Cameron Wellman and Eric Ruschak, right, walk down the aisle together. Joshua Solida is at left.

Cameron Wellman and Eric Ruschak, right, walk down the aisle together. Josh Solida is at left.

“Talent may open the door to opportunity,” Brookfield High School co-valedictorian Mason Bych said in his commencement address, “but it is character that keeps you there.”

As Mason and the other three valedictorians saw it, the 75 members of the Class of 2022, who graduated May 25, have the character to give them staying power. This is a close-knit group, brought closer by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, and it’s a resilient group.

“My class may not go down in Brookfield history as the most academically rigorous, but we will be remembered for the good men and good women that make up our student body,” Mason said.

“The men and women behind me represent character that a small town like Brookfield would be proud to boast,” he said. “Even my fellow valedictorians aren’t the stereotypical bookworms. These are charismatic, humorous, hard-working and otherwise distinct individuals that I have the honor of both knowing and standing for.”

Emanual Knoxville accompanies middle school teacher Miriam Necastro on Carole King's "You've Got a Friend."

Emanual Knoxville accompanies middle school teacher Miriam Necastro on Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”

The other three valedictorians expounded on the themes that Mason introduced.

“We are a class with good character,” Kaitlyn Carsone said. “I once read a passage saying that character is achieved, not received. It is the product of constant action, striving daily to make the right choice. We must be what we wish to appear to others. By demonstrating such qualities as reliability, honesty and sincerity, we may hope to prove by example that we are growing in character. Let me say, Class of 2022, over the last 13 years we have grown a lot in character, and I have nothing but high hopes for everyone once we leave here today.”

Haylee Morrison talked about the things she and her fellow classmates have learned that cannot be taught from a book.

“We have learned to include each other and benefit from the differences that we have,” Haylee said. “We learned that, while we might not get along with the person next to us, that everyone’s trying their best. We learned to look for the good in people and always help each other out.”

Austin Byrd, Lucas Clarkson and Audrey Reardon turn their tassels.

Austin Byrd, Lucas Clarkson and Audrey Reardon turn their tassels.

Haylee said she hopes the support the classmates have for each other continues, even as they each move on to things that don’t include walking the halls of Brookfield High.

“Graduating and being here is a huge accomplishment in itself, but we are just getting started,” Haylee said. “I have high hopes for everyone here.”

Bailey O’Brien ruminated on taking the next steps, ones that will be taken away from the familiar routines of high school.

“’What’s next?’ is a question we are frequently asked throughout our senior year,” Bailey said. “Many of us would answer with our intended major in college, our intended trade, or maybe some of us just don’t have an answer yet. Whatever the answer may be, I still find myself asking another question, ‘How?’ I know what’s next, but how am I going to do it? How am I going to move away from my family, from the town that I’ve called home for 17 years?”

Change is hard, no matter what kind of personality you have, Bailey said, but she asked her classmates not to fear that change.

“High school is just a short chapter in our lives,” she said. “The future holds so many more experiences that we can learn from and enjoy.”

@@@

Brookfield High School graduated 75 students at commencement May 25 at Packard Music Hall, Warren.

The graduates are listed below along with their academic activities, class awards and scholarships and plans for the future:

Kyle Bacon – Community Service Honorary Cord. He completed the Biotechnology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Hunter Baum – He completed the HVAC-R program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Antanina Bayus – Student Council and Community Service Honorary Cord. She received the Brookfield Rotary Club Scholarship and plans to attend Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture.

Lucas Beckstine – He plans to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

Justin Benson – He completed the Electrical Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Laven Branham – He completed the Auto Services Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce. 

Alison Breighner – National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Awards for Calculus, Physics and Marketing. She plans to attend Slippery Rock University and she received the Slippery Rock Merit Scholarship, $16,000; the Columbian Home Corp Scholarship, $2,000; and the Home Depot Scholarship, $2,500.

Andrew Budnik – He plans to enter the workforce.

Mason Bych – Valedictorian, National Honor Society and Honors Diploma. He plans to attend Ohio State University and received the OSU Merit Scholarship, $24,000.

Olivia Rowe receives her diploma from school board President Sarah Kurpe.

Olivia Rowe receives her diploma from school board President Sarah Kurpe.

Austin Byrd – He completed the Auto Services Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce. 

Kaitlyn Carsone – Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord and Outstanding Student Award for 3D Art. She plans to attend Youngstown State University and received the YSU Trustees Scholarship, $20,000; Trumbull Retired Teachers Association Scholarship, $1,000; Strimbu Memorial Scholarship, $12,000; Trumbull County Wolves Scholarship, $5,000; Team Rich Scholarship, $1,000, and the Brenda Rae Haun Memorial Fund Scholarship, $1,200.

Michael Clarke – He plans to enter the workforce.

Lucas Clarkson – He completed the Job Training Program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Kristina Craig – She plans to attend the UPMC Radiology program.

TeAndre Craig – He plans to attend Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture.

Joshua Cunningham – He completed the Web Design and Application Development program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce. 

Brady Myers, left, with 2021 graduate Austin Sees.

Brady Myers, left, with 2021 graduate Austin Sees.

Raymond Derda – He plans to enter the workforce.

Austin Double – He completed the Auto Collision Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, and plans to enter the workforce.

Anthony Dunkerley – Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Spanish IV. He plans to attend Youngstown State University and received the Columbian Home Corp Scholarship, $2,000; and the YSU First Opportunity Award, $4,000.

Kierstyn Edelman – Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Drawing 1. She plans to attend the University of Akron.

William Evankovich – He plans to enter the workforce.

Brielle Evans – She plans to enter the workforce in the emergency medical field.

Julia Forrest – She completed the Cosmetology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, and plans to enter the workforce.

Dru Gerace – National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma and Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend the University of Akron and received the First Place Community Fund Scholarship Award, $1,000; and the Masury-Brookfield Women’s Club Scholarship, $500.

Kaitlynn Gitschier – She plans to enter the workforce.

Bailey Hackett – Salutatorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Awards for Human Physiology, Public Speaking, Street Law, Academic English IV and Spanish IV. She plans to attend Lourdes University and received the Lourdes Trustee Scholarship, $10,000; and the Lourdes Women’s Wrestling Award, $12,000.

Brooke Hamilton – She plans to enter the workforce.

promoAlbert Haywood – National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Business Finance. He plans to attend Youngstown State University and received the Brookfield Federation of Teachers Scholarship, $500.

Abigail Hill – She plans to enter the workforce.

Codi Hoover – Community Service Honorary Cord and Outstanding Student Award for Career Based Intervention 1. He plans to enter the workforce.

Seth Hoover – He plans to enter the workforce.

Rachael Horton – Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Southern New Hampshire University.

Kylee Jennings – National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Marketing. She plans to attend the University of Akron and received the Akron University Merit Scholarship, $18,000. 

Rachael Kaiser – Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Youngstown State University.

Brooke Kirila – National Honor Society, Student Council, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Public Relations. She plans to attend Ohio University.

Emanuel Knoxville – Class President and Outstanding Student Award for Jazz Band. He plans to attend Ohio University.

Crystal Kowalsky – Community Service Honorary Cord. She completed the Electrical Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Tyler Laverty – Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for General English IV. He plans to attend Youngstown State University.

Alexander Lay – He plans to attend Penn State.

Liberty Leeworthy – National Honor Society and Outstanding Student Award for Painting 1. She plans to attend Kent State University and received the KSU Merit Scholarship, $4,000.

Daniel Lucarell – He plans to enter the workforce.

Robert Lucarell III – He plans to enter the workforce.

Ty Masotto – He plans to attend the University of Akron.

Destanee McCartney

Domonique McCoy Parks – He plans to enter the workforce.

Delaney Meeker – National Honor Society, Student Council, and Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Youngstown State University.

Gregory Miller – He plans to enter the workforce.

Kenneth Montgomery – National Honor Society, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Recreational Sports. He plans to attend the University of Mount Union and received the Mount Union Dean’s Scholarship, $19,000; and Manzilla Multicultural Award, $2,000.

Logan Moon –  Outstanding Student Award for Maker Space. He plans to enter the workforce.

Haylee Morrison – Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Journalism. She plans to attend Westminster College and received the Titan Scholarship, $120,000.

Kristian Murtaugh – Plans to participate in an HVAC-R apprenticeship.

Brady Myers – National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, and Community Service Honorary Cord. He plans to attend Ohio State University and received the St. Patrick Youth Scholarship Award, $1,000.

Reese Nale – National Honor Society, and Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Raphael’s School of Beauty Culture.

Bailey O’Brien – Valedictorian, National Honor Society, Student Council, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Awards for AP English, and Spanish IV. She plans to attend Slippery Rock University and received the Buhl Regional Health Foundation Scholarship, $5,000; the Optimist Club Scholarship, $100; and the Lee Michael Shimshock Memorial Fund Scholarship, $500.

Tasha Oviatt – She completed the Exercise Science and Sports Medicine program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to attend Hiram College.

David Pawlowski Jr. – Student Council and Community Service Honorary Cord. He plans to attend Ohio University.

Emily Powell –  Outstanding Student Award for Mythology. She plans to attend Kent State University.

Jillian Pusin – She completed the Veterinary Science program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Audrey Reardon –  Salutatorian, National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for 2D Art. She plans to attend Penn State-Shenango.

Anna Reichert – National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, and Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Ohio University and received the OU Merit Scholarship, $20,000; Norma Jean Kirsch Scholarship, $5,000; Team Rich Scholarship, $1,000; and Buhl Regional Health Foundation Scholarship, $5,000.

Mackenzie Reiter – Student Council, Honors Diploma and Community Service Honorary Cord. She plans to attend Eastern Gateway Community College.

Connor Rice – He completed the Auto Collision Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Amber Root – Honors Diploma and Outstanding Student Award for Senior Applied. She plans to enter the workforce.

Colin Root – He plans to enter the workforce.

Olivia Rowe – National Honor Society and Honors Diploma. She plans to attend Youngstown State University and received the YSU Dean’s Scholarship, $3,000; and the YSU Honors Program Scholarship, $2,000.

Eric Ruschak Jr. –  Outstanding Student Awards for Pre-Apprenticeship 2 and Design Squad. He plans to attend Youngstown State University.

Leandra Scott – She completed the Job Training program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to enter the workforce.

Brandon Smith – He plans to enter the workforce.

Joshua Solida – He plans to enter the workforce.

Cameron Wellman – Community Service Honorary Cord. He plans to enter the workforce.

Bruce Whitacre – He plans to enter the workforce.

Nathan Wilson – National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Award for Marching Band. He plans to attend Youngstown State University and received the Red and White Scholarship, $1,000; Honors Program Scholarship, $1,000; and Resch Strategic Fund Scholarship, $1,000.

Emma Wlodarski – National Honor Society, Honors Diploma, Community Service Honorary Cord, and Outstanding Student Awards for Psychology and Concert Band. She plans to attend Kent State University.

Anthony Yeager – He completed the Engineering Technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center and plans to attend Youngstown State University.

Logan Yurko – He completed the Air Force Jr. ROTC program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center, and plans to enter the workforce.