Abigail Bertke
Abigail has attended St. Joseph Parish School since preschool and is now an Honors graduate of Amherst Steele High School. Throughout her high school years, Abigail has participated in girls softball, basketball, National Honor Society as well as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Abigail has taken multiple College Credit Plus Courses and carries a 4.37 GPA. She is employed at the Sugar Buzz in downtown Amherst. Abigail’s future plans are to attend Bowling Green State University to major in Secondary Math Education!
Andrew Csanady
Andrew is a 2019 graduate of St. Joseph Parish School, and now a 2023 Honors Graduate from Elyria Catholic High School. Andrew received Honor Cords, the Presidential Award and is a National Honor Society Member. Andrew received First Honors all four years while attending EC, he also participated on the track and field team all four years, as well as the academic team all four years and held the position of Team Captain his senior year. Andrew was Co-President of the Environmental Club and also a member of the Socratic Club. Andrew will be attending Case Western Reserve University in the Fall to study Aerospace Engineering and Physics.
Blake Kubasak
Blake is a 2023 graduate from Steele High School and will be attending Hiram College in the Fall. Blake is playing on the Hiram men’s soccer team and he will be majoring in Sports Medicine and minoring in Business. Blake was awarded several awards for soccer and is excited to play at the collegiate level. Blake played three years on the varsity soccer team, he received the Upper 90 Soccer Club, 1st Team all Lorain County Men’s Soccer, and 1st Team SWC Men’s Soccer Honorable Mention. He also received the All Greater Cleveland Men’s Soccer award.
David Burgett
In 2020, David graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Minor in Business. In 2023, David graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences and is now a meteorologist. He interned at The Weather Channel in Atlanta, Ga., as well as WKBN 27 in Youngstown and Channel 19 in Cleveland. His career goal is to be a TV meteorologist.
Braden Carpenter
Braden is a 2023 graduate of Amherst Steele High School. He completed the Auto Tech program at Lorain County Joint Vocational School and several college classes. Braden is attending the Community College of Beaver County in Beaver Falls, Pa. for Air Traffic Control.
Christian McClintock
Christian is a 2023 graduate of Firelands High School. He is very smart, loves to cook and is really awesome at it! Christian’s goal is to go into the Air Force in two years and work as a firefighter.
Braden Pluta
Braden Pluta is a 2023 graduate of Amherst Steele High School and will be heading to the University of Cincinnati this Fall to work towards a career in accounting. Braden enjoys playing golf, basketball and lifting weights, and is employed and keeping busy working at Target.
Braden Hunker
Braden is a 2023 graduate of St. Edward High School and will be attending Ohio University in the Fall to major in Finance. Braden started school in Pre-K at St. Joseph and attended Amherst schools from first through eighth grade. Braden played varsity soccer for St. Ed’s all four years and was Team Captain his senior year. Braden took AP and IB classes while at St. Ed’s and he was awarded Senior Finance Student of the Year.
Cameron Gendics
Cameron graduated from Amherst Steele High School with Honors. He won the SWC Scholar Athlete award in football, basketball and baseball and was Captain of both the football and baseball teams. In baseball, Cam won 1st Team All Lorain County, 1st Team All SWC, and Honorable Mention All-District. Cam is a member of the National Honor Society. This Fall, Cameron will be attending Ohio Northern University majoring in Business Sports Management and Finance, and playing baseball for the ONU Polar Bears.
Audrey Dinger
Audrey is a 2023 High Honors graduate of St. Joseph Academy, where she has accomplished many things. To begin, she received High Honors all eight semesters of high school and received various academic excellence awards while competing in three sports — volleyball, diving and crew. Audrey was on the varsity crew team for three years where she received the Jaguar Pride Award, which is given to the Most Spirited Teammate. During her senior year, Audrey was varsity crew Team Captain. Audrey completed over 100 hours of service, became a Eucharistic Minister her senior year and headed two donation drives throughout her high school career. Audrey was an Academy Ambassador for four years, a Class Representative for two years, Student Council President her senior year, as well as a member of the National Honor Society. Audrey is committed to the University of Dayton for Rowing where she plans to major in Political Science with hopes to later attend law school.
Drew Pieschalski
Drew Pieschalski is a 2023 graduate of St. Ignatius High School. During his time at St. Ignatius, he has been an active member of the St. Ignatius Broadcasting Network (SIBN), broadcasting football, basketball, baseball and hockey games. He has also been involved in the Rini Christmas Food Drive, Spring Into Action, Pallbearers Society and the Christian Action Team (CAT). Drew previously served as an altar server at St. Joseph Parish. Drew will be attending Butler University in the Fall studying Sports Media.
Rose Fedan
Rose is a 2023 Honors Graduate of Amherst Steele High School. Rose has volunteered as a violinist at St. Joseph Parish for the past couple years. She is enrolled to attend Bowling Green State University’s Honors Learning Community and will continue her endeavors as a violinist by participating in BGSU’s Philharmonic Orchestra. Rose plans to major in Visual Media Technology and minor in Art with a concentration in ceramics. Rose has received an Academic Scholarship from BGSU as well as a Music Scholarship. In addition to volunteering at our parish, Rose has been heavily involved in her school orchestra as a violinist and an active participant in the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra. Her love for ceramics has blossomed this year with her discovery of the pottery wheel, and she will be attending a workshop this Summer in Pennsylvania with acclaimed potter Simon Leach!
Gabbi Dury
Gabbi is a 2023 graduate of Midview High School. While at Midview, Gabbi was a member of the Volleyball, Golf and Track teams. She also participated in Student Government, Link Crew, and Best Buddies. Gabbi coached sixth-grade CYO volleyball for St. Joseph’s. She swam for various swim clubs and the Amherst Summer Swim Team for several years. Gabbi received the Academic Achievement Award for Fall and Winter sports, as well as the Lorain County Athletic Administrators Association Merit Award. Gabbi will be attending The Ohio State University in the Fall and major in Nutrition with plans to pursue a degree in Athletic Training.
Lia Morrison
Lia is a dedicated AP student, graduating with honors from Amherst Steele High School and enjoys bringing educational opportunities to her peers. As her school’s environmental club, Eco League’s president, Lia advocates for more sustainable practices and mental health awareness within her community. Lia is part of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Team, encouraging a safe learning environment and social culture. In her spare time, she is an active member of the National Honor Society, Letters for Destiny, and Sources of Strength. Lia has grown up studying piano at the Oberlin Conservatory and hopes to continue improving. She volunteers her time with the Special Olympics group, especially enjoying mentoring the elementary group. Lia will be attending Middlebury College in Vermont and pursuing an Environmental Studies and Chemistry degree. For her Fall and Winter term, she will be studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on urban ecology and Danish. Lia is beyond grateful for her support system and her amazing friends!
Sammy George
Sammy George attended St. Joseph Parish School beginning with Pre-K and is now a 2023 graduate of Marion L. Steele High School. He participated in several CYO sports while attending St. Joseph’s. In high school he played three years of football, participated all four years in track and field, making it to the state meet in weight throw his senior year. He also participated in Steele News Live his junior and senior years. Sam will be attending LCCC in the Fall, studying in the culinary program. He presently works as a cook at his family’s restaurant, Sal & Al’s Diner. Sam hopes to own his own pizza parlor one day.
Garrett Pugh
Garrett is a 2023 graduate of Amherst Steele High School and is enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. and left for Boot Camp on May 30. In his free time, his hobbies include video gaming. His family members are Mom Nicole Matthews, Dad Tom Pugh, Sister Isabella Pugh and Grandmother Sharon Matthews, member with us here at St. Joseph’s.
Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Manges
Dr. Manges is a 2010 graduate of St. Joseph’s School, a 2014 graduate of Edison High School and has recently earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Summa Cum Laude) at the University of Akron in May 2017, her master’s degree in Education Studies in May 2020, and her Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo in May 2023. Dr. Manges was the recipient of the first Doctoral Award of Excellence for her works in research, clinical practice and professional commitment during her graduate program. She will be completing her postdoctoral fellowship at The Ohio State University.
Meghan Glahn
Meghan is a 2023 High Honors graduate of Amherst Steele High School. Meghan was very involved during her high school years, participating in Leo Club, Student Council, National Honor Society, and also in the band playing flute for the wind ensemble. She joined the track and field team and was Captain her senior year. Meghan assisted with the Special Olympics program, preparing individuals ranging in age from elementary to high school to compete in competitions. Meghan received a variety of school, local and county scholarships while also achieving High Honors every year of high school. Her future plans are to attend Bowling Green State University’s Honors College to obtain a Special Education degree and pursue a career as an intervention specialist.
Maren Rhoads
Maren is a 2023 graduate of Amherst Steele High School. During her high school years, Maren was President of the MLS Theatre Company, President of Student Council, and a section leader in the Concert Choir. Along with these leadership positions, she was a member of the Leo Club, Madrigals, and was Steele’s mascot. Maren also participated in outside of school activities such as voice lessons and dance classes. Additionally, she was part of the All-Ohio Theatre during her junior and senior years. This Fall, Maren will be attending Otterbein University to study Musical Theatre. Maren is so thankful for all of the love and support of her family and friends.