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Canisius High School Today
Fiorella, Mr. Canisius,
Embodies School Spirit
Selected by the student body, the
annual Mr. Canisius award is arguably
the most prestigious of the school’s
honors. Russell Fiorella is this year’s
Mr. Canisius, a student who embodies
what Canisius is all about. According to
history teacher Thomas Coppola ‘01,
Fiorella was dedicated to the school’s
commitment to develop well-round-
ed young men: “He was an excep-
tional student who has achieved great
marks because of a tireless work ethic.
He was also an incredible leader of his
classmates.”
Fiorella had formal leadership roles
as a captain of the volleyball and bas-
ketball teams and served as a student
leader on retreats. He also spoke on
behalf of the school to any constitu-
ency, parents, alumni or prospective
students. Fiorella also took part in
the Canisius Companions Immersion
Program.
“All of the Mr. Canisius nominees
this year were incredible young men,
which really makes the award mean-
ingful,” explains Coppola.
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First Canisius Heroes’ Dinner
Honors “Unsung Exceptional”
Every year many Canisius students receive accolades for outstanding academ-
ic or athletic achievement. Students who win championships or earn national
honors and admittance into prestigious institutions regularly get the headlines.
On March 15, unsung students—Canisius Heroes—got their turn to receive
recognition. The evening started with a simple prayer of Thanksgiving by Fr.
Bob Pecoraro, S.J., vice president for Ignatian identity and mission, and ended
with touching remarks by former President John Knight about how Canisius is
full of God’s love in action. In between, members of the Canisius faculty and
staff told 23 stories about extraordinary young men whose selfless actions
deserved recognition.
Teacher Anne Lipp-Read conceived the program. With the support of Fr.
Pecoraro and approval of then-President Knight and Principal Timothy
Fitzgerald, she solicited faculty and staff for names of young men whose ac-
tions, although unnoticed by many, were exceptional and worthy of recognition.
With the nominations collected, the students and their families were invited to
a celebration dinner. During the presentation of the awards, the nominating
faculty or staff member read the accolades of his or her Canisius Hero, at the
end revealing the name of the honoree. The reasons for nominations were as
varied as the individuals who received the awards, but one strong theme car-
ried the night: these young men quietly and selflessly demonstrate God’s love
in their daily actions.
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Jack Adams ‘14
Jack Beltrami ‘14
Christopher Blum ‘12
Michael Brown ‘15
Mackenzie Burlow ‘13
Christopher DeGrave ‘12
Michael Fiorica ‘14
Shane Fiust-Klink ‘13
Christian Johnson ‘14
Gabriel Knoll ‘12
William McCauley ‘13
Samuel Merriman ‘12
Jacob Mojeski ‘12
Gary Mucci ‘12
Jared Negron ‘14
Corey Retell ‘13
Casey Sampson ‘13
Corey Sampson ‘13
Ibrahim Soliman ‘12
Thomas Southard ‘12
Joe Sullivan ‘15
Mark Swaggard ‘13
Anthony Tomasello ‘12
2012 CHS Heroes Award Recipients: