BHS graduation: Who do you want to be?

One of the questions young people invariably get throughout their growing years is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“As we grew up, this question became stressful,” said Jenae Pugh, Brookfield High School senior class president, speaking at the May 21 graduation ceremony.

“This stress was surrounded by the feeling that our self-worth was defined by what we have done or achieved,” she said. “Only the things I can reflect on a resume matter.”

However, the things she did and achieved are not her strongest memories of high school, Jenae said. Instead, she cherished football games, the odd day off from band, and playing Senior Assassins.

Young people should be asked a different question, ‘Who do you want to be when you grow up?’” she said.

“It reminds us that who we are is not set in stone,” Jenae said. “Who you are and what you value are decisions you get to make and what you have the most control over in life.”

Looking at her classmates – her friends – Jenae said, “I cannot wait to see who all of you guys become.”

Brookfield graduated 75 students at commencement, a class that both Principal Megan Marino and Supt. Toby Gibson called “exceptional.”

“They have excelled in athletics,” Gibson said. “They have league, sectional and district titles, all-star performers at every level and three 1,000-point (basketball) scorers in the same class. They have excelled in the classroom. Twelve valedictorians, awards in art, music and writing, top-10 performance at the national drone competition and then have earned as a class over $550,000 in scholarships.”

But, those accolades did not come easy. Although the COVID-19 pandemic was not mentioned, it changed schooling for about two years in unforeseen ways, not to mention the everyday adversities that any person faces in life.

Valedictorians Sophia Hook and Katie Gibson both spoke of how the class members have persevered.

“This class is full of strong and determined individuals that will excel in their future career initiatives,” said Katie, daughter of the superintendent.

Janet Pierko, who taught many, if not all, of the students in elementary or middle school, capped her 36 years in teaching – 24 at Brookfield – with a lesson on the subject of time.

“Wake up thankful for each new day,” she said. “Invest in new relationships. Make new and everlasting memories. Embrace all this life has to give you. Time is a gift. How you choose to use it will determine the course that your life will take.”

Valedictorian William McAnany said he could not imagine graduating with a different group of people.

The class’s closeness is not something you can put on a resume, Jenae said.

“Out of all these memories, I look back and think about all the incredible people that we’ve had the chance to grow up with,” she said.

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Brookfield High School graduated 75 students at commencement May 21 at Packard Music Hall, Warren.

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

Brian Bagnall Jr. – workforce.

Noah Baker – workforce, community service honorary cord.

Antonio Bartolin  – Youngstown State University, community service honorary cord.

Alijah Bauder – workforce.

Dominic Brindza – workforce.

Robert Brindza – workforce.

Acelin Carpec – workforce, completed the engineering technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Christian Clark – Marine Corps, completed the Air Force Jr. ROTC program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Garrick Cottle – workforce, community service honorary cord.

Tyler Coulter – workforce, completed the power equipment mechanics program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Carter Creed – electrician’s apprenticeship, National Honor Society.

Jager Davis – workforce, completed the landscape design and technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Abigail DeJoy – Youngstown State University, salutatorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in home improvement.

Ava Dobbins – Youngstown State University, outstanding student in STEM and three-dimensional art.

Mia Donatelli – Youngstown State University, honors diploma.

Derrick Double – Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, completed the engineering technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Alexis Fisher – workforce, completed the cosmetology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Isabella Foust – Youngstown State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in human physiology, street law and two-dimensional art; YSU Trustee Scholarship, $20,000.

Luca Franz – Youngstown State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, Trumbull County Wolves Club Scholarship, $5,000; YSU Trustee Scholarship, $20,000; YSU Sokolov Honors College Scholarship, $8,000; Ryland Robert Reed Memorial Scholarship, $500; Trumbull County Federation of Women’s Clubs Scholarship, $1,000.

Mario Furillo – Florida Gulf Coast University.

Katie Gibson – Slippery Rock University, valedictorian, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in three-dimensional art; Young Women and Bright Futures Scholarship, $500; Optimist Student of the Year Scholarship Finalist, $100; Slippery Rock Merit Scholarship, $16,000; Ryland Robert Reel Memorial Scholarship, $500; Brookfield Federation of Teachers Scholarship, $500.

Samantha Godsave – workforce.

McKyah Graybill – Youngstown State University, National Honor Society, community service honorary cord; Team Rich Scholarship, $1,000.

Christian Groves – workforce, completed the welding program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Zachary Harden – Youngstown State University, valedictorian, outstanding student in physics.

Connor Heater – Naval Academy; Naval Academy Athletic Scholarship, $275,000.

Kylie Hodil – Youngstown State University.

Ashlyn Hogue – Youngstown State University.

Sophia Hook – Slippery Rock University, valedictorian, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord; Brookfield Parents Association Scholarship, $1,000; Team Rich Scholarship, $1,000; Brenda Rae Haun Memorial Fund, $1,200; Trumbull County Coaches Association, $500; Optimist Student of the Year Scholarship Finalist, $100; Howland Teachers Association, $100; Brookfield Federation of Teachers, $500. 

Riley Hoskin – Youngstown State University.

Makenna Hunter – workforce, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord.

Zachery Johns – workforce.

Isaiah Jones – Ashland University; Ashland Athletic Scholarship, $188,000.

Selina Jones – Youngstown State University, National Honor Society, honors diploma.

Mikenzie Jumper – Raphael’s School of Beauty, National Honor Society, honors diploma, outstanding student in general English IV.

Tylajea Karkoska – Youngstown State University, outstanding student in Microsoft A.

Alysia Kloss – workforce 

William Kopp – Youngstown State University.

Alexa Lindholm – Coastal Carolina University, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma; Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Foundation Scholarship, $1,000; Columbian Home Corp. of Masury Scholarship, $2,000.

Bradyn Litz – workforce.

Katie Logan – Eastern Gateway Community College, student council, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in journalism.

Latesha Love – workforce.

Mason Marx – workforce.

Samantha McAnany – Kent State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in calculus and AP English; First Place Community Fund Scholarship, $1,000.

William McAnany – Kent State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in jazz band.

Kenzie Merchant – workforce, completed the education and family services program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Kaylie Miller – workforce, completed the education and family services program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Laney Miller – Laurel Technical Institute, National Honor Society; LTI Scholarship, $7,000.

Hays Montgomery – electrician apprenticeship, National Honor Society, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in career pathways 2.

Teddy Moody – workforce, community service honorary cord.

Samuel Murcko – Local 66 Operators Union, outstanding student in general English IV.

Colin Murphy – Youngstown State University, student council, National Honor Society,  community service honorary cord.

Cameron Neely – Kent State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, outstanding student in concert band; Horatio Alger State Scholarship, $10,000.

Miranda Nicholson – workforce, community service honorary cord, completed the cosmetology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Charlee Noel – Youngstown State University, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in academic English IV and psychology; Joseph Vasbinder Scholarship, $500.

Tariq Omar – Rutgers University, student council, National Honor Society, community service honorary cord.

Sierra Panner – workforce, completed the education and family services program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Donovan Pawlowski – University of Mount Union, community service honorary cord; Mount Union Presidential Scholarship, $76,000.

Destiney Pickard – workforce.

Madeline Pisarcik – Youngstown State University.

Sam Plyler – Kent State University, salutatorian, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in marching band; KSU Academic/Honors/Band Scholarship, $28,000; Columbian Home Corp. of Masury Scholarship, $2,000; Ohio Natural Energy Institute Scholarship, $1,000.

Micah Pope – workforce, completed the engineering technology program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Jenae Pugh – Youngstown State University, valedictorian, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord; YSU Trustee Scholarship, $20,000; YSU Sokolov Honors College Scholarship, $8,000; Mercer County Frontiers Scholarship, $500; Optimist Student of the Year Scholarship, $1,000; Masury-Brookfield Women’s Club Scholarship, $500; Rotary Club of Brookfield Scholarship, $500; Daffins Candy Nursing Scholarship, $2,500; Brookfield Board of Education Scholarship, $500.

Mark Randall – Youngstown State University, community service honorary cord.

Kaedie Roscoe – Robert Morris University, National Honor Society,  community service honorary cord.

Cole Saloom – workforce.

Lauren Shingledecker – Raphael’s School of Beauty, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in pre-apprenticeship.

Logan Shingledecker – Slippery Rock University, National Honor Society, community service honorary cord.

Zoe Steele – John Carroll University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord, outstanding student in two-dimensional art; John Carroll Presidential Scholarship, $112,000; John Carroll Institutional Scholarship, $20,000; Brookfield Parents Association Scholarship, $1,000; Optimist Club Student of the Year Finalist, $100; Ulysses S. Ward Scholarship, $500.

Austin Stewart – workforce.

Kara Svarny – Kent State University, valedictorian, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord; Norma Jean Kirsch Scholarship, $2,000.

Ryan Tetrick – Youngstown State University, National Honor Society.

Madeline Thomas – Westminster College, valedictorian, student council, National Honor Society, honors diploma, community service honorary cord; Franklin B. Walter Scholastic Scholarship, $500; Westminster Award, $120,000; Strimbu Memorial Scholarship, $2,000; Brookfield Federation of Teachers Scholarship, $500.

Connor Wilkinson – workforce, completed the interactive multimedia program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

Xzavier Witherow – workforce, community service honorary cord.