Board of Education honors 43 students, 5 staff members with Certificates of Excellence

The Board of Education recognized and honored the following BCSD students for their outstanding achievements and accomplishments during the February 9th meeting:

Writing Awards:

Their work was reviewed and recognized by a panel of creative professionals and honored for its outstanding originality, skill and emerging personal voice and vision.

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized some of the nation’s most celebrated artists and writers while they were teenagers, including Stephen King, Amanda Gorman, Andy Warhol and many more. We are proud to count our students among this esteemed group of alumni.

A special thank you to our dedicated teachers for inspiring, mentoring and supporting our students’ creativity every step of the way.

Ella Bateman, 11th Grade

Short Story, “Madam Morrigan” – Silver Key

Flash Fiction, “The Voice” – Silver Key

Madison Leonard, 12th Grade

Flash Fiction, “Forever with You” – Gold Key

Carmela Budzich, 10th Grade

Short Story, “Memories” – Honorable Mention

Alexander Kachiros, 12th Grade

Flash Fiction, “The Bloodless” — Silver Key

Cooper Reynolds, 10th Grade

Flash Fiction, “Whispers” – Silver Key

Leonardo Anderson, 10th Grade

Flash Fiction, “His eyes” – Honorable Mention 

Art Awards:

More than 5,000 works of art were submitted and judged this year. The CNY Scholastic Art Awards are sponsored by M&T Bank and hosted by Onondaga Community College. Award recipients were selected for their creativity, originality and technical skill.

Award-winning student artwork will be on public display through Friday, February 27, 2026, in the Whitney Applied Technology Center at Onondaga Community College. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Watch Video of Winning Artwork

Evan Beckwith, 12th Grade
Photography, “Straight Froggin' It” — Silver Key

Carmen Barbato, 10th Grade
Photography, “Soaring South” — Gold Key

Tressa Benoit, 11th Grade
Photography, “Scott” — Gold Key
Photography, “Prawn” — Silver Key

Logan Bolton, 12th Grade
Experimental Photography, “Message From a Loved One” — Honorable Mention

Emily Calkins, 12th Grade
Ceramics & Glass, “They Only See the Dark” — Honorable Mention

Aidyn Clark, 12th Grade
Graphic Design, “Mahi-Mahi Lemon-Lime” — Silver Key

Keira Delardi, 12th Grade
Photography, “The Last Musician” — Gold Key
Photography, “Imagination Man” — Silver Key
Photography, “A Sign of Growth” — Honorable Mention
Photography, “Familiar Touch” — Honorable Mention
Photography, “Nature's Hymn” — Honorable Mention

Anna Dominski, 10th Grade
Illustration, “Ripple” — Honorable Mention

Leif Donaghey, 12th Grade
Portfolio Category (Art), “Dazed Across NYC” — Gold Key
Drawing, “After-Party” — Gold Key
Experimental Photography, “Doll” — Silver Key
Photography, “Glance Beyond” — Silver Key
Drawing, “DJ DARA” — Silver Key
Drawing, “Mona's Down-low” — Silver Key
Drawing, “Overexposure” — Honorable Mention
Photography, “Glam” — Honorable Mention

Addie Ellis, 11th Grade
Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, “Casper Bootlock: Battle in a Blaze” — Honorable Mention
Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage, “Scatterbrain” — Honorable Mention

Naheed Ghulami, 11th Grade
Photography, “End of Day” — Silver Key

Nathan Grover, 11th Grade
Experimental Photography, “Village Graffiti” — Silver Key
Photography, “Blazed” — Silver Key
Photography, “Chasing Fire” — Silver Key
Photography, “Water Bender” — Honorable Mention

Miabella Hardter, 12th Grade
Drawing, “Beauty in Blooms” — Silver Key

Chase Johnson, 11th Grade
Ceramics & Glass, “Black Stoneware, Bolt handled mug #1” — Gold Key
Ceramics & Glass, “Black Stoneware, Pitcher and Mug set #1” — Silver Key
Ceramics & Glass, “Angular Bud Vase, Green Metallic” — Honorable Mention
Ceramics & Glass, “Black Stoneware, Triplet Juice Mugs” — Honorable Mention
Ceramics & Glass, “Porcelain, Angular Green Metallic Vase” — Honorable Mention

Brooke Jordan, 9th Grade
Design, Photo Media, “The Civilization” — Honorable Mention

Julia LeMay, 11th Grade
Photography, “Gradient of Age” — Gold Key
Photography, “Deep In Thought” — Honorable Mention

Madison Leonard, 12th Grade
Drawing, “Autumn Dentist” — Honorable Mention

Breanna Leo, 11th Grade
Photography, “Bounded To The Mat” — Gold Key

Tanner Madura, 12th Grade
Portfolio Category (Art), “The Parking Lot” — Honorable Mention

Emerson Miller, 12th Grade
Drawing, “Memory Project” — Silver Key

Holly Monroe, 11th Grade
Drawing, “Honeydew” — Honorable Mention

Piper Myers, 12th Grade
Photography, “Leisure” — Gold Key
Photography, “Seashore Sights” — Silver Key
Photography, “Burning the Past” — Honorable Mention
Photography, “Thinning of the Veil” — Honorable Mention
Portfolio Category (Art), “Scenes of Horror” — Honorable Mention

Maya Neville, 10th Grade
Drawing, “Quiet Streets” — Honorable Mention

Alayna Pearson, 11th Grade
Ceramics & Glass, “Fleeting Hope” — Gold Key
Ceramics & Glass, “Submarine Whale Shark” — Silver Key
Ceramics & Glass, “The Carrier” — Honorable Mention
Ceramics & Glass, “The Observer” — Honorable Mention

Jake Perkins, 11th Grade
Photography, “Seeing Double” — Honorable Mention

Hayden Plumpton, 12th Grade
Ceramics & Glass, “Mr. Opossum” — Silver Key

Quinn Rost, 12th Grade
Drawing, “Memory Project” — Silver Key

Landon Royce, 9th Grade
Design, Photo Media, “Last Laugh” — Honorable Mention

Elyse Ryder, 12th Grade
Drawing, “Duncan” — Honorable Mention

Brooke Shoen, 12th Grade
Experimental Photography, “Bloomed Hue” — Gold Key

Savannah Shoen, 12th Grade
Experimental Photography, “Clear the Air” — Silver Key

Emily Smith, 11th Grade
Illustration, “The Fox In The Forest” — Honorable Mention

Elizabeth Turton, 10th Grade
Photography, “The Long Way to Light” — Silver Key

Rocco Weaver, 12th Grade
Ceramics & Glass, “Intertwined” — Honorable Mention

Levi Williams, 11th Grade
Experimental Photography, “Lacerated Stratosphere” — Honorable Mention
43Experimental Photography, “Lamplight” — Honorable Mention

Bravery Spotlight:

We are proud to recognize two Ray Middle School students for their bravery and compassion during a recent ski accident involving a fellow student. Seventh graders Trent Irwin and Tyler Mattison, members of the Ray Ski Club, demonstrated remarkable maturity and care during a frightening situation.

On Thursday, January 15th, the Ray Ski Club was at Song Mountain when a student was severely injured in a skiing accident. Trent and Tyler remained with the injured student, promptly alerted ski patrol, and reported the incident to ski advisor Jared Khan-Bagley. Their calm actions and concern for their peer made a meaningful difference during a critical moment.

We are honored to commend Trent and Tyler for their courage and compassion. We also wish to recognize Mr. Khan-Bagley for his leadership during the incident and his support to the injured student and their family during an incredibly difficult time.

Thank you to all involved for your bravery, kindness and compassion during a scary ordeal.

Staff Spotlight:

We are pleased to recognize the outstanding Bus 13 team, nominated by McNamara Principal Mindy Howard, for their exceptional dedication and teamwork. Kay Wentworth, Ron Bryant, Kim West, and Jenna Thomas have been a terrific team to work with and have shown incredible flexibility throughout the year.

They consistently approach challenging situations with a solution-oriented mindset and create a welcoming, accepting environment for all students on their route. When a few students recently struggled with behavior, the team worked collaboratively to develop a thoughtful and supportive plan that prioritized student needs and success.

The Bus 13 team intentionally builds strong relationships with students, contributing to calmer, more positive rides each day. Even on tough days, they go out of their way to remain positive and always lead with kindness. McNamara truly appreciates their dedication, professionalism, and genuine care for students.

Congratulations to the Bus 13 team on this well-deserved recognition!