WVHS holds National Tech Honor Society induction and CTE Recognition Ceremony

Warwick Valley High School held its Career & Technical Education (CTE) Recognition Ceremony and National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) Induction on Monday evening, June 9. District administration, CTE faculty, students and their families gathered in the high school auditorium for the event, which also included recognition of the Warwick Valley SkillsUSA team and its great season. The evening began with the NTHS portion of the event.

You can see a GALLERY of pictures from the event below this story.

Download the event program here.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY

Following opening remarks by WVHS associate principal Nick Emanuele, the traditional NTHS Candle Lighting Ceremony was led by current NTHS members Rowan Astorino, Kyra Collins, Abigail Joan Dunn, Raelyn Finelli, Julianna Graff, Kaden Nagel, and Abigail Velez. NTHS members Zoey Crane and Sahna Glass introduced and welcomed the new class of inductees.

Congratulations, to Salemah Brown, Jillian Daubert, Madison Fox, Mia Green, Lily Hennessey-Coyle, Autumn Ladka, Kellie Lassiter, Emma Miller, Allison Ortiz, Isabella Romero, Carly Romig, Camryn Terry, Amanda Torres, Saoirse Trazino, Sofia Hafeez, Kailyn Hansen, Paul Helmrich, Ryan Barnable, William Boller, Cara Calone, Samantha Diltz, Morgan Pilieri, Brett Roberson, and Natalia Yacab. 

The new NTHS members were led in the honor society pledge led by Eduardo Avila, the high school’s NTHS co-advisor and CTE Criminal Justice teacher.

As a member of the National Technical Honor Society, I pledge to maintain the highest standard of personal conduct. I will apply myself to continue a record of scholastic achievement, and I will strive for excellence in all aspects of my education. I will invest my talents, my skills and my knowledge in a career of my own choosing, and shall always endeavor to uphold my obligations as a citizen of my community and my country.

Mr. Emanuele then presented the NTHS seniors with their senior stoles. Congratulations, to Diana Aguilar Solis, Valerie Cardozo Zapata, Zoey Crane, Abigail Joan Dunn, Raelyn Finelli, Sofia Fryer, Niamh Gormley, Julianna Graff, Mia Green, Yheranni Maya, Isabella Romero, Jiah Samsair, Megan Scannello, Emma Silva, Hope Smith, Kaitlin Tierney, Naomi Valentino, Oceania Whight-Webb, Kyra Collins, Graham Gaspari, Sahna Glass, Paul Helmrich, Christian Katsabanis, Christian Pinnavaia, Landon Sarra, James Schipper, Kent Uribe, Abigail Velez, Jaedan Walker, Brianna Young, Rowan Astorino, Jon-Michael Anthony Lobosco Jr., Kaden Nagel, Mekhi Winfrey 

WVHS principal Georgianna Diopoulos shared her pride and awe in the dedication that the high school’s CTE students show to their fields, their programs and the school community.

“When I look out in this audience, I know darn well that all of these students have done more than their 54 requisite hours. At every evening performance, our criminal justice students are here working. If an event requires hair and makeup, our cosmetology students are willing and able,” she beamed. “And our video production students—I don't know if you sleep! We have more television programs and video recorded and produced by you guys than I can even count.”

Principal Diopoulos finished with words of encouragement for graduating CTE students.

“Your dedication, your curiosity, and commitment to excellence in your chosen fields sets you apart. You've embraced hands-on learning, problem solving, and collaboration—all skills that will continue to help you in the everchanging world we live in," she said. "So, this achievement reflects your perseverance, and your potential to be leaders in careers that shape the future. I am so incredibly proud of each and every one of you and I am so excited to see where your talents will take you next!"

CTE ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION

Mr. Emanuele returned to open the CTE portion of the evening, acknowledging students' accomplishments in the vocational fields of Criminal Justice, Cosmetology and Video Production. The three programs comprise the unique in-house WVHS CTE opportunities. He also introduced guest speaker Dan Walker (Class of 2020), former student of Dan Cecconie in the Video Production program. Dan is now a freelance broadcast cameraman for various area sports teams, including the NJ Devils, NY Islanders, and NY Red Bulls. After Warwick, Dan went to Montclair State University and graduated with a degree in TV & Digital Media. He began working as a freelancer in college. 

“And then, you know, from there, I’ve just kind of made it my full-time gig,” he said, crediting the WVHS CTE program with giving him a huge head start in both college and career. He knew how to operate and create with industry-standard equipment before leaving Warwick. He also felt prepared and confident to meet people in his new professional sphere. 

“CTE also taught me how to network and take one opportunity to the next,” Dan said. “The workflow I was working on here and the content that we produced when I was at Warwick was already on par with what many colleges were doing. I got the head start that I did because of Warwick. So, if your career is something you're passionate about and this is the path that you've chosen, you've got the biggest head start you could possibly have. Just stick with it and always be open to learning more.”

SKILLS USA ACHIEVMENT RECOGNITION

Mr. Cecconie opened the SkillsUSA portion of the evening, highlighting the achievements of the high school’s SkillsUSA team. Certificates were presented to students for their achievements in the Criminal Justice, Cosmetology and Video Production programs by their respective teachers.

You can read this article from May, which talks about the team’s recent trip to Syracuse to compete in the 2025 SkillsUSA New York Leadership & Skills Championships. Mr. Cecconie, Mr. Avila, and WVHS Cosmetology teacher Kathleen Bettello.

The WVHS team won 2nd Place in the Criminal Justice Quiz Bowl event, and the Television Production team also captured a 2nd Place finish! The SkillsUSA team that represented WVHS in Syracuse this year included:

COSMETOLOGY

• Salemah Brown
• Zoey Crane
• Abigail Joan Dunn
• Michellee Frackiewicz
• Niamh Gormley
• Lilly Hennessey-Coyle
• Yheranni Maya
• Emma Miller
• Allison Ortiz
• Carly Romig
• Jiah Samsair
• Megan Scannello
• Aubrey Serrano
• Amanada Torres

VIDEO PRODUCTION

• Rowan Astorino
• William Boller
• Cara Calone
• Elijah Caric
• Clyde Demke
• Samantha Diltz
• Kayden Nagel
• Brett Roberson
• Sukmanbir Singh
• Mekhi Winfrey
• Natalia Yacab

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• Kyra Collins
• Sahna Glass
• Sofia Hafeez
• Kailyn Hansen
• Paul Helmrich
• Grace Hewitt
• Christian Katsabanis
• Sienna Liggio
• Evan Moore
• Christian Pinnavaia
• Landon Sarra
• James Schipper
• Acadia Sealy
• Abigail Velez
• Brianna Young

The evening was a wonderful celebration of student achievement, as well as a testament to the popularity and power of career and technical education and the world of opportunity it opens. WVHS is proud to partner with organizations like NTHS and SkillsUSA, which share the district’s commitment to empowering students for career-readiness through technical education. Both the NTHS and SkillsUSA advocate for and empower students who aspire to careers as skilled professionals, emphasizing leadership and service.

This slide show was shared during the event. See the full PHOTO GALLERY below.