YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The office of Youth and Young Adult Accompaniment of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown recently announced the 18 recipients of the 2026 Eagle of the Cross Award. 

The award, which is the highest honor the diocese bestows on its youths, was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced 28 years ago. It is given each year to a group of high school juniors and seniors who model Catholic-Christian leadership among 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 at 6 p.m. April 28 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica. A reception will follow in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall. 

Here are the 18 recipients of the award:

County (Parish) Category

  • Jessica Berry: Ashtabula County; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva.
  • Riley Cordell: Trumbull County; Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Warren.
  • Louis Cross: Mahoning County; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica-St. Anthony of Padua, Youngstown.
  • Malena Gottwig: Ashtabula County; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva.
  • Sophie Johnson: Trumbull County; Queen of Heaven, McDonald.
  • Jordyn Miller: Mahoning County; Saint Mary Magdalene, Youngstown.
  • Dalton Nellis: Ashtabula County; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Geneva.
  • Andrew Didymus Puhalla: Mahoning County; Saint Catherine of Siena, Boardman.
  • Abigail Restaino: Trumbull County; Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Warren.
  • Mattea Spitale: Stark County; Saint Francis of Assisi, Canton.
  • Rocco Zembala: Portage County; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Aurora.

Catholic School Category

  • Madeleine Devlin: Ursuline High School, Youngstown; Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown.
  • Pierce Jones: Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown; Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown.
  • Luke Lantz: Ursuline High School, Youngstown; Saint Columba Cathedral, Youngstown.
  • Nelson Lopez: Cardinal Mooney High School, Youngstown; Saint Dominic, Youngstown.
  • Luke Paul: Central Catholic High School, Canton; Divine Mercy, Massillon.
  • Landon Stanek: Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; Saint Isadore, Louisville.
  • Ahtziry Villegas-Camacho: Saint Thomas Aquinas High School; Saint Francis of Assisi, Canton.