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Remembering America’s fallen on Memorial Day
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Alfred • Allentown • Alma • Andover • Angelica • Belfast • Belmont • Bolivar • Caneadea • Ceres • Cuba • FilLmore • Friendship • Genesee Houghton • little genesee • portville • richburg • Rushford • Scio • shinglehouse • Ulysses • Wellsville • west clarksville • Whitesville
Mya Keeler of Fillmore a Big 30 Academic Scholarship winner BY KELLEN QUIGLEY
OLEAN — Mya Keeler of Fillmore Central School was one of six soon-to-graduate high school seniors to receive a Big 30 Academic Scholarship as announced May 21 during the 35th annual Big 30 Academic Scholarship Banquet. High school seniors from 30 New York and Pennsylvania districts gathered with their parents and school officials for the banquet. Students received congratulations and advice for the future at the banquet, which recognizes a senior “academic all-star” from
Mya Keeler
each school district in the Olean Times Herald’s Twin Tiers sports coverage area, known as the Big 30. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years,” said Eric Talbot, principal at Fillmore Central School
nearly $80,000 in scholarships over the last three decades, and another six students received $500 Big 30 scholarships Thursday at the Woodside Tavern. The other five students to receive scholarships were Elizabeth Moate of Austin, Pa., Cecily Bell of Bradford, Joanna Chen of Coudersport, Aidan DeFazio of Portville and Annabelle Proseus of West Valley. Allegany County seniors honored at the banquet included James Miller-Young of Andover, Rachel Merriam of Belfast, Danika Loucks of Bolivar-Richburg, Lauryn Radomski of Cuba-Rushford, Madi-
and one of this year’s banquet emcees. “We’re happy that you’re all here tonight.” Each year, the principals from the schools have formulated a nomination process for a student from each school to be a participant in the Big 30 Academic Team, Talbot explained. “All students will be honored with the Principal’s Plaque for their incredible high school academic accomplishments,” he said. “Then, there will be six different scholarship winners who are selected.” Sponsored by the Times Herald and Big 30-area principals, the event has bestowed
son Rondeau of Friendship, Nolan Hunter of Genesee Valley, Nathan Black of Scio and Kennedy Ewing of Wellsville. Guest speaker Joe Racalto, a restaurant owner from Hornell who worked for 25 years as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C., congratulated the students on their accomplishments, saying their achievements reflect the discipline, character, resilience and willingness to work hard even if no one is watching. “Those qualities will carry you much farther than any title or award could ever do,” he said. “Trust me when I say this: life has a remark-
able way of surprising you.” Racalto, who was a senior advisor to Civil Rights champions Sen. Ted Kennedy and Congressman Barney Frank, said he was hardly someone to consider “mostly likely to succeed” when growing up in Hornell. However, even with no road map for big dreams, he said he learned that change does not happen to people who wait for it. After graduating, he was in Boston attending an event that Frank attended. “But after the event, Scholarship Winner continued on PAGE 4
Genesee Valley Chorus readies for June 14 America 250 concert BY KATHRYN ROSS
WELLSVILLE — Fifty years ago local singers under the direction of John Molinari formed the Genesee Valley Chorus to celebrate with song the bicentennial of the United States. In 2026, just like in a musical score, the group is repeating itself. There are few remaining singers from the original Genesee Valley Chorus, and there have been several directors since Molinari raised his baton, but patriotism and the celebration of the nation’s anniversary are still there. The members of the GVC have been rehearsing
since March for a 3 p.m., June 14 concert at Trinity Lutheran Church to celebrate America’s 250th with song. The 35-voice choir is under the direction of Wellsville’s Middle and High School music ddirector Matthew Purks-Morris. Liz Crawford of Houghton is the accompanist. They and the current choristers are planning to make this concert memorable in more ways than one. “We got our start with the bicentennial and we thought it would be appropriate to recognize those original members and give them the opportunity to sing with us again,” said cho-
rus spokesperson Nicole Davis. She explained that any former GVC members are invited to come to a special rehearsal at 3 p.m. June 13 at Grace United Church (the day before the concert) to sing two of the chorus’ old favorites, “Let There Be Peace On Earth” and “Why We Sing.” There will be a dinner provided and a chance to reminisce. The next day during the concert, Purks-Morris will ask the former members to sing the two numbers with the chorus. “We’re still working on the specific details. Because we have such a
long history we thought this would be fun,” Davis said. Any of the former members wishing to participate in this event should contact Davis at (585) 610-8704. The June 14 concert will feature many of the choir members’ favorite songs. Davis said the members got together and voted on their favorite numbers. As a result the concert will include ‘Shenandoah,” “The Ashokan Farewell,” “Putting on the Ritz,” “Thank You Lord” (a song written by two members of the chorus), a Broadway spectacular featuring songs from “Annie” and “The Sound of Music,” “New York,
Photo provided The Genesee Valley Chorus, which was originally formed in 1976 to celebrate the United States’ bicentennial, will perform to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary on June 14 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wellsville.
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