Science - Jacob Herrick
Social Studies - Grace Hodara
English/Media - Angie Cortez
Math - Camden Farmer
Music - Matthew Schnaufer
Business - Anrew Herrick
Art - Makenzie Crouse
LOTE - Gahseni'de' Hubbell
Leadership/Counseling: Junie Buffalo
Physical Education - Cruz Otero
Avid Reader - Gavin Lounsbury
STEAM: Connor Vizenor

8th Grade - Ryder Jimerson
9th Grade - Landon Baker
10th Grade - Shi-Ann Sheldon
11th Grade - Karina Mireles-Crouse
12th Grade - Jordan Butcher

The Warrior Pride Award was presented to Faith Long

It gives me great pleasure to present this year’s Warrior Pride Award.  This award recognizes one student in grades 8 – 12 who embodies being a Warrior.  The recipient of this award should demonstrate the following characteristics:

1. Compassion, kind and friendly to everyone

2. Strong positive leadership skills

3. Selfless, puts others first and goes above and beyond for peers.

4. Volunteers in the school and community

This year it is an honor to present this award to Faith Long - It gives me great pleasure to present this year’s Warrior Pride Award.  This award recognizes one student in grades 8 – 12 who embodies being a Warrior.  The recipient of this award should demonstrate the following characteristics:

1. Compassion, kind and friendly to everyone

2. Strong positive leadership skills

3. Selfless, puts others first and goes above and beyond for peers.

4. Volunteers in the school and community

 This year’s Warrior Pride award goes to a student who personifies each characteristic of this award. Her teachers and school counselor describe her as one of the most outgoing, energetic, compassionate, selfless and generous students to walk the halls of Sally High.  If you were to describe a student with a bubbly, outgoing, and friendly personality this would be her.   She always has a smile on her face and has some pep in her step. She has been a consistent leader amongst her peers in the class of 2023, with being a class officer each year and volunteering her time to fundraise events that her class puts on, specifically the Cindy Mohr 5K. She is the type of person, no matter how full her schedule is, will volunteer to help her peers, school and community when called upon. This student exhumes energy, excitement and Warrior pride as she runs the sidelines with the Warrior flag to cheer on her peers, bringing excitement to the crowd at sporting events, planning spirit weeks and encouraging others to get involved. Her positivity and outlook on life is contagious, making her a joy to be around. She is a true leader who displays integrity and courage.  This year’s Warrior Pride award goes to: Faith Long.

8th Grade - Rowan Brown
9th Grade - Jesse Hill
10th Grade - Jerry Miller
11th Grade - Keegan Hardy
12th Grade - Zaron Tucker

The Nelson Beard You've Got this Award was presented to Paloma Haas - I have the privilege of presenting the Nelson Beard “You’ve Got This” award to a Seneca Intermediate student. I worked with Mr. Beard my first year at Salamanca when I was split between Prospect and the High School. His memory and legacy live on at Seneca Intermediate and Prospect Elementary through the many students’ and teachers’ lives he impacted. He was a great educator; his passion for education was contagious, and his smile and energy were infectious. Mr. Beard encouraged his students to take risks, be kind, and demonstrate a love for learning, both in and out of the classroom. 

The recipient of the Nelson Beard award this year exemplifies everything it means to be a Warrior and everything Mr. Beard worked to instill in his students. Not only does she excel academically, she is active in the school community through extra-curriculars such as track and field, mural club, and participates in ceremony music that the Seneca Intermediate band provides to our community for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I've had the pleasure of teaching her this year- first the flute, and when she would practice every day, I knew she was a different caliber student. So, I gave her a harder instrument- the bassoon, which I reserve for the most determined students because it takes such concentration and tenacity to learn. When a key broke on her bassoon, and it was at the repair shop for what seemed like forever, I gave her a bari saxophone, which she has done amazing with and she enjoys playing.  

I’m not the only one who holds her in high regard; here are a few comments from her teachers-  

“She goes above and beyond to help anyone in need” 

“She works hard and is able to balance a love of art and music with athletics and academics” 

“She is kind to others, has excellent grades, and is an amazing artist” 

“She is very respectful and responsible. We could all take a page from her book” 

It is an honor to present this year’s Nelson Beard “You’ve Got This” award to Paloma Haas. 

The Friends of Education Award was presented to Christina Martens

Christina graduated as a student athlete from Salamanca.  She understands how important athletics and being involved were in getting her education.  She in turn supports many aspects of extra curriculars at Salamanca at many different levels.  She donates her time to the Varsity swim team by being a diving coach everyday.  She volunteers as the main coach for SAAC swimming.  She was the coach that took her swimmers to Golds in Buffalo.  She also coaches modified softball even though her daughter is on JV, she understands it is more important to build the program for future athletes.  She has donated meals to the drama club on show week, and money towards costumes.  Christina is the vice president of the little league in Salamanca along with coaching and sponsoring little league for years.  She sponsors and coaches summer soccer and also started and summer softball team for u16.  Her and her husband through Martens outdoors have came up with a raffle to support the little league along with a golf tournament to fund raise.   She understands it takes a village to raise a child and she is doing the work of two villages to give selflessly of her time and resources to the youth of Salamanca.  We are fortunate to have her back and invested in SHS.

The Friends of Education Award was presented to Seneca Nation of Indians: Education in today’s environment is very complex.  Without the cooperation of educators, students, parents, and the community; the total potential of our schools cannot be realized.  Over the past several years our schools have taken on many more responsibilities making community cooperation essential.  During this time many organizations have contributed to our mission of teaching and learning and tonight we have the opportunity to recognize one of them.  We know the far-reaching impact the Seneca Nation has in our community.  The Seneca Nation has assisted our schools not only in teaching and learning but also with the myriad of processes that occur behind the scenes.  The mutual respect our organizations have for one another allows us to collaboratively provide an outstanding learning experience for our students not only today but for decades to come.  Tonight, we thank you for your support and recognize you as a vital Friend of Education in Salamanca.