Three Portage students receive Eagle of the Cross award from Youngstown Diocese

Three Portage County students are among the 21 recipients of the 2024 Eagle of the Cross award announced by the office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

The award, the highest honor the diocese bestows on its youth, was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced 25 years ago. It is given annually to high school juniors and seniors who model the dedication, integrity, values and promise for church and society.

Bishop David J. Bonnar will present the awards at a ceremony at 6 p.m. April 30 at Saint Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. A reception will follow in St. Columba Hall.

Portage County recipients include:

• Catelyn Lieser of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Aurora.
• Alexis Staats of Pastorate of St. Joseph in Mogadore and St. Peter of the Fields in Rootstown.
• Anya Catherine Michlberger of St. Patrick in Kent.

Other award recipients are:

• Rylee Schor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Geneva.
• Grace Burchfield of St. Paul the Apostle in New Middletown.
• Cameron Ward of St. Charles Borromeo in Boardman.
• Madelyn Fonagy of St. Thomas the Apostle in Vienna.
• Kayla Haynie of St. William in Champion.
• Thomas Pesa of St. Patrick in Hubbard.
• Quinn Fogarty of St. Paul in North Canton.
• Dominic Sheridan of St. Michael the Archangel in Plain Township.
• Bernadette Severson of St. Paul in North Canton.
• Andrew Beck of St. Patrick in Leetonia.

Eight other students, representing schools in Poland, Ashtabula, Youngstown, Canton, Louisville and Warren, were recognized in the school category.