The Eagle of the Cross award is given annually to outstanding juniors and seniors in high school within the Diocese of Youngstown who show particular zeal in the improvement of their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams, or youth work in general within the Diocese.
Nominees must be Catholic, and must exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works, and Catholic-Christian leadership. This award was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, and is the highest honor presented to the youth by the Diocese of Youngstown. Up to 3 awards per county for parish involvement, and up to 2 awards per diocesan Catholic high school are awarded each year.
Updated: April 7, 2025
20 Teens to Receive “Eagle of the Cross” Award from Diocese of Youngstown
The annual award is given to juniors and seniors in the DOY since 1999
YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment of the Catholic
Diocese of Youngstown is pleased to announce the 20 recipients of the 2025 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 27 years ago. It’s
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 Monday, April 28, 2025,
at 6:00 p.m. at Saint Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. A reception will follow in Saint Columba
Hall. The names of each of the 20 award recipients follows:
County (Parish) Category:
Abbigail Borbely – Portage County | Parish: Saint John Neumann Parish, Mogadore
Brooke Bosheff – Trumbull County | Parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, McDonald
Gregory Carbon – Mahoning County | Parish: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica, Youngstown
Jacob Fieldhouse – Mahoning County | Parish: Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, Boardman
Sophie Galliazzo – Ashtabula County | Parish: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish,
Geneva
Christopher Hammond – Columbiana County | Parish: Saint Jude Parish, Columbiana
Jenna Marhefka – Columbiana County | Parish: Saint John the Evangelist, Summitville
Maggie May – Stark County | Parish: Saint Paul Catholic Parish, North Canton
Christopher Mijavec – Trumbull County | Parish: Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Warren
Luke Rowland – Mahoning County | Parish: Saint Columba Cathedral Parish, Youngstown
Katie Wojton – Columbiana County | Parish: Saint Jude Parish, Columbiana
Catholic School Category:
Christine Biggins – Saint John School, Ashtabula | Parish: Immaculate Conception Parish,
Madison
Francesca Bolchalk – John F. Kennedy Catholic School, Warren | Parish: Saint Teresa of
Calcutta Parish, Warren
Marc DelliQuadri – Ursuline High School, Youngstown | Parish: Saint Rose Parish, Girard
Elizabeth Ducro – Saint John School, Ashtabula | Parish: Our Lady of Peace Parish, Ashtabula
Rocco Gentile – Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown | Parish: Holy Family Parish,
Poland
Aidan Hryb – Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown | Parish: Holy Family Parish, Poland
Giuliana Ricchiuti – Ursuline High School, Youngstown | Parish: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Basilica, Youngstown
Luke Vlacovsky – Central Catholic High School, Canton | Parish: Guardian Angels Parish,
Canton
Maegli Young – Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, Louisville | Parish: Christ the Servant
Parish, Canton
Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact Maddie Francisco at mfrancisco@youngstowndiocese.org or (330) 744-8451 x 310.
