FRIENDSHIP, NY — Friendship Central School celebrated its historic 159th commencement exercises on Saturday, June 24, 2023, honoring the twenty-six members of the Class of 2023. The ceremony brought together families, faculty, and community members to recognize the academic achievements, personal growth, and future potential of the graduating seniors.
A Tradition of Excellence and Leadership
The ceremony featured inspiring addresses from the class top scholars. Salutatorian Claire Calhoun-Mullen and Valedictorian Katherine Lamberson each delivered addresses reflecting on their time at Friendship Central and offering words of encouragement to their peers. The district was also honored to welcome Jackie Dent as the guest speaker for the event, who shared motivating insights with the graduates as they prepare to embark on their next chapters.
Diplomas were officially presented to the graduates by Superintendent Mrs. Judy May, Principal Mr. Martin Pizur, and Board of Education President Mr. W. Scott Ritchie.
The Friendship Central School Graduating Class of 2023 included: Caitlin “Caleb” Bittner, Camron Blouvet, Lucia Brandes, Taylor Brokaw, Claire Calhoun-Mullen, Olivia Cochran, Destini Damerst, Zoe Dieter, Evan Doane, Kadence Donohue, Logan Green, Aryana Hale, Hunter Hill, Luke Hint, Cooper Hosley, Katherine Lamberson, Maegan LeFort, Taylor Moore, John Otero, Jade Perry, James Randall, Logan Roberts, Connor Stork, Tiffeny Smith, Madalynn Thompson, and Abby Thornton.
Academic Honors, Awards, and Scholarships
A central highlight of the commencement was the recognition of student achievement through various institutional and community-sponsored awards. The top academic honors of the day were presented to Katherine Lamberson, who received the Valedictorian Award, and Claire Calhoun-Mullen, who received the Salutatorian Award. Both individuals, along with classmates Taylor Brokaw, Taylor Moore, Logan Roberts, and Abbygail Thornton, were also recognized for their academic dedication as National Honor Society (NHS) members.
A multitude of community and memorial scholarships were awarded during the ceremony to support the graduates in their future endeavors. The Alco John Patterson Scholarship was awarded to Hunter Hill, while Kadence Donohue and Cooper Hosley received the Allegany County Pomona Grange award. The American Red Cross Scholarship was presented to Logan Roberts and Claire Calhoun-Mullen. The prestigious Belva Waite Scholarships, the National Honor Society Scholarships, and the New York State Academic Excellence awards were all presented to the trio of Claire Calhoun-Mullen, Katherine Lamberson, and Logan Roberts.
Logan Roberts also received the Cardi Health Professions Scholarship and the Friendship Cheese Festival award. Athletic and academic leadership were recognized through the Dennis Amore Scholar/Athlete award, given to Taylor Moore, and the TJ Mott Student/Athlete Scholarship, awarded to both Taylor Moore and Logan Roberts. Katherine Lamberson was named the recipient of the Donahue Family Scholarship, the Friendship Legion S.A.L. Scholarship, and joint recipient of the Friendship Legion Scholarship alongside Taylor Moore.
Institutional and local organizational support was evident through the FCS Student Council Scholarship and the Friendship Teachers’ Association award, both earned by Claire Calhoun-Mullen and Katherine Lamberson. The Friendship Designated Alfred State Scholarship was awarded to Camron Blouvet, Taylor Brokaw, Hunter Hill, Cooper Hosley, John Otero, and Connor Stork. Taylor Moore and Logan Roberts were recipients of the Friendship Homecomers Award.
The Friendship Legion Auxiliary Scholarship and the Friendship Rotary Scholarship were both awarded to Claire Calhoun-Mullen and Logan Roberts. Taylor Brokaw received the Friendship Rod & Gun Club Scholarship, and joined Jade Perry and Kadence Donohue in receiving the Friendship-Cuba Masonic Lodge award. Zoe Dieter, Hunter Hill, and Madalynn Thompson were recognized with the Friendship Yearbook Award, while Claire Calhoun-Mullen, Katherine Lamberson, and Logan Roberts received the Friendship Youth Baseball Memorial (in honor of Leon & Lynn Collins, James Schneider, and Jerry Swift).
Additional individual honors included Taylor Moore receiving the JCC USA Scholarship, and Lucia Brandes receiving the Suzanne Lester–Walker Memorial award. Finally, the district recognized students preparing for immediate career and collegiate transitions: Off to College Awards were presented to Caitlin Bittner, Aryana Hale, Madalynn Thompson, and Abby Thornton, while World of Work Awards were granted to Olivia Cochran, Destini Damerst, Zoe Dieter, Evan Doane, Logan Green, Kadence Donohue, Luke Hint, Maegan LeFort, James Randall, and Tiffeny Smith.
Friendship Central School congratulates the entire Class of 2023 on their achievements and wishes them the absolute best in their collegiate, military, and professional futures.