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A host of local businesses, community organizations, and alumni celebrated the Steel Valley High School Class of 2026 during the annual Dr. Lawrence A. Griffin Senior Honor Awards Ceremony at St. John’s Cathedral Center in Munhall on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
In all, 44 students were honored during the ceremony, either as the recipient of a scholarship from one of the participating benefactors or in recognition of their overall academic achievement. The event is held for Steel Valley seniors who maintain a minimum grade point average of at least 3.25 or who receive one of the scholarships. The Class of 2026 was joined by their families and loved ones, along with school board members, district administrators and teachers, and scholarship presenters.
For the seventh year, Mr. Richard Bazzy showcased his generosity towards his alma mater, as he awarded $5,000 scholarships to every student who completed an application to the Richard Bazzy Shults Ford Scholarship Fund. This year, 22 students wrote an essay and completed the application, so Mr. Bazzy awarded a scholarship to each of them.
This year also featured the William V. Campbell Scholarship Award, a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Duquesne University. The award is presented every four years. This year’s recipient was Amber Fey.
This year’s academic honorees included Yurron Arrington, Katlyn Auen-Smith, Jaden Bainbridge, Elijah Beneda, Darren Blasko, Trinity Booth, Ryan Cameron, Garrett Cherpak, Kayden Cibula, Savannah Cibula, Noah Cochenour, Violet Coyne, Adem Demartino, Amber Fey, Wyatt Franko, Kalynn Gray, Aubrey Guciardo, Sau’mara-rai Hardman, Alex Huynh, Adam Keesecker, Michaelique Kennedy, Rebekah Kleiber, Holden Labishak, Jahnelle McCorkle, Katherine McNeely, Shaterra Meadows, Aston Mitchell, Maximus Nagle, Abigail Novak, Immanuel Owens, Paige Perhac, Amari Randall, Amir Randall, Jesse Rangel Ortiz, Dominique Ruiz, Basil Sanders, Jorden Smith, Ryan Stoker, Andrew Tenney, Bailey Versetti, Sophia Wedig, Jayden Williams, Lily Wright, and Zachary Zeffer.
A full gallery of photos from the ceremony is available to view here.
Thanks to Adam Piscitelli of Primetime Shots for the group photos.
High school principal Mr. John Strom served as master of ceremonies, while superintendent Mr. Bryan M. Macuga introduced this year’s guest speaker, high school counselor Mr. Jason Novak. Mr. Novak shared a message of perseverance and navigating changing pathways.
Mr. Novak, who is retiring in June after 30 years of service to the Steel Valley School District, reminded the students that if there is any guarantee in life, it is that change will probably happen. He detailed his passion for music, which he’s continued to explore while serving as an educator. While he once thought he’d be a full-time musician, a chance encounter in a doctor’s office revealed another passion – helping young people find their way. Mr. Novak encouraged students to follow their passion and to not live somebody else’s life.
The evening also featured a welcome from valedictorian Aubrey Guciardo and remarks from senior Holden Labishak. Shaterra Meadows and Rebekah Kleiber led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, while Ms. Ebony Bowden shared a blessing prior to dinner. Mr. Macuga and counselor Ms. Audrey Sasala presented the Academic Awards and Certificates to students, while honored guests, sponsors, and Steel Valley faculty presented the scholarships.
The Steel Valley School District would like to thank all the scholarship award sponsors and participating organizations for their generous support of our students. The following awards were presented as part of the ceremony:
Annual School Board Graduating Senior Award
Violet Coyne
Joseph R. Havrilla Citizenship Award
Rebekah Kleiber
Valedictorian Award
Aubrey Guciardo
Scholar/Athlete Award
Aubrey Guciardo
Adam Keesecker
SVEA Teacher Scholarship
Rebekah Kleiber
Steel Valley Legacy Scholarship
Aubrey Guciardo
Rising Impact Scholarship
Abigail Novak
Roger "Butch" Pratt Memorial Award
Adam Keesecker
Dominique Ruiz
Betty Hogg Memorial Award
Abigail Novak
J. Lewis Shannon Scholarship Award
Shaterra Meadows
Jorden Smith
William V. Campbell Scholarship Award
Amber Fey
Maria Bajus Heddleston Memorial Scholarship
Rebekah Kleiber
Tri Boro Credit Union Exemplary Student Award
Trinity Booth
Ryan Cameron
Aubrey Guciardo
Adam Keesecker
Shaterra Meadows
Drew Martin Memorial & Scholarship Fund
Lily Wright
Charlton Award
Aston Mitchell
Green Funeral Home Essay Award
Bailey Versetti
Lily Wright
Garden Club of Munhall Scholarship
Dominique Ruiz
Geri Palmieri Memorial Scholarship
Garrett Cherpak
Susan Satriano Memorial Scholarship
Elijah Beneda
Trinity Booth
Katherine McNeely
Carmen Marini Memorial Tuition Scholarship
Bailey Versetti
Steel Valley Farmers Market Scholarship
Shaterra Meadows
Lily Wright
Noah & Lauren Alexandroff Scholarship
Aubrey Guciardo
The Charlotte H. Kampe Performance Scholarship
Violet Coyne
The Steel Valley Women in Leadership Scholarship
Trinity Booth
The Munhall C.A.R.E.S. Community Service Scholarship
Rebekah Kleiber
Dominique Ruiz
Harmony Club Scholarship
Trinity Booth
Ryan Cameron
Harmony Club Book Scholarship
Kalynn Gray
Jorden Smith
SWG Funeral Home, Inc. Influential Scholarship Award
Aubrey Guciardo
Glenn C. McNeish Scholarship
Aubrey Guciardo
Alex Huynh
Rebekah Kleiber
Shaterra Meadows
Zachary Zeffer
Thompson Club Award
Aubrey Guciardo
Adam Keesecker
Danyl Settles Scholarship
Khloe George
Ryan Stoker
Luke & Tina Getsy Scholarship
Dominique Ruiz
Carol L. Baker-Ford Scholarship
Chaya Beatty
Healthy U.N. School Scholarship
Trinity Booth
Best of the Batch Book Stipend
Shaterra Meadows
Amari Randall
Best of the Batch Girl Talk Scholarship
Rebekah Kleiber
Richard Bazzy's Shults Ford Scholarship Fund
Darren Blasko
Trinity Booth
Ryan Cameron
Garrett Cherpak
Violet Coyne
Wyatt Franko
Kalynn Gray
Aubrey Guciardo
Alex Huynh
Rebekah Kleiber
Holden Labishak
Katherine McNeely
Shaterra Meadows
Aston Mitchell
Abigail Novak
Immanuel Owens
Dominique Ruiz
Basil Sanders
Ryan Stoker
Bailey Versetti
Lily Wright
Zachary Zeffer
