Photo provided Wheeling Central Catholic High School celebrated its 2026 commencement Saturday. Pictured are, from left,Valedictorian Helene Crall, Principal Rebecca Sancomb, Recipient of the Mater Dei Award Matthew Criniti and Salutatorian Liam Kruse.

Wheeling Central Catholic High School on Saturday honored its latest graduating class, celebrating the students’ achievements of their high school years and their promise for the future.

The school held its graduation ceremony at the Oglebay Park Amphitheater. Parents, families, CCHS staff, alumni, families and friends gathered to honor the 83 graduates of the Class of 2026.

The valedictorian for the class is Helene Crall. Helene is the daughter of Mike and Lisa Crall of Benwood and attended Our Lady of Peace Elementary School. She will attend West Virginia University this fall to major in Aerospace Engineering. The salutatorian of the class is Liam Kruse. The son of Robert and Tammy Kruse of Wheeling, Liam attended St. Michael Parish School. He plans to attend West Virginia University where he was awarded the Bucklew and Foundation Scholarships and will major in Economics.

Rounding out the Top 20 in alphabetical order are: Sydney Balcerek, Isabella Contraguerro, Matthew Criniti, Michael Hutnick, Alexa Loy, Luke Magruder, Amelia Mandel, Erin Maxwell, Keyuri Morgan, Emma Nickerson, Danylo Panivnyk, Jacob Perry, Lainey Peters, Isabella Rine, Mason Smith, Conor Wood, Karli Yocum and Sara Zende.

Several special awards were also presented at the ceremony. Matthew Criniti received the prestigious Mater Dei Award, presented to the student who displays outstanding Christian spirituality, leadership, wholesomeness and service by following the example of Mary. Also recognized were Jacob Perry, who was the recipient of the Aquinas Medal, which is the highest honor any student in a Catholic school can receive and St. Sebastian Award winners Erin Maxwell and Eli Sancomb.

The St. Sebastian Award is presented to the male and female athlete in the graduating class who best demonstrate the qualities necessary in a well-rounded athlete: sportsmanship, teamwork, academics, and a high standard of respect to school and classmates, teammates, opponents, parish and the community.

Scholastic Honors were presented to: Karli Yocum (Art), Katherine Kurko (Art), Keyuri Morgan (Digital Media & Technology, Fine Arts), Matthew Criniti (English), Helene Crall (French, Math), Erin Maxwell (Religion) and Jacob Perry (Social Studies, Spanish). Keyuri Morgan received the Fr. Robert Arkle Memorial Award in English Literature and CCHS School Spirit Awards were presented to Carver Bolon and Kaitlin Brodegard. The Paul Volpe Memorial Scholarship, awarded to the student who demonstrates individual decision-making, academic tenacity and personal courage, was presented to Danylo Panivnyk.

The members of the CCHS Class of 2026 include: Jackson Adams, Kyle Baker, Sydney Balcerek, Sawyer Beighle, Matthew Bench, Gia Bishop, Gabriella Blake, Carver Bolon, Wyatt Brady, Kaitlin Brodegard, Steven Brodegard, Bode Burge, Elizabeth Clark, Brent Clyburn, Isabella Contraguerro, Brayden Cover, Helene Crall, Matthew Criniti, Jaeda Custer, Jeffrey Donzella, Tanner Dunlap, Kaitlin Fedorke, Lucia Fedorke, Jaclyn Fertig, Caleb Golden, Joseph Hall, Seneca Heller, Giancarlo Huaman, Michael Hutnick, Nino Jerrome, Olivia Kioski, Gianna Konkle, Raymond Konkoleski, Kade Koroneos, Liam Kruse, Katherine Kurko, Koy Lipinski, Giulia Lovisolo, Alexa Loy, Isaac Lucious, Dominik Luiso, Luke Magruder, Brennen Maloney, Amelia Mandel, Tylique Marshall, Erin Maxwell, Layla McCardle, Madison Miehle, Jaelyn Miller, Brandon Miller, Keyuri Morgan, Troy Mortakis, Grady Mullin, Elijah Nickerson, Emma Nickerson, Finn O’Connell, Maxwell Olejasz, Danylo Panivnyk, Alyssa Parker, Addison Payton, Jacob Perry, Lainey Peters, James Potts, Sheldon Raab, Mariah Ratcliffe, Isabella Rine, Vincent Rodak, Owen Rohrig, Eli Sancomb, Haley Severns, Tieryn Shablack, Mason Smith, Monti Smith, Paul Stecker, Michael Steiniger, Maddox Stillion, Leni Toerke, Luke Wear, Kayleigh Whittington, Conor Wood, Karli Yocum, Sara Zende, Luke Zoeckler.