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Addison Wood (center) received the 2026 Board of Education High School Student of the Year Award

MAY 29, 2026—Student achievement took center stage Thursday afternoon as the Pal-Mac High School recognized dozens of students during its annual Recognition Awards Ceremony in the High School Lower Cafeteria.

Presented by the High School Counseling Department, the annual event honored 91 students for excellence in academics, leadership, service, the arts and community involvement. Throughout the ceremony, students were recognized with departmental awards, scholarships and special honors that reflected their hard work and accomplishments throughout the school year.

Several students received multiple awards.

The ceremony wrapped up with the presentation of the Board of Education (BOE) High School Student of the Year Award. Senior Addison Wood received the distinction in recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions to the school community.

Board members Sarah Newman and Sherry Lambert presented Wood with the award.

The District would like to congratulate these outstanding students for their hard work and dedication throughout the school year.

A full list of awards can be found below. You can also click here to view a photo gallery. 

Math

Algebra: Noah Lewis, Quinley Williamson

Geometry: Giana Hayes

Algebra II: Kerrigan Connolly, Cole McGeary

Pre-Calculus: Sean Allen, Jacob Collie

Calculus: Carson Lich

Writing

9th Grade: Amelia Jesse

10th Grade: Isabelle Garcia

11th Grade: Leela Barnes, Rhett Engels

12th Grade: Payton Cotterman, Ryder Herron-Gardner

Literary Appreciation & Insight Award

9th Grade: Ellie Swart, Abigail Sirianno

10th Grade: Elizabeth Jesse,

11th Grade: Evan Wheeler

12th Grade: Ella Eakins, Jonas Henley

Arts Awards

Palmyra-Macedon Select Choir Award: Payton Cotterman, Tyler Dranichak

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Ella Eakins

Sousa Band Award: Isaiah Bransford

Class Of 1962 Award: Aubrey Gilfus

Other Honors

Class Of 2010 Senior Class Officer Recognition Award: Andrew Jennette

Class Of 1952 - Yearbook: Jayson Bush

Walter B. Mckean Memorial Band Fund (Class Of ‘70): Nicole Pompeii

Walter B. Mckean Memorial Band Fund (Class Of ‘71): Havana Sullivan

Frank H. Granger Palmyra Betterment Club: Samantha Mahnke

Charles W. Miner: Jonas Henley

William J. Finnerghty: Tyler Dranichak

Arlene Fox: Payton Cotterman

George Mclaughlin Memorial: Kelly Sanson

Class Of 1978 Betterment: Ryan Allen, Jenna Lindstrom

Rob Nolan Scholarship: Carson Lich

Class Of 1984 Unity Award: Jonathan Turner

NYS Academic Excellence Scholarship: Kareem Afify, Ella Eakins, George Newsome IV, Eloise O’ Brien, Addisyn Perry

Triple C: Phoebe Bullock, Brandon Conley, Kaelyn Courtney, Liam McManus, Kaelynn Sabatasso

Civic Ambassador: Dawn Zsembery

Col. William A. Prescott Daughters Of The American Revolution History Award: Teagan Hudak

Mayflower Award: Ella Eakins, George Newsome IV

Elizabeth J. Amidon Award: Kyle Bray

Collegiate Honors

Notre Dame Club Of Rochester Junior Of The Year Award: Dylan Becker

St. Michael's College Book Award: Travis Brown, Elianna Rouland

Chatham University Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award: Carl Lester

Tulane University Book Award: Addison Cheetham

Bowdoin Book Award: Drew Ikewood

William & Mary Leadership Award: Connor Brown

St. Lawrence Book Award: Jay Allison

Inamori Alfred University Award: Shelby Geer

Alfred University "Outside Of The Ordinary" Scholastic Recognition Award: Kerrigan Connolly, Zooey Graham

Elmira College Key Award: Sydney Cole

Endicott College Book Award: Brooke Drake

The Student Sage Award: Ariella Bradley, Dylan Courtney, Jayden Gleason, Derek Leone, Eli Marlow, Kyleigh Murray

Keuka George A. Ball Community Award: Alaina Brown, Lily Cooley, Arianna Costigan, Bryan Courtney, Anabelle Grant

St. Bonaventure Award, Bonnie Scholarship: Declan Atkinson, Leela Barnes, Destiny Guilliams, Thane Khulman, Renee Mossmeyer, Carsen Ribstein, Abigail Shufelt

St. Bonaventure Award, Reilly Scholarship: Timothy Batterby, Jacob Collie, Emma Cretelle, Jackson Dennie, Avryana Leo, Eli Smith, Branden Thomas

Le Moyne College Heights Award: Sophia Casella, Elizabeth Jesse

Clarkson University Leadership Award: Ian Ryan

Clarkson University Achievement Award: Sean Allen

RIT Computing Award: Evan Wheeler

RIT Science And Math Award: Samuel Shoots

RIT Art And Design Award: Kaitlyn Miller

RIT Business And Leadership Award: Reid Diehl

RIT Humanities And Social Sciences Award: Clifford Lofgren

RPI Rensselaer Medal: Rhett Engels

U Of R Xerox Award For Innovation And Information Technology: James Sanson

George Eastman Young Leaders Award: Wyatt Johnson

U Of R Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award: Jonathan Tome

U Of R Frederick Douglass And Susan B.Anthony Award: Dylan Becker

Local Scholarship Recognition 

Reliant Credit Union Donald K. Rhine Scholarship: Kelly Sanson

Timothy Barber Scholarship (Ware): Gavin Drain

What Glass Ceiling Award: Morgan Newman

 

Board of Education Student of the Year:

Addison Wood