St. Mary School Swormville -

JOSEPH MICHAEL AMEDIO - Joey joined the class in 2nd grade. His volunteer work includes food collection for St. Vincent de Paul, cleaning the church, and the 5th grade book drive, as well as making cookies for those in need at Christmas with the honor society. He was active in school sports including baseball, basketball, swimming, and track, and also participated in chess club. Joey enjoys participating in school musicals, particularly comedic roles. Joey served his class as secretary this year and is also quite proud of his induction into the National Junior Honor Society. Joe is receiving award for effort in math. Joe will be attending Canisius High School in the fall where he has earned a scholarship. Joe received the President’s Award For Academic Achievement at graduation.

MICHAEL SHANE CARVER - Michael began at St. Mary’s in Kindergarten. His volunteer work includes working on food drives, cleaning the church, helping out with vacation bible school, and Christmas cookie baking for the less fortunate. Michael is often seen at school and weekend Masses in his role as an altar server. Michael is very active on our school sports teams including baseball, basketball, hockey, swimming, and soccer, many of which he has participated in for several years. He was inducted into the St. Mary School chapter of the National Junior Honor Society and is also an Ignatian Scholar. Michael is receiving awards for effort in algebra and improvement in PE. Michael will be receiving the Pedro Arrupe scholarship from his high school of choice, Canisius High School. Michael received the Charism of Mary Award and the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at graduation.

GIANNA NOELLE CHARLAND -Gianna joined SMS in Kindergarten. She has been a very active volunteer during her time here helping out at VBS and the St. Mary’s Parish Picnic, making cookies for those in need, as well as being an altar server for school and parish Masses since 5th grade. Gianna is an active athlete and participated on our swim, soccer, and basketball teams throughout her years. She has also participated in school musicals, the fall play, art club, and girl scouts. Gianna is a co-president of the class of 2026, and is receiving an award for excellence in religion, excellence in PE, effort in social studies, outstanding initiative in ELA, and the Magnificent Musician Award. Gianna was also honored to receive the very prestigious St. Thomas More award last year for the essay she wrote. Gianna will be attending Sacred Heart Academy in the fall where she received the faculty and staff scholarship. Gianna received the New York State Comptroller’s Achievement Award, the President’s Award For Academic Excellence, and the Leah Bellito Sportsmanship Award at graduation. She is also a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

OLIVIA JAYNE D’ANDREA - Olivia has been part of the SMS family since she began in Montessori. She has volunteered over the summer for our parish Vacation Bible School, as well as volunteering at Cradle Beach Camp. She was also a part of the 8th grade cookie baking project. Olivia participated on our girls’ volleyball team and played soccer for the school as well. She also enjoyed participating in art club. Olivia is very proud to have earned several virtue awards throughout her years at St. Mary’s. She is receiving the award for excellence in social studies, effort in art, and improvement in health. Olivia has been awarded the Alumnae Scholarship in memory of Caesarina Diminello Carderelli, and will be attending Sacred Heart Academy in the fall. Olivia received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement, and the Sister Sheila Anne Burke Memorial Award at graduation.

ABIGAIL LYNN DONOHUE - Abby joined St. Mary’s in the 2nd grade and could always be counted on for a smile or a helping hand. She volunteered helping out with food drives, the Jared Box project, cleaning the church, and baking Christmas cookies for those in need. Abby enjoyed playing on our soccer and volleyball teams. She enjoyed participating in the school musicals and attended art club. Abby is an excellent artist and has won the Knights of Columbus poster contest many times. She also won 2nd place in the Knights essay contest last year. She is receiving the award for excellence in art. Abby is looking forward to attending Sacred Heart Academy next year. Abby received the Charism Of Mary Award, and President’s Award For Academic Achievement at graduation. She was also named as one of the HSA Essay Contest winners.

ADAM THOMAS FERRELLI - Adam has been a part of SMS since he was 3 years old in Montessori. During his years here he was an altar server, ran children’s games at the church picnic, assisted in coaching and volunteering for Hasek’s Heroes, the Boy Scout food and clothing drives, cleaning the church, serving as color guard for an HSA meeting, VBS counselor, and National Junior Honor Society cookie baking. Adam enjoys athletics and participated on our basketball, baseball, soccer, track, and bowling teams, as well as on the combined hockey team with St. Greg’s. Adam was also busy with many extracurricular activities including Scouts, art club, chess club, musicals/drama club, National Junior Honor Society, and being on the math competition team. Adam served his class as co-president for the 2025-2026 school year. He is receiving the writing award in ELA, excellence in algebra, effort in Spanish, excellence in PE, and the magnificent musician award. Adam was also proud to receive two Diocesan Character Education awards as nominated by his peers, and is an Ignatian Scholar. Adam has chosen to attend Canisius High School where he received the Fr. Arrupe Scholarship for $4,500 per year. Adam also received the New York State Comptroller’s Achievement Award, and the President’s Award For Academic Excellence at graduation. He is on the Principal’s Honor Roll, was named as an HSA Essay Contest winner, and is also our salutatorian this year, with an average of 99.03%.

MARGARET RHYS MACDIARMID - Margaret is one of the more recent additions to the class, joining in 3rd grade. She has been a very active volunteer during her time here, helping out at VBS, and the St. Mary’s Parish Picnic, as well as helping to clean the inside and outside of the church. Margaret was also instrumental in the coordination of the SPCA service project. She enjoys staying active and was on the swimming, basketball, soccer, bowling, and volleyball teams. She also enjoyed attending art club. Margaret received the improvement award in PE and a virtue award for faith. Margaret received a four year scholarship for $20,000 from Nardin Academy where she will be attending in the fall. Margaret is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and received the President’s Award For Academic Achievement, as well as a Knights of Columbus $500 scholarship for being the highest scoring female student on the 8th Grade Capstone Project.

LYDIA JANE MARREN - Lydia has been a part of the class of 2026 since Kindergarten. She is an active volunteer, acting as an altar server since 5th grade, as well as cantoring at school and parish Masses. She has also volunteered at the Parish Picnic and Chowder Chase, helped organize the Jared Boxes service project and deliver them to Children’s Hospital, has volunteered in many ways through her participation in the Amherst Skating Club, and of course, baked Christmas cookies with the National Junior Honor Society. Lydia also participated on the swim, track, basketball, soccer, and volleyball teams. She was also active in the drama club and the art club. Lydia earned a Diocesan Character Award as nominated by her peers. Lydia is receiving an award for improvement in science and effort in PE. She also received 2nd place in this year’s Knights of Columbus essay contest. She is proud to have been on the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout middle school, and will be in the Honors Program next year at Mount St. Mary Academy where she will be attending high school. Lydia received several scholarships from the Mount including the Daughters of Mount Saint Mary Academy for $500, the Alumnae Association Scholarship for $1,000 for each of the 4 years, and the Founders’ Scholarship for $18,000. Lydia also received the New York State Attorney General Triple “C” Award, and the President’s Award For Academic Excellence at graduation. She is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and on the Principal’s Honor Roll.

JACK STEVEN NOAH - Jack has also been with this class since he was 3 years old in Montessori.Jack volunteered by participating in food collection for St. Vincent de Paul, cleaning the church, the 5th grade book drive, as well as the National Junior Honor Society baking project. Jack was active in many sports at St. Mary’s including baseball, basketball, swimming, and track. He was also a member of the track club and the drama club. Jack was also inducted in the National Junior Honor Society last year. This year Jack is receiving an award for improvement in algebra. Jack earned a scholarship from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, where he will attend in the fall. Jack is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at graduation.

KINGSTON DAVID PAPKE - Kingston started at St. Mary’s in Kindergarten. Kingston volunteered for the parish at Vacation Bible School, the St. Agnes project, all 8th grade class projects, other SMS summer camps, and also as an altar server. He participated in many sports including swimming, soccer, basketball, track, and bowling. This year, Kingston broke 5 school swimming records that had been held for over 20 years, and holds a record in the Neumann Catholic Swim League. He was a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and attended art club. He was also accepted into the UB Gifted Math Program, and has placed in the top 3 for the Knights of Columbus poster contest. Kingston is receiving awards for excellence in ELA, excellence in social studies, excellence in biology, excellence in Spanish, and excellence in health. Kingston received the St. Francis Xavier scholarship for $5,500 from Canisius High School where he will attend in the fall. Kingston is on the Principal’s Honor Roll, received the President’s Award For Academic Excellence, and the Principal’s Award at graduation. He was also named as an HSA Essay Contest winner, and is our valedictorian for the class of 2026, with an average of 99.33%.

HENRY RICHARD SENDLAK - Henry also started his educational career at St. Mary’s in Montessori as a 3 year old. Henry volunteers as an altar server, a St. Mary's Parish Picnic children’s games volunteer, helping with the SPCA 8th grade service project, and of course, baking cookies with the National Junior Honor Society. He was very active in sports while here and was on the swim team, bowling team, basketball, soccer, and track teams. Henry was also involved in drama club, chess club, and band. Henry was also part of the National Junior Honor Society, was on the Principal's Honor Roll, was accepted into the Brother Pompian Honors Academy at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute. Henry received awards for effort in biology, excellence in technology/makerspace, and effort in art. Henry was offered the St. Joe’s Signum Fidei Scholarship for $6,000 per year, as well as the legacy grant for $1,000 per year at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute where he will attend in the fall. Henry received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence, and a Knights of Columbus $500 scholarship for the highest scorning male student on the 8th grade Capstone Project at graduation.

BRUK TEDROS TAFFERI - Bruk joined St. Mary’s in 1st grade. A few years later, his family left for a job overseas and Bruk returned to his class at the end of last school year like he had never been away. Bruk participated in the 8th grade service projects and cookie baking with his classmates. He also played soccer with our St. Mary’s teams for all of the years he was eligible to play, as soccer is one of Bruk’s passions. He is receiving an award for effort in health. Bruk will be attending Canisius High School in the fall, and received the Loyola Grant Award, Jed Dietrich, esq. ‘87 Award, and Colleen Dietrich, esq. Endowed Scholarship. Bruk also received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement at graduation.

ABNER LEVI TALARCZYK - Abner began at St. Mary’s in Kindergarten. He participated in all of the 8th grade service projects, including cleaning the church and baking cookies. Abner was also an active member of the basketball, soccer, and track teams during his time at SMS. He also has a hidden talent for Ninja Warrior. Abner proudly placed in the Knights of Columbus Citizenship Essay Contest. Abner is receiving an award for excellence in math, and he received the Loyola Grant Award for $4,000 from Canisius High School where he will attend in the fall. Abner is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, and received the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at graduation.

GRACE HARPER WASHO - Grace joined St. Mary’s in 1st grade. Grace participated in all 8th grade service projects, and delivered gifts to needy families through the St. Agnes project which she felt was one of the most meaningful experiences she has had. She was also one of our excellent 8th grade bakers, and was often found caring for younger students throughout the school, and especially in her faith family. Grace participated in the weekly middle school bible study and was in the drama club. She participated on the St. Mary’s volleyball team and loved getting friends together to practice volleyball during recess as well. Grace is receiving awards for improvement in ELA, excellence in biology, improvement in math, and improvement in music. Grace is excited about attending Sacred Heart Academy in the fall. Grace received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement at graduation.

AUSTIN MINGZHEN XU - Austin is the newest addition to our class, joining us for his 8th grade year. Austin jumped right into St. Mary School and participated in all of the 8th grade service projects, including baking Christmas cookies. Austin plays the violin and we all enjoyed his talents at our Christmas program. Austin also participated in drama club with a role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Although Austin wasn’t on any sports teams, we learned at the 8th grade vs. Teachers volleyball game that he really knew how to serve a ball! Austin is receiving awards for improvement in technology, improvement in Spanish, improvement in art, effort in PE, and effort in ELA. Austin will be attending Williamsville East High School in the fall. Austin received the New York State Attorney General Triple “C” Award, and the President’s Award for Academic Excellence at graduation.

ANDREW MICHAEL ZGODA - Andy joined the class in Kindergarten. He participated in the 8th grade service projects, but spent most of his time working on the St. Agnes Project. Andy enjoyed baking cookies as well. He was a member of our baseball, basketball, and soccer teams at St. Mary’s. Additionally he enjoyed participating in morning intramurals, art club, the musical, and chess club. He also did well in the Knights of Columbus Essay Contest. Andy received the poetry award in ELA. He has been accepted to Canisius High School where he will attend in the fall, and received a scholarship. Andy also received the President’s Award for Academic Achievement at graduation.

The following families also received awards from our HSA (Home School Association) for their dedication & service throughout their time at St. Mary School:

• The Ferrelli Family

• The Amedio Family

• The MacDiarmid Family

• The Sendlak Family

• The Noah Family

We are so proud of all of our new graduates! Click here to see more photos of our award winners and the Graduation Mass.

From our Principal, Mrs. Tristan D'Angelo: This is an amazing class, and it’s hard to believe that their time here is over. I’m sure there were times when you never thought this day would come. But you made it. Just remember, you can’t do it alone. Although many of you are going in different directions, St. Mary’s will always unite you. You will always have each other and the teachers, staff, and priests here will always be on your side. And most importantly, remember that you always have your faith. Never forget the lessons learned here, the prayers, the silly songs during Rise and Shine, Captain Disciple making appearances, the special homilies that our priests shared to help us understand how we should live, and most of all that Jesus loves each and every one of you and will always be there for you!