The annual award is given to juniors and seniors in the DOY since 1999
NEWS RELEASE
March 30, 2026
Contact: Madeleine Francisco, Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment, (330) 744-8451 ext. 310; mfrancisco@youngstowndiocese.org
Additional Contact: Dennis Biviano, PR & Media Specialist, (330) 744-8451, ext. 320; dbiviano@youngstowndiocese.org
YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is pleased to announce the 18 recipients of the 2026 Eagle of the Cross Award. The award, which is the highest honor our diocese bestows on our youth, was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) and introduced 28 years ago. It is given each year to a group of extraordinary high school juniors and seniors who model Catholic-Christian leadership amongst their peers, dedication to the faith, and moral integrity for the Church.
The Most Rev. David J. Bonnar will present the awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica in Youngstown. A reception will follow in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall. The names of each of the 20 award recipients follows:
County (Parish) Category:
Jessica Berry – Ashtabula County | Parish: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva
Riley Cordell – Trumbull County | Parish: Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Warren
Louis Cross – Mahoning County | Parish: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica-St. Anthony of Padua, Youngstown
Malena Gottwig – Ashtabula County | Parish: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva
Sophie Johnson – Trumbull County | Parish: Queen of Heaven, McDonald
Jordyn Miller – Mahoning County | Parish: Saint Mary Magdalene, Youngstown
Dalton Nellis – Ashtabula County | Parish: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva
Andrew Didymus Puhalla – Mahoning County | Parish: Saint Catherine of Siena, Boardman
Abigail Restaino – Trumbull County | Parish: Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Warren
Mattea Spitale – Stark County | Parish: Saint Francis of Assisi, Canton
Rocco Zembala – Portage County | Parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aurora
Catholic School Category:
Madeleine Devlin – Ursuline High School, Youngstown | Parish: Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown
Pierce Jones – Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown | Parish: Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown
Luke Lantz – Ursuline High School, Youngstown | Parish: Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown
Nelson Lopez – Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown | Parish: Saint Dominic, Youngstown
Luke Paul – Central Catholic High School, Canton | Parish: Divine Mercy, Massillon
Landon Stanek – Saint Thomas Aquinas High School | Parish: Saint Isadore, Louisville
Ahtziry Villegas-Camacho – Saint Thomas Aquinas High School | Parish: Saint Francis of Assisi, Canton
