SALAMANCA — Before the last days of classes, finals week and graduation, the Salamanca City Central School District on June 5 celebrated the achievements of 25 students with the fourth annual Warrior Awards banquet.

The banquet, held at and hosted by the Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino, recognized students from the Salamanca High School for their achievements both in and out of the classrooms through academics, character, determination and positive actions and words.

The ideal Warrior Way recipients should embody compassion, kindness and friendliness to everyone; strong, positive leadership skills; putting others first and going above and beyond for peers; and volunteerism in the school and community, among other characteristics.

The Warrior Pride Award was presented to Ashley Siperek and the Nelson Beard Award was presented to Andy Herrick.

The Friend of Education award recognizes an individual for making significant contributions to the cause of education at Salamanca City Central School, such as volunteering in a classroom for an extended period, support or volunteer to help a school team or event or has assisted in some other capacity for one of our school’s organizations.

The ideal recipient could be a government representative, a corporation, a local business, a local organization, or a private citizen. This year’s recipients were Angie Schwartz and Mike Mohr.

The following students received Department Awards:

Science: Cole Johnson;

History: Nyles Panus;

English/Media: Serenity Snyder;

Math: John Collingwood;

Music: Kendell Valvo;

Business: McKenzie Rider;

Technology: Bryce Taylor;

Art: Briana Sherwood;

Spanish: Karomi Whitcomb;

Seneca: Sophie McKenzie;

Leadership: Caleb Nickerson;

Physical Education: Michelle Pierce; and

Perseverance and GRIT: Alex Bennett.

The Academic Awards recognizes a student who has excelled academically and exerted extraordinary amounts of effort in his or her particular grade level. Recipients for grades 7 through 12 were:

8th Grade: Alicia Fiske;

9th Grade: Anthony Sibley;

10th Grade: Justin Blakesslee;

11th Grade: Nora Warrior; and

12th Grade: Yeamy Velez.

The Effort Award recognizes a student who exerted extraordinary amounts of effort in his or her particular grade level. The ideal student may or may not excel academically, but has shown improved effort, understanding, and perseverance. Recipients for grades 7 through 12 were:

8th Grade: Colton Crooks;

9th Grade: Reece Redeye-Desposito;

10th Grade: Holly McGonigle;

11th Grade: Sesilleya Slade; and

12th Grade: Autumn Maybee.