Eagle of the Cross Award recipients announced

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown has announced the recipients of the 2016 Eagle of the Cross Award.

The Eagle of the Cross, created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced to the diocese in 1999, is given each year to a group of high school juniors and seniors who model the dedication, integrity, values and promise for Church and society.

The award is presented to teens in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown who model Christian discipleship and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works and Christian leadership in their school and parish communities.

While a limited number of recipients are chosen for the Eagle of the Cross Award, they represent many admirable young people around the diocese.

This year’s 29 recipients were chosen from 88 nominations that highlighted parish, school and community youth involvement.

A maximum of two Eagle of the Cross Awards are presented to students in each of the six diocesan Catholic high schools, and up to three involved in the parishes in each of the six counties of the diocese.

The recipients of the 2016 Eagle of the Cross Award, as well as all of the nominees, are commended for their positive witness to their Catholic Christian faith and the value of youth involvement in parish, school and community.

The following teens from Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties will be presented the awards at the 18th annual Eagle of the Cross Awards liturgy and banquet Thursday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, 343 Via Mount Carmel.

The banquet is by invitation only, but the liturgy celebrated by Bishop George V. Murry, which begins at 6 p.m., is open to the public.

These recipients demonstrated outstanding involvement in the parish and larger community.

columbiana county

Recipients are Cheyenne R. Carr, senior at Columbiana High School, from St. Jude in Columbiana; Bridgette R. Chronister, senior at Steubenville Catholic Central, from Holy Trinity in East Liverpool; and Michael Sabitini, senior at Beaver Local, from Holy Trinity.

mahoning county

Recipients are Jenna Ann Binsley, junior at South Range, from St. Charles Borromeo in Boardman; Elsa Buehler, senior at West Branch, from St. Charles; and Hannah Feeney, senior at Austintown Fitch, from Immaculate Heart of Mary, Austintown.

trumbull county

Recipients are Taylor K. Horn, senior at Lakeview, from St. Robert Bellarmine in Cortland; Olivia M. Kochunas, senior at Champion, from St. William in Warren; and Jonathan Mahan, senior at Champion, from St. William.

catholic schools

These recipients demonstrated outstanding involvement in a diocesan Catholic school.

From Cardinal Mooney High School in Mahoning County are Michaelina Appugliese, senior, from Holy Family in Poland, and Gino Ginnetti, senior, from St. Paul in New Middletown.

From Trumbull County and John F. Kennedy Catholic High School are David R. Mintus, junior, from St. John Paul II in Warren, and Adrianna K. Placanica, senior, from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Warren.

From Ursuline High School in Mahoning County are Stephen Listisen, senior, from St. Christine in Youngstown and Christopher J. Metzinger, senior, from St. Joseph in Austintown

For more information on the awards or other programs of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, contact Cindee Case, director, at 330-744-8451 or ccase@youngstowndiocese.org.