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IA News
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Please select a story to view:
June
IA Alumna Sponsors Several Scholarships
Valedictorian, Salutatorian Announced
May
IA Students Focus on Leadership
April
IA Students Awarded a Pair of Scholarships
Students Pledge Against Texting & Driving
March
IA Student Honored at Festival of the Arts
Fitzner selected for Lions Club All-Star Game
IA welcomes Bishop Edward Kmiec
IA Student Selected as All-WNY Scholar Athlete
IA in the Community
Immaculata Brings World Cultures Together
February
Sports Marketing Class Raises $1,000 for American Cancer Society
IA Student To Perform with All-County Band
IA Students Present at BISSNET Conference
IA Yearbook Receives National Recognition
January
January Character Council Honorees Announced
IA receives Middle States re-accreditation
Two IA Students Nominated for National Scholarship Program
Hennessy, Wach selected as Section VI WNY Scholar Athletes
December
2009 National Honor Society Class Inducted
November
IA Names Character Council Honorees
IA Alumna Excels at St. Lawrence University
Megan Smith Headed to Mercyhurst
IA remembers long-time supporter, former board member
Soccer, Volleyball All-Catholic Honorees Announced
October
Mater Christi Award Gala Another Huge Success
Immaculata ranks 13th out of 131 schools
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June 2010
IA Alumna Sponsors Several Scholarships
Immaculata Academy alumna and Elma resident Karen Karalus Karamanoukian recently awarded six scholarships to Immaculata students, totaling $4,000. Karamanoukian sponsored four $500 “Instruments of Positive Change” scholarships, along with the Dr. Levon Karamanoukian Memorial Scholarship and the Mr. Richard Karalus Memorial Scholarship, each for $1,000.
Meghan Hayes, Amy Marciniak, Natalie Rieman and Leeann Tatar each received the $500 award based on their essay entitled, “How the IA experience is bringing my gifts and strengths to the forefront and how I will use them to become an instrument of positive change.”
Mia Simoncelli was awarded the Dr. Levon Karamanoukian Memorial Scholarship to assist in her studies of biological sciences, while Lisa Rae Zoldos was awarded the Mr. Richard Karalus Memorial Scholarship for her plans to enter into a career to make a positive impact on the environment.
Karamanoukian holds an MBA from SUNY at Buffalo’s School of Management in addition to a law degree from UB’s School of Law. She is the executive vice president for Advanced Cardiac Surgical Associates, the parent company of The Vein Treatment Center and The Center for Excessive Sweating. Karamanoukian was also a recipient of the 2008 Immaculata Academy Mater Christi Award.
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Valedictorian, Salutatorian Announced
The senior class valedictorian and salutatorian were announced last week at the annual awards ceremony, with Mia Simoncelli named valedictorian and Meghan Hennessy named salutatorian.
Mia carries a 98.56 overall GPA and has served as class secretary, along with being a member of Immaculata’s student council, environmental club, SADD, and the recruitment team. She has also received the Mother Collette Hilbert Service Award, awarded to Immaculata students who go above and beyond their required service hours. Mia plans to attend SUNY at Buffalo next fall.
Meghan has been extremely active in her four years at IA. Along with carrying a 97.76 GPA, she has also been involved with student council, recruitment team and National Honor Society. Athletically, Meghan was a four-year member of the volleyball and softball teams and a three-year member of the basketball team. She was named a All-WNY Scholar Athlete following her senior year volleyball season. Meghan plans to attend the University of Rochester.
Congratulations to both girls. We wish them the best of luck in the future.
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May 2010
IA Students Focus on Leadership
Immaculata students Kristen Rosso, Kelsey Krawiec, Hannah Gordon, Alison Wilkie, Rachel Moll, Lauren Clark, Jenna Hornberger, Madison Kiernan, Sarah Harris and Maggie Leslie recently attended the New York State Advisors Association Student Leadership Conference at SUNY at Buffalo. The student-leaders were treated to a motivational presentation from keynote speaker Bob Tryanski, whose message aims to convince young people to develop the vision, courage, and persistence to say “I have a dream, too.” Following the presentation, students had the opportunity to participate in group discussions focused on activities that would make a positive difference in their school. |
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Fitzner selected for Lions Club All-Star Game
IA senior Jill Fitzner has been selected to play in the Cheektowaga Lions Club 12th Annual Senior High School Ladies Basketball Classic, this Saturday, March 27 at Cheektowaga High School. The exceptional senior event features the premier female basketball players from Section VI of the N.Y.S. High School Athletic Association along with the Monsignor Martin Association and independent schools.
Fitzner, a Hamburg native, is a three-year member of both the varsity basketball and varsity volleyball teams. She is also a three-year member of the track & field team. As team captain, Jill has been named to the all-tournament team on five occasions this season, along with being named Immaculata’s MVP for the 2008-09 season. She also surpassed 1,000 career points this season and helped lead the Bears to the championship game of the New York State Association of Independent Schools state basketball championships.
Jill is considering Daemen College, Ithaca College & Clarkson University for her college studies, where she plans to major in physical therapy.
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IA Welcomes Bishop Kmiec
Immaculata welcomed Bishop Edward Kmiec, Bishop of Buffalo, last Friday to preside over an afternoon mass in celebration of St. Joseph's Day. To view more pictures of the afternoon, click on the link below.
Click here to view more photos from Bishop Kmiec's visit
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IA Student Selected as All-WNY Scholar Athlete
Immaculata Academy senior Caitlyn Fennell has been selected as an AdPro Sports & Section VI All-WNY Scholar Athlete for the winter sports season. Caitlyn is a three-year member of the varsity bowling team, and a four-year member of the soccer and softball teams. In bowling, she has been a starter for all three years and has received the Golden Bear award for both bowling and soccer, which recognizes leadership and sportsmanship at Immaculata. Caitlyn has also been named Second Team All-Catholic for soccer.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Caitlyn has been very involved in clubs at school, including National Honor Society, SADD, Environmental Club, Booster Club and Recruitment Team. Caitlyn remains very involved in the community as well, participating in the Hamburg YES program and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity.
Nominees for the Scholar Athlete Award must maintain a minimum 90 G.P.A for six semesters and be a starter or significant reserve for their team. Winners are selected by a Section VI committee.
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IA Student To Perform with All-County Band
Immaculata Academy junior Alyssa Phillips has been selected to perform with the Erie County Senior High All-County Band on March 27 at SUNY at Buffalo. Alyssa is very active in the school community as well, participating in the yearbook club and various instrumental programs. She has received the Mother Colette Hilbert Service Award and All-State Band honors, in addition to participating in the Erie County Fair Band. |
IA Students Present at BISSNET Conference
Immaculata Academy students Gina Lirussi, Taylor Stahl, Jessica Strozyk, Kelsey Morgan, Stephanie Randall and Nicole Weiss recently presented at BISSNET’s Fourth Annual Student Conference on Leadership and Diversity. The girls presented their topic “Franciscans in Service,” highlighting their recent experiences with Habitat for Humanity and Jericho Road Ministries.
This year’s BISSNET conference focused on the commitment to make a difference in our community and in the world beyond Buffalo. Students had opportunities to participate in discussions and break out sessions, sharing their experiences in leadership and diversity.
The Buffalo Independent Secondary School Network (BISSNET) is a consortium of 17 independent high schools in Erie and Niagara Counties of Western New York, working together to facilitate educational advancement, to provide access to technology and to make a difference in the lives of our children.
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IA Yearbook Receives National Recognition
Featuring a cover designed to mimic Apple’s i-phone, Immaculata Academy’s 2009 yearbook recently received an honorable mention in the Lifetouch National Best of the Best Online Yearbook category. The yearbook was designed entirely by Immaculata students, with yearbook advisor and IA teacher Darlene Winans overseeing the project.
Lifetouch, an employee-owned company established in 1936, is dedicated to preserving school day memories through portraits and yearbooks, and is one of the largest yearbook publishers in the world.
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January 2010
January Character Council Honorees Announced
Students who represent the definition of “self-control” were nominated, honored and recognized by their peers at Immaculata Academy, as part of a program sponsored by the Character Council of Hamburg, Inc.
Defined as “rejecting wrong desires and choosing to do what is right,” the past month’s trait of self-control honored one student from each grade level including freshman Amanda Tobin, sophomore Trisha Hulbert, junior Alyssa Phillips and senior Sarah Boehringer.
The mission of the Council is to help the Town of Hamburg be a town of good character, by strengthening its citizens, their families, and the community as a whole, by promoting and displaying excellence in character.
| | |  | | | | | | | | January Character Council Honorees |
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Immaculata receives Middle States accreditation
Immaculata Academy has recently been re-accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, for a seven-year period, following a visit and review by the Commission on Secondary Schools (CSS).
The CSS was established in November 1920 to promote the improvement of secondary education and to secure better coordination and understanding between secondary schools and institutions of higher education. It serves public and non-public middle, intermediate, and/or secondary schools, non-degree granting vocational technical and postsecondary institutions, special purpose schools, supplementary education centers, and distance education institutions.
Accreditation is the affirmation that a school provides a quality of education that the community has a right to expect and the education world endorses. Accreditation is a means of showing confidence in a school's performance. When the CSS accredits a school, it certifies that the school has met the prescribed qualitative standards of the Middle States Association within the terms of the school's own stated philosophy and objectives. The following are some of the many benefits of accreditation:
• greater clarity of purpose
• stronger internal relationships
• wider professional participation
• more effective methods of planning for school improvement
• improved consistency between educational purpose and practice
The CSS is one of three Commissions that function within Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The others are the Commission on Higher Education and the Commission on Elementary Schools. The Commission on Secondary Schools serves both public and non-public schools in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. In addition, it accredits schools in the Caribbean as well as various locations around the world.
The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCSS), the premier American regional accreditation agency, is the leader in ensuring that all students in its region receive the highest quality of education and achieve at levels expected by society. Through its accreditation and school improvement services, MSCSS recognizes excellence in educational quality, planning, and growth in student performance and provides the means to meet rigorous standards of educational quality. For more information, visit www.css-msa.org.
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Two IA Students Nominated for National Scholarship Program
Immaculata Academy seniors Meghan Hennessy and Mia Simoncelli, both members of the National Honor Society, have been nominated to compete in the National Honor Society scholarship. This year, the program will once again award $200,000 in college scholarships, with special recognition and additional awards to be presented to state and regional winners. One national recipient will receive a $13,000 award.
“Meghan and Mia are both great examples of what it means to be an Immaculata student,” says Principal Mary Lou Stahl. “They’re both very involved in their school and community and are very deserving of this nomination.”
High school National Honor Society chapters from across the country were eligible to nominate two senior high members to compete. Nominees were selected based on their leadership skills, participation in service organizations and clubs, and academic records. They were also required to write an essay.
Meghan carries a 97.73 overall GPA, ranking second in her graduating class. She has served as class president and treasurer, along with being an active participant in Immaculata’s Franciscan club, environmental club, SADD and student council. She has been a member of the varsity volleyball and varsity softball teams for all four years of high school, including being selected as a Section VI All-WNY Scholar Athlete in the fall of 2009. Meghan has also been a member of the varsity basketball team for three years.
Mia carries a 98.56 overall GPA, ranking first in her class. She has served as class secretary, along with being a member of Immaculata’s student council, environmental club, SADD, and the recruitment team. Mia has also received the Mother Collette Hilbert Service Award, awarded to Immaculata students who go above and beyond their required service hours.
Hennessy, Wach named Section VI WNY Scholar Athletes
Immaculata seniors Meghan Hennessy and Grace Wach were recently selected as Section VI WNY Scholar Athletes, for the fall sports season.
A four-year varsity athlete, Meghan carries a 97.73 overall GPA, ranking second in her graduating class. She has been a member of the varsity volleyball and varsity softball teams for all four years of high school, including being selected as softball MVP her sophomore year. Meghan has also been a member of the varsity basketball squad for three years. Outside of athletics, she has served as class president and treasurer, along with being an active participant in the Franciscan Club, Environmental Club, SADD and Student Council. Meghan was also selected to the National Honor Society her junior year.
Grace is a three-year member of the varsity soccer team, including being selected team captain and Second Team All-Catholic her senior year. She carries a 97.71 overall GPA, ranking her third in her graduating class. Grace has been an active member of the Franciscan Club, Environmental Club, Drama Club, and Student Council. She was also selected to the National Honor Society her junior year, along with receiving the Mother Colette Hilbert Service Award. Outside of IA, Gracea serves as a Eucharistic minister at her parish and is a leader on the Diocesan Youth Board of Buffalo. |
December 2009
IA Inducts 2009 National Honor Society Class
The Immaculata Academy chapter of the National Honor Society held its 49th annual induction ceremony recently, inducting 16 new members.
New members include seniors Sarah Boehringer, Jessica Strozyk, and Lisa Rae Zoldos. Junior class inductees include Renee Bellis, Meghan Giles, Katlyn Grasso, Jessica Hall, Sarah Harris, Meghan Hayes, Samantha Maggio, Kelsey Morga, Lindsey Nowak, Katherine Szwejbka, LeeAnn Tatar, Natalie Vetter and Jessica Weiss.
Candidates apply for membership and are selected by a faculty committee which reviews each student’s ability to fulfill the four criteria for NHS membership: leadership, character, service and excellence in academics.
Juniors and seniors who have a cumulative average of 93% or above are invited to participate in the membership process.
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November 2009
IA Names Character Council Honorees
Students who represent the definition of “responsibility” were nominated, honored and recognized by their peers at Immaculata Academy, as part of a program sponsored by the Character Council of Hamburg, Inc.
Defined as “knowing and doing what is expected of me,” the past month’s trait of responsibility honored one student from each grade level including freshman Kelsey Krawiec, sophomore Alison Wilkie, junior Katie Szwejbka and senior Korleen Brady.
The mission of the Council is to help the Town of Hamburg be a town of good character, by strengthening its citizens, their families, and the community as a whole, by promoting and displaying excellence in character.
The theme for December is self-control.
IA Alumna Excels at St. Lawrence University
Recently, 14 St. Lawrence University students, including IA alumna Katelynn Benzing, were selected to attend a two-day seminar on finance in New York City.
The seminar was hosted over mid-semester break and arrangements were made, as well as all expenses covered, by the generosity of John Angelo '63. Katelynn is a double major in mathematics and economics with a minor in statistics. She has been on the Dean's List each semester and will be spending next semester in Australia.
Click Here for the complete article on the finance seminar
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Megan Smith Headed to Mercyhurst
Immaculata Academy senior Megan Smith has signed her Letter of Intent to play softball for Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. Smith was recruited as a relief pitcher and third baseman, but will also compete for the shortstop position. She has received an 80% scholarship to attend Mercyhurst – 40% academic and 40% athletic. It’s possible that Megan will qualify for additional scholarships, bringing the total to 100%.
Smith has been the starting pitcher for Immaculata softball for the past three seasons, posting a total of 52 wins, 525 strikeouts, four no-hitters and six one-hitters. Her strikeout and win totals are Immaculata school records. She’s also carried a .491 batting average, with 71 RBI and 61 runs scored. Megan has earned First Team All-Catholic honors for the past three seasons, including Monsignor Martin Athletic Association Player of the Year in 2009. She also pitches for the New Era Diamond Girls travel team, posting nine wins and two no-hitters in national competition.
Megan has been a member of the Franciscan Club, Student Council, SADD and Recruitment Team, along with carrying a 91.03 overall GPA.
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Immaculata remembers long-time supporter, former board member
Immaculata's longtime supporter, 2004 Mater Christi Award recipient, alumna parent (Andrea Winnert Harvey '85) and grandparent (Caitlin '08 and Alana '10 Winnert) and former chairman of the Board of Trustees Martin C. Winnert, Jr. passed away yesterday after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Marty's commitment to Catholic education extended to Immaculata Academy where he has served on the Board of Trustees for nine years, including six years as Board Chair. His leadership brought great growth to the Academy. The positive changes at Immaculata have been numerous - renovated gym, new windows, new lighting and new technology. He continued to lend his support to many Immaculata events and activities.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
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Volleyball, Soccer All-Catholic Honorees Announced
In recognition for their outstanding play on the vollyeball court, Sarah Horvath & Lindsay Nowak received First Team All-Catholic honors, while Meg Smith received Second Team honors.
From the hardcourt to the turf, IA goalkeeper Madisen Kiernan was selected as MMAA South Division Most Valuable Player, thanks in part to her five shutouts on the season. Alexis Snyder & Alexis Perez received First Team All-Catholic honors, while Grace Wach, Caitlyn Fennell and Sarah Harris all received Second Team honors.
All-Catholic recipients are nominated and voted on by coaches in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association.
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October 2009
Mater Christi Award Gala Another Huge Success
Immaculata's 17th Mater Christi Award Gala was a huge success, drawing over 500 attendees and raising over $110,000 towards tuition assistance and scholarships for IA students. This year's event honored Cheryl Kemp Klass 'IA, Judy MacDonald, and Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, with WIVB-TV Channel 4 reporter Lorey Schultz serving as mistress of ceremonies. The three honorees were recognized for their committment to Immaculata Academy's mission - serving as an influence of positive change in society. |
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September 2009
IA Student Selected as Buffalo News 'Next' Correspondent
Alyssa Phillips, a junior at Immaculata Academy, has been selected as a Buffalo News NeXt correspondent for the 2009-10 school year. She will cover news and feature stories for the NeXt section, which appears weekly in the Buffalo News Life & Arts section. Alyssa is active at Immaculata as well, participating in the yearbook club and various instrumental programs. She has received the Mother Colette Hilbert Service Award and All-State Band honors, in addition to participating in the Erie County Fair Band.
Click Here for the Buffalo News article
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July 2009
Just Hangin' Out...
Jeff Musial of Nickel City Reptiles educates girls on a black and white ruff lemur, as part of Immaculata Academy’s recent Adventure Camp, a week-long day camp for 5th-8th grade girls. Musial also showed the girls an African crested porcupine, pygmy hedgehog, along with a Burmese and Wolma python. |
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Immaculata Ranks 13th out of 131 local high schools
Business First released its annual list ranking local high schools on Thursday, with Immaculata Academy ranking 13th out of 131 schools.
Immaculata ranks as one of the premier high schools in the southtowns, and the #1 private school in the southtowns. Other notable rankings include St. Francis (14), Orchard Park (16), St. Mary's (18), Eden (21), Hamburg (29), Mt. Mercy (41), Frontier (45), and Springville (51).
The list analyzes the academic records of 131 high schools in the eight-county WNY region, based on four years of test results collected by the New York State Education Department.
Immaculata also received a five-star rating (out of five) in english and social studies, with four-star ratings in math and science.
Click Here for the complete Business First article & rankings
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