: Phil and Sally Bleier
• Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School, Julie Mancuso and Jerry and Carm Reinhart

After the jump (click on the headline or the link below), more awards, more information on the special recognition awards and the concluding remarks by Dr. Joseph Scanlan, who officiated his final Notre Dame graduation with his retirement at the end of this school year.

John Fix hugs his son Dylan while Lorie Fix reacts to the moment.

To purchase prints, click here.

 

ND Class of 2015 “Top Ten” Academic Students

• Abigail Bleier – Valedictorian
• Natalie Moulton – Salutatorian
• Olivia Marchese
• Janelle Fancher
• Dennis Bleier
• Lucas Hull
• Anna Spring
• Emily McCracken
• Lindsey Bender
• Emily Vandenbosch 

National Honor Society members:

• Kristian Bank
• Lindsey Bender
• Abigail Bleier
• Dennis Bleier
• MaryBernadette Bochicchio
• Olivia Clark
• Audrey DiMatteo
• Joseph Falkowski III
• Janelle Fancher
• Kathleen Fischer
• Dylan Fix
• Rosemary Flumerfeldt
• Chase Hughes
• Lucas Hull
• Olivia Marchese
• Emily McCracken
• Paige Misiti
• Lydia Moens
• Natalie Moulton
• Taylor Perzia
• Marin Phillips-Reinhart
• Anna Spring
• Emily Vandenbosch
• Anna Warner

The 2015 Anima Christi (Spirit of Christ) awards:

• Abigail Bleier
• Dennis Bleier
• MaryBernadette Bochicchio
• Audrey DiMatteo
• Joseph Falkowski III
• Janelle Fancher
• Kathleen Fischer
• Dylan Fix
• Lucas Hull
• Emily McCracken
• Lydia Moens
• Natalie Moulton
• Caleb Nellis
• Patrick Spear
• Emily Vandenbosch
• Lana Votypka
• Anna Warner
• Joseph Zickl

Remarks delivered on the Special Recognition Awards:

This year it is our distinct privilege at Notre Dame High School to recognize two [2] individuals and two [2] couples for their meritorious dedication and service to Notre Dame High School  . . . and Catholic education in general. Their tireless "behind-the-scenes" efforts and positive contributions to the ND community serve as examples of “Leaders who Serve” to all of us at ND -- Board members, administration, faculty and staff, students, parents and alumni.

Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education 

Our first award recipients will receive the Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education. This year’s recipients have been staunch supporters of Catholic Education for many years in both word and action. 

No matter the venue -- whether it was supporting Catholic education at the former Holy Family Elementary School in Le Roy or here at Notre Dame High School -- this couple could always be counted on to volunteer at the drop of a hat to promote and foster Catholic education in the greater Genesee-Orleans County area.

No task was too big or too small for this couple to accomplish . . . whether it was serving as a members of the Holy Family School Home School Association and supporting fundraisers to promote Catholic Education at the Elementary level or serving as members of POND and/or the Chairperson of our ND Board of Trustees Technology Committee -- this year’s recipients have set the bar high – in keeping with our ND Mission statement of “developing leaders who serve” - when it comes to serving others. Staunch supporters of the Catholic education system, they have supported Catholic education by providing their children:  Abigail and Dennis – members of this year’s graduating class -- with the opportunity for a Catholic education throughout their formative years at Holy Family and at Notre Dame High School.

Please join me in recognizing this year's recipients of the prestigious Msgr. Eugene F. Kolb Award for Outstanding Contributions to Catholic Education  . . . Phil and Sally Bleier  . . . Congratulations, Phil and Sally.

Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School

Our next recipients – one individual and one couple -- will be receiving the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School. They have also been individuals that could always be counted on to lend a hand if anyone needed help at ND! 

The first recipient of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award began her educational career as a student in the Syracuse City School District where she graduated from Henniger High School prior to receiving a degree in Travel and Tourism from Niagara University.

In keeping with our ND Mission Statement of “Developing Leaders who Serve” her never ending dedication to the students of ND has come in many forms. She was one of the initial founders of POND [Parents of Notre Dame] where she helped to organize our annual “welcome back” family picnic, and teacher appreciation day – which eventually turned into teacher appreciation week. She also ran the ND Book store for ten [10] years and worked many a Darien Lakes concert fundraiser in order to provide scholarships to deserving ND students.

No task was too big, or too small, for her to accomplish. She always approached any task at hand with a positive, "can do" attitude, and never once looked for individual recognition in the process. She truly serves our students as a role model and an example of the ideals which we expect all ND graduates to aspire to. 

Please join me in recognizing this year's recipient of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to Notre Dame High School . . . A proud parent  along with her Board of Trustee husband Rick of 5 ND grads –[ Morgan ’01, Alexandra ‘03’ , Ricky ’05,  Patrick ‘08 , and Madelyn ‘14]  . . . Mrs. Julie Mancuso! Congratulations, Julie!

The next recipients of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award have contributed endless hours of dedicated service to ND  . . . most recently playing key roles in support of our current $5 million dollar Notre Dame “Faith in the Future” Capital Campaign as honorary Co-Chairpersons.

No task was too big or too small for this couple to tackle . . . this couple has always been the first to answer the call for assistance with a “can do” attitude whether at ND or in the Greater Batavia area. Collectively, they have served as advocates for ND’s original capital campaign in the early 2000’s for upgraded lab facilities and energy efficient windows as well as being generous benefactors and, as previously mentioned, Co-Chairs of our current capital campaign. 

Additional roles that these soon to be honorees have played currently include membership on the ND Board of Trustees, the UMMC Hospital Board as well as past membership on the Saint Jerome Guild and CASA Boards. 

Please join me in recognizing this year’s recipients of the Msgr. David P. Herlihy Award for Outstanding Contributions to ND High School. . . . The proud Grandparents of Class of 2015 member Marin Phillips-Reinhart  . . . Jerry and Carm Reinhart!  Congratulations, Jerry and Carm Reinhart!

Reverend David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the ND Image in the Community

This year's recipient of The Father David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the Image of ND in the Community -- a member of our 50 year anniversary class being honored at today’s graduation -- actively supported his Alma Mater until his untimely death on September 11, 2014.

Identified as a “die hard” Notre Damer, whose devotion to his Alma Mater was legendary, this year's award recipient never forgot his ND or Batavia roots and truly "bled blue and gold" as evidenced by the following memories shared by his sons Alex and Christopher:

His youngest son Alex remarked in a recent e-mail that “ND was more than just a high school to my father, it represented his family, his upbringing and much of his moral compass . . . My Dad always put his family and friends above his own desires, and that selflessness started at ND . . . ND and the education he earned [here] were more than just a platform for success , [rather] it was a launching pad for his philanthropic and selfless life of service to others."

His oldest son Chris remarked that there “were few things which his Dad spoke of with such fondness more than his Notre Dame experience. ND is firmly part of his heart and soul and forever will be there.”

His early years in education were spent right in our own backyard at the former St. Mary’s Elementary School here in Batavia.  . . Upon graduation from ND in 1965 -- where he was a stellar student-athlete and Student Council President as a senior - he went on to St. John Fisher College where he would graduate with a degree in Political Science in 1969.

Banking and the world of finance were in his blood. . .  It didn’t take him long to successfully rise through the banking ranks throughout his professional career, eventually securing the position of CEO of Hudson City Bankcorp -- one of America’s nationally renowned leading lending agencies based in Paramus, NJ.

It was at Hudson City where he drew national attention as Mad Money’s George Bailey “National Banker of the Year” while helping Hudson City earn the Forbes Magazine Best Managed Bank Award in the U.S. in 2007, the same year that he was recognized by St. John Fisher College with the Bittner School of Business Excellence in Management Award. 

Notre Dame High School owes a deep debt of gratitude to this year’s recipient, his lovely wife, Kris, and the Hermance Family Foundation for their ongoing track record of “paying it forward” by providing financial assistance to countless ND families in need of tuition assistance, in turn, making the ND experience a reality for these families over the last eleven [11] years here at ND. 

Please join me in recognizing the 2015 recipient of the Reverend David J. Scheider Alumni Award for Promoting the Image of ND in the Community. . A 2010 Notre Dame High School Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and a dear friend and member of the ND Class of 1965 . . . Mr. Ronald E. Hermance Jr.! 

Accepting this prestigious award tonight on behalf of Ron and the Hermance Family Foundation will be Ron’s wife and Batavia native, Kris Brown Hermance, and Ron and Kris’ daughter, Emily. . .Congratulations!

Dr. Joseph Scanlan's concluding remarks:

I would  . . . in conclusion . . .  like to thank all of the parents, grandparents and extended family members of this year’s graduating class . . .  as well as the members of the ND faculty and staff and student body, and alumni from the ND Class of 1965. . . who have joined us today, for the support that you have given this year’s graduates – and Notre Dame High School – during their four years as students here.

This year’s class has left its mark on ND – academically, athletically and from a “service to others” perspective. To date, the Class of 2015’s collective membership has earned academic scholarships in excess of $4.5 MILLION DOLLARS for their future collegiate careers!!! 100% of the Class of 2015 will be college bound in the Fall of 2015.

In keeping with our ND Mission statement of “Developing Leaders Who Serve," the Graduating Class of 2015 has volunteered 2,300 community service hours to help others in need.

Members of this class have earned NYS Scholar-Athlete status 57 times over their varsity student-athlete careers, as well as having garnered 21 GR league championships, 12 Section V championships and 2 NYSPHSAA State Championships – One in Softball [2012] and the other in Girls Basketball [2013].

The Class of 2015 has played a key role in the ongoing notoriety that Notre Dame High School has gained in Western New York as a result the annual Buffalo Business First report on Secondary Schools. During their freshmen, sophomore and junior years, this year’s graduates have contributed to the following milestones:

• The # 1 ranked Private Catholic Co-Educational HS for the 7th consecutive year in a row in Western New York [as well as achieving];
• The #1 Academic High School in Genesee, Wyoming and Orleans Counties for the 7th consecutive year;
• A “Top 15%” ranking in all 135 secondary schools in WNY – both  for the 7^th consecutive year.

Our prediction is that the Class of 2015 will have had a great deal to do with the continuation of these accolades at ND when Buffalo Business First releases their 2015 rankings on Friday, June 12.

Continue to spread the word – Notre Dame High School is alive and well and here to stay!

To our newest alumni – members of the Class of 2015 – Congratulations on a job well done! Good luck to you in your future. Stay true to Our Lady and the ideals you’ve learned at ND! 

With this word of congratulations, so ends our 61st annual graduation ceremony at ND. Thank you for coming and for your ongoing support of Notre Dame High School!