2023 - 2024 NCEA Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award Winners
NCEA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 - 2024 NCEA Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award.
The NCEA Youth Virtues, Valor and Vision Award program is made possible, in part, through the generosity and support of Archangel Education + Technology, a preferred classroom technology supplier that believes in and celebrates the young people in our Catholic schools who are making a profound difference even at a young age to a myriad of underserved constituencies. More information about Archangel Education + Technology is available online.
NCEA received an outstanding response to the Call for Nominations from across the country. Each student nominated was truly amazing. These 12 student awardees embody the virtue, valor and vision exemplified by the many students in our Catholic elementary and secondary schools who are changing the world.
Many thanks to the selection committee for their excellent work in vetting each student nomination.
The awardees are:
Theresa Aguilar
Academy of Our Lady of Peace
San Diego, CA
Diocese of San Diego
Grade 12
Matthew tells us that the "greatest among you must be your servant" and Theresa has exemplified servant leadership in a variety of different ways that encouraged others to do good. She was the volunteer coordinator on the Feeding America Club Leadership Team where she organized volunteer sessions for club members with the local food bank, Feeding America. She was also the drives coordinator on the GIVE Club Leadership Team where her duties included organizing donation drives with local organizations, such as City Height Tutoring and Noah Homes. Furthermore, as the president and founder of 'Reach Out and Read,' she organized book drives and fundraisers, communicated with clinic contacts and coordinated with 'Reach Out and Read' San Diego. Her servant leadership encourages other students at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace to become more involved in serving the school community.
Madeline Bozzone
Saint Andrew School
Drexel Hill, PA
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Grade 8
Madeline is an enthusiastic participant at SAS. Her work in science, digital media and design and writing has been recognized by outside agencies in the region. She has been recognized for achieving academic honors, effort and Christian Spirit and she is the recipient of the Verna Family Scholarship, a three-year scholarship awarded at the end of fifth grade. Madeline is co-captain of the CYO varsity co-ed soccer team and has been a joyful altar server for four years and she recruits and trains new altar servers. Madeline does not let her disability hold her back from striving for and achieving great things. Following several years as the Student Council homeroom representative, Madeline now is the vice president of the Student Council, which requires her to be the acting liaison between faculty and students. Madeline leads by example embracing a life full of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and gratitude, striving to live God's will
Daniel Chamblee
St. Paul School
North Canton, OH
Diocese of Youngstown
Grade 4
Daniel is a leader among his classmates at St. Paul Catholic School. He is a lector at the Sancta Clara Monastery in Canton. Twice a month he prepares either the first or second reading for Sunday Mass. He studies the scripture and carefully prepares each reading with his parents. He has received many compliments from the parishioners at the Monastery for his solid voice and clear communication. He plays piano at school Masses and practices with the school choir and Mrs. Pusateri, the choir director. Everyone knows he laughs often and loves a good joke. Being active is one of his hobbies as he enjoys playing basketball, tennis, chess, soccer, golf, football, shooting pool and playing corn hole. In his free time, he is often found reading ahead in his school books, practicing piano or wrestling with his older brothers. He is considerate and kind to his classmates and takes time to talk to everyone each day. He is known as a charitable and reliable friend.
Collin Grossenbaugh
Saint Ambrose Catholic School
Brunswick, OH
Diocese of Cleveland
Grade 8
Collin is an active participant at school and in his parish. He is a member of the middle school campus ministry, Ablaze, and leads the training of new altar servers. He skillfully led the St. Herman’s project for homeless men by coordinating a collection of necessary items with a group of students to advertise, count, stuff bags and monitor the growth progress thermometers. He then stepped far out of his comfort zone to report on the project during the school’s morning broadcast. Collin is a sacristan for school Masses. He directs ushers and greeters and practices with them for school and parish Masses. He is a leader in the Acts:29 school ministry. This group, being true to the name, is working to be the next “chapter” of the Acts of the Apostles. The group meets to pray, plan and lead service-learning and prayerful experiences throughout the school. Collin regularly serves Mass on weekends, for special prayer services, funerals and weddings. He is seen as a school leader and also serves with his father who is a fire chief.
Gloria Jensen
St. John Fisher
Portland, OR
Archdiocese of Portland
Grade 6
Gloria exemplifies servant leadership in many ways at school, at church and at home. She is an excellent “big buddy” to younger students on campus. She is an altar server at school Masses and also almost every weekend at her parish church. She believes that this special role at church not only fulfills her but also the church faithful. The Mass she regularly attends is mostly older parishioners and Gloria finds a way to speak with almost all of them when she can. She plays CYO volleyball and basketball and works hard to be the type of leader who lifts her teammates up. She makes a point of encouraging them on the court and prodding them to feel more confident in who they are as individuals off the court. Gloria is the eldest of four children, including twin brothers. She takes family responsibilities seriously and at school she puts forth 100 percent effort in Glee Club, Oregon Battle of the Books and her classes.
David Kibbey
Detroit Catholic Central High School
Novi, MI
Archdiocese of Detroit
Grade 12
David is considered a school leader who seeks to serve others by fostering the well-being and happiness of others. He is constantly looking to provide programs and outreach that nurture the dignity and worth of his classmates. As an original member of the Detroit Catholic Central High School Shamrock ID Program, David has helped his fellow schoolmates develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ as "intentional disciples." The mission of this small group evangelization program is to teach students how to live out their Christian identity as men of Catholic Central. He has been instrumental in helping students draw nearer to Jesus because of his mentoring and modeling as fine witnesses of the gospel striving to answer the questions, “Who am I” and Who am I to you, Lord.” David is constantly looking to serve and to find the necessary means to help others.
Juliana Riddle
Roncalli High School
Indianapolis, IN
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Grade 12
Juliana has logged 700+ service hours in her 3.5 years as a Roncalli student. Her biggest involvement is at the parish level. As a member of the core team of the youth ministry at her parish, St. Jude, she is an essential servant leader contributing to the success of parish programs for younger students. Juliana is always willing to step out of her comfort zone to share her faith in large settings, give witness talks and lead retreats for the youth as a dedicated servant leader. She also works with the local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul serving the poor of Indianapolis. Her duties involve stocking shelves, passing out food and goods and interacting with those served. One of Juliana's greatest gifts is her ability to uphold the dignity of every person. Teachers and classmates find that every person matters to Juliana as she strives to treat each person she meets with respect and dignity and a willingness to serve her neighbor.
Celine Salloum
St. John Bosco Catholic School
Phoenix, AZ
Diocese of Phoenix
Grade 8
Celine has been serving the St. John Bosco school community for two years. Usually surpassing the service hours requirements for junior high students, Celine can be found helping at a school or community event, including the annual Back to School Barbeque, Harvest Fest and Family Movie Night. In the 2022 – 2023 school year, she was an ambassador, a representative and model student speaking for the school to publicize its work and achievements. This year, Celine took on a new role in the Student Council delivering school announcements on the school’s YouTube channel, the Bosco News Network, organizing school events and handling the council budget as treasurer. She is also involved in clubs and sports including Math League, Book Club, volleyball and basketball.
Madeleine Staker
St. Teresa's Academy
Komo, MO
Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Grade 11
Madeleine hones her leadership skills to serve the greater good. She is a servant leader embracing the teaching of God's purpose and integrating it into her daily life. She seized an opportunity to serve and lead by becoming the president/founder of the Plant and Composting Club in her sophomore and junior years. She organizes groups at lunch to make sure St. Teresa’s is caring for the planet as outlined in Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ by composting during and after lunch. She also has led numerous meetings with the school’s KC Can Compost representative to expand the program, which upcycles food scraps, beginning in January 2024. Madeleine is a strong academic student and tutors other students. She is a STEAM certificate program scholar which upholds high expectations and requirements ranging from maintaining a high GPA, service, job shadowing, leadership and creating an extensive portfolio to showcase student work.
Leila Tucker
St Francis Xavier Catholic School
Ft. Meyers, FL
Diocese of Venice
Grade 7
Leila understands that a servant leader knows that leadership is serving others and meeting the needs of others and not being “the boss.” Leila has been a part of American Heritage Girls since Kindergarten; she has grown from being a “junior” member to being a leader among the troop members. American Heritage Girls has given Leila two terrific opportunities to be a servant leader in her community. Her first opportunity was to organize a stuffed animal collection to be used by the family courts in Lee County. The second experience was in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Several troop members’ homes were severely damaged by the storm. Leila showed true leadership and kindness by going to their homes and helping them clean up and begin the recovery process. For Leila, this experience reinforced the knowledge that leadership is doing for others, not telling others what to do.
Joanna Verdin
Bishop Freehan High School
Attleboro, MA
Diocese of Fall River
Grade 12
Joanna is a school leader as a Campus Ministry Associate, or CMSA. Joanna’s commitment to her home community and younger students at her former school models her Christ-like dedication to living her faith. Whether for financial constraints or other reasons, very few students from Joanna's middle school or her town attend BFHS. But Joanna returns to her former school each year to mentor and speak with middle school students to work with them to make sure that if they think BFHS is right for them, they are aware they can get the help and support they need to attend. Referred to as a pioneer for helping to ease the path to BFHS, she worked through the Campus Ministry creating a program where families who visit campus at Christmas for a toy giveaway also get a pamphlet inviting their children to apply. She also works with Feehan Against Hate to help educate people about the values of diversity, inclusion, compassion and service.
Rocco Zimmerman
Mount Michael Benedictine School
Elkhorn, NE
Archdiocese of Omaha
Grade 12
Rocco has served as a servant leader in many ways at Mount Michael. He is the student body president always working to advocate for the students in a just, thoughtful and responsible way. His reputation for being firm but fair is appreciated by students and faculty alike. His level of maturity is inspiring stemming from a difficult diagnosis of osteomyelitis (a bone infection of the fibula) when he was in seventh grade. His activity level was curtailed for months as his leg healed and he recovered his strength. Hospitalization, wheelchairs, crutches and limited mobility shaped his perspective on life and his perception of leadership. Self-improvement included being true to his commitment to be a servant leader through modeling and advocacy. Rocco pushed forward to become captain of the football team, to play baseball and basketball and was named a National Merit semifinalist. When the school started a volunteer tutor program for underprivileged youth, Rocco was among the first to volunteer.