YWCA honoring 26 high school seniors as Young Women with Bright Futures

By Harold Gwin

YWCA honoring 26 high school seniors as Young Women with Bright Futures

The YWCA is honoring 26 young women from across the region today.

YOUNGSTOWN —Katelyn Tondo-Steele was deeply affected by her work tutoring children from broken homes, and her ability to put those feelings into writing has touched others.

Tondo-Steele, a senior at Ursuline High School, won the essay contest sponsored by the YWCA of Youngstown as part of its 14th annual Young Women with Bright Futures Awards program.

The essay theme was “The Elimination of Racism and the Empowerment of Women.”

The YWCA program recognizes young women who have demonstrated a commitment to serving their schools, communities and families.

The agency is honoring 26 high school seniors at 10 a.m. today at the Holiday Inn in Boardman.

Tondo-Steele, daughter of Bob and Janet Tondo-Steele of McDonald, volunteered at the Emmanuel Center in Girard over a three-month period a year ago, spending her time tutoring and just talking with three children — one a high school freshman, one a third-grader and one in first grade.

The Emmanuel Center is a nonprofit agency providing food, clothing and shelter to women and children and working to empower them through self-reliance.

Tondo-Steele said she wrote about her experience in her essay and plans to volunteer again at the center this spring.

She is vice president of the senior class at Ursuline, captain of the soccer team, a student ambassador, a Eucharistic minister, and a member of the Science Club.

She is also active in her church, St. Rose in Girard.

Tondo-Steele said she hasn’t decided which college she wants to attend but is interested in the neuroscience field and plans to pursue a career as a surgeon or in laboratory research.

The other young women being recognized today are:

Kelli Phillips, Austintown Fitch.

Anne Smrek, Boardman.

Kayla Hankey, Campbell Memorial.

Kaitlin Brogley, Canfield.

Caitlyn Suhey, Cardinal Mooney.

Maraiya Hakeem, Chaney.

Megan Danko, Choffin.

Victoria Cook, East.

Jessica Cardiero, Girard.

Kayla Hinkle, Hubbard.

Chantel Fusco, Jackson-Milton.

Brittany Armour, Liberty.

Samantha Russo, Lowellville.

Ebony Dandridge, Mahoning County Career Technical Center.

Cassie Garland, McDonald.

Megan Ault, Mineral Ridge.

Bethany-Marie English, Niles McKinley.

Meredith Reffner, Poland Seminary.

Kirsten Schaffer, Sebring McKinley.

Ann DeChellis, South Range.

Kyra Tabak, Springfield.

Elizabeth Sepesy, Struthers.

Amy Burt, West Branch.

Hannah Zimmerman, Western Reserve.

Victoria Bankhead, Youngstown Christian.

gwin@vindy.com