Celebration of Excellence

History

Parents for Public Schools of Syracuse, Inc. initiated its annual Celebration of Excellence ceremony to generate a sense of community pride in the Syracuse City Public Schools.

This event recognizes the accomplishments of selected persons from our city school communities. The honorees are selected from students, parents, teachers, other building staff and administrators, who are nominated for this award by the respective school community. Our goal is to acknowledge the unsung heroes and heroines within the City School District who contribute greatly to their school but whom are seldom mentioned.

Syracuse City School District Alumni Award

The Parents for Public Schools Syracuse, Inc., Syracuse City School District Alumni Award, was introduced in 2005.  This award is give to talented alumni of Syracuse City Schools who continue to give back to their community and schools.  They are engaged in numerous civic and educational activities.

Mary Ficchi Lifetime Achievement Award

The Parents for Public Schools Syracuse, Inc., Mary Ficchi Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual who has given many years of dedicated service to the Public School system in the field of education.

The person who receives this award shares the values of PPS’s mission, to advocate for ALL students to ensure an excellent education in the Syracuse public schools as well as possesses qualities of leadership and demonstrates a high commitment to student achievement.

The award was named after Mary Ficchi, a former PPS of Syracuse board member and a dedicated public school educator. She was the first recipient of this award.

Students:
• Alea Bonner, Salem Hyde Elementary School
• Cleo Hamilton, T. Aaron Levy Middle School
Ilko Luque, William Nottingham High School

Parents:

• Brea Allers and Sarah Gilbert, J. T. Roberts K-8 School
• Tina Gilben, Van Duyn Elementary School
• Linda Tagliamonte and Joanne Capparelli, Salem Hyde Elementary School
 

Staff:

• Sharon Birnkrant, Principal, H. W. Smith K-8 School
• Audrey Damon, Guidance Counselor, Syracuse Renaissance Academy
• Alton Hicks, Administrative Intern, Thomas J. Corcoran High School
• Joe Horan, Teacher, T. Aaron Levy Middle School
• Areli Schermerhorn, ESL teacher, George W. Fowler High School
• Jim Youngs, Kindergarten Teacher, H. W. Smith K-8 School

Mary Ficchi Lifetime Achievement Awardee

Geneva Hayden

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Students:
• Mario Cabral, Delaware Elementary School
• Matthew Winzens-Mone, Lincoln Middle School
Edward Traver, William Nottingham High School

Parents:

• Sue Watson, Edward Smith Elementary School
• Zina Chandler, Shea Middle School
• Nancy Cannizzaro, Henninger High School
 

Staff:

• Jerry Brown (posthumously), Delaware Elementary School
• William Oscarlece, Danforth Middle School
• Timothy Flanders, Syracuse Renaissance Academy at Carnegie

Mary Ficchi Lifetime Achievement Awardee

Kate McKenna

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School Awardees

Students:
• Sydni Rene Mattison, J. T. Roberts K-8 School
• Marc Galvagno, Lincoln Middle School
 

Parents:

• Yvette Candi Edwards, Elmwood Elementary School
• Louise Randall, Shea Middle School
• Molly Voorhies, William Nottingham High School

Staff:
• Judy Tremaine, Salem Hyde Elementary School
• Helena Arcaro, Lincoln Middle School
• Greg Hipus, Thomas J. Corcoran High School

Syracuse City School District Alumni Awardees

• Emma Owens Richardson: Community Engagement
• Dereaux Branch (Branch Driving School):  Business

Mary Ficchi Lifetime Achievement Awardee

Mitch Cyrus

School Awardees

Students:
• Kelisha Lopez-Colon, Dr. Weeks Elementary School
• Shanna Lewis, Lincoln Middle School
• Zufar Shahren, William Nottingham High School

Parents:
• Melissa Harrington, Elmwood Elementary School
• Sam and Nanette Galvagno, Lincoln Middle School
• Schaleon Davis, William Nottingham High School

Staff:
• Barbara Warren, J. T. Roberts K-8 School
• Thermon Young, Clary Middle School
• Pam Baldini-Dittmann, Central Technical Vocational High School

Syracuse City School District Alumni Awardees

• Will Allen, Corcoran High School:  Sports
• Calvin Corriders, Henninger High School:  Community Engagement
• Dr. Donna DeSiato, Henninger High School:  Education
• Gary Pickard, Eastwood High School:  Business

• Joyce DePalma and Gail Simone, Central Technical Vocational High School
• Serena Royal and Megan Root, Thomas J. Corcoran High School
• Marie J. Fratto and Robert Seeley, George W. Fowler High School
• Jawaan Kallam, Henninger High School
• Len Fonte and Donald Little III, William Nottingham High School

Joanne Reddick (Postmously presented)

• Brian Jones and Ken Martin, Clary Middle School
• Anthony Smith, Frazer K-8 School
• Nancy Gargan and Debra Moriaty, Hughes Academic Magnet School
• Ann Beck, Huntington K-8 School
• Michelle Brewster and Alice Smith, T. Aaron Levy Middle School
• Mickey Davis and David Muolo, Lincoln Middle School
• Patricia O'Neil and Nancy Rubado, J. T. Roberts K-8 School
• David Cecil and Stephen Harrington, Shea Middle School

• Brian L. Brown and Brian Mingolelli, Central Technical Vocational High School
• Steve Lutwin and Miranda Morgan, Thomas J. Corcoran High School
• Thomas Little and Aaron Mayer, Fowler High School
• Thomas Acee and Lucy Kramer, Anthony A. Henniger High School
• Noah Dougherty and Sue Stonecash, William Nottingham High School
• Josephine Crisafulli and Timothy Flanders, Syracuse Renaissance Academy