SUNY Jamestown Community College recently honored 66 high school students from throughout southwestern New York as the 2025-2026 students of the year in the College Connections program.
In selecting the students of the year, schools were asked to consider College Connections participants who had embraced the challenges of completing college level work and demonstrated resourcefulness, integrity, and dedication.
College Connections, JCC's concurrent enrollment program with regional high schools, is accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.
Recipients included:
Allegany-Limestone Central School: senior Julia DeRose, junior Abigail Middaugh
Bolivar-Richburg Central School: senior Kelcy Bryant, junior Lindsey Greeson
Brocton Central School: senior Emma VanValkenburg, junior Jeny Ortiz
CA BOCES Belmont Center: senior Meara Kelley
CA BOCES Ellicottville Center: senior Caitlyn Lewis
CA BOCES Olean Center: senior Emmaleigh Nothem-Orcutt, junior Sarah Benedict
Cassadaga Valley Central School: senior Bella Jaquith
Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School: senior Johannah Luce, junior Emma West
Chautauqua Lake Central School: senior Molly Ulsh, junior Eve Kushmaul
Clymer Central School: senior Beau Miller, junior Cami Battaglia
Cuba-Rushford Central School: senior Sky Hardman-Knobloch, junior Sadie Burch
Dunkirk High School: senior Chichi Lopez, junior Chelsey Tramuto
Ellicottville Central School: senior Mackenize Noga, junior Ava Pasinski
Falconer Central School: senior Sophia Emborsky, junior Sharlie Quackenbush
Fillmore Central School: junior Adalyn Wartinger
Forestville Central School: senior Giulianna Patton, junior Ingrid Gibson
Franklinville Central School: senior Trinity Herman, junior Derek Ossont
Fredonia Central School: senior Mariella Russo, junior Reed Beckley
Frewsburg Central School: senior Lily Harvey, junior Gavin Kent
Genesse Valley Central School: senior Logan Callahan
Gowanda Central School: senior Addison Kota, junior McKoy Luce
Hinsdale Central School: senior Chimaira Fargo, junior Lily Bushnell
Jamestown High School: senior Angela Santizo-Soto, junior Aleah Loveless
Maple Grove Junior/Senior High School: senior Mae Benedetto, junior Evalyn Fessel
Olean High School: senior Isabelle West, junior Lokesh Anumalasetty
Panama Central School: senior Brooke Warner, junior Annie Becker
Pine Valley Central School: senior Kaitlyn King, junior JaKobe Howard
Randolph Central School: senior Piper Chase, junior Ashton Johnson
Salamanca High School: senior Mackenzie Crouse, junior Arleigh Chudy
Sherman Central School: senior Brookelynn Wright, junior Bria Palmatier
Silver Creek Central School: senior Meadow Azzarella, junior Liana Parsell
Southwestern Central High School: senior Landon Hooks, junior Dorian Weaver
Springville-Griffith Institute: senior Jackson Nutter
Wellsville Central School: senior Jack Davis
West Valley Central School: junior Noah Klahn
Westfield Academy & Central School: senior Benjamin Wolfe, junior Lance Franklin
WNY P-TECH Academy: senior Tyrick Nadi, junior Calem Izzo
In celebration of the award, JCC created an online album highlighting the students, their achievements, and future plans. Visit facebook.com/sunyjcc to see biographies of the College Connections Students of the Year.