Michael Holcomb and Julia Ludington have been named the Class of 2014’s valedictorian and salutatorian at G.Ray Bodley High School.

Holcomb is the son of Tricia Cowart and Randy Holcomb. He has an overall grade point average of 102.5, having taken eight advanced placement courses.

Michael Holcomb and Julia Ludington, seniors at G. Ray Bodley High School, have earned this year’s title of valedictorian and salutatorian.

Holcomb is a member of the National Honor Society and is involved with several afterschool activities including French, science and math club.

He runs cross-country, indoor and outdoor track. Holcomb was named the team MVP for indoor track, and placed first in the triple jump at sectionals.

Holcomb also volunteers at Fulton Urgent Care, and works part-time as a clerk at the Fulton Medicine Place. His mother, Tricia, is a nurse and several members of his family have careers in the medical field.

At the University of Rochester, Holcomb will study Biology/Pre-med. After he receives his bachelors, he plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.

Holcomb looks forward to the open curriculum concept that U of R offers.

Salutatorian Ludington, the daughter of Anne and Spencer Ludington, has an overall GPA of 101.5. She took seven AP courses and has participated in French club, Oswego Youth Court, ski club, and the GRB Orchestra, playing viola.

Ludington is a member of the Varsity tennis and lacrosse. She played in the Section III Class B Girls Lacrosse championship game her sophomore year. Despite a loss, Ludington said she will always remember the way that family, friends and teachers supported the team.

Ludington has volunteered for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse and Habitat for Humanity, helping to build two houses on a solo visit to Vermont.

She works part-time at Fulton Savings Bank, and is featured weekly in The Valley News, writing the Bodley Bulletin column. Ludington will continue her passion for writing by pursuing a degree in English at Villanova University.

With college on the horizon, she looks forward to taking classes of her choosing and attending Villanova vs. Syracuse basketball games.

OSWEGO – The Cortini Brothers featuring vocalist Anna-Marie White will bring their “feel good music” to this year’s St. Luke “Bundle of Bucks” charity raffle party on May 31 at the Oswego Elks Lodge.

Vocalist Anna-Marie White will join Joe and Kimo Cortini; The Cortini Brothers, as featured entertainers at St. Luke’s “Bundle of Bucks” Raffle Party.

With more than 400 people attending last year’s event, the raffle party has become an afternoon of fun for all, especially if you are a winner of one of the many fabulous door prizes featured, or if you are among the 15 lucky cash prize winners in the “Bundle of Bucks” raffle cash drawing.

The raffle awards cash totaling up to $25,000 with a top prize of $10,000 to a lucky winner when all 1,000 raffle tickets are sold.

Those familiar with The Cortini Brothers and vocalist Anna-Marie White know that they will be playing jazz and pop favorites with a twist. The sounds of Sinatra, Billy Joel and Elton John will be featured, as well as music from the Beatles, Tom Petty and more. Brothers Joe and Kimo Cortini will be joined by Matt Vacanti on the bass, Joe Zarr on saxophone, and feature Anna-Marie White on vocals.

Raffle tickets can be purchased directly at St. Luke Health Services, Bishop’s Commons and St. Francis Commons in Oswego, or at Michaud Residential Health Services in Fulton. Ticket applications are also available online at www.stlukehs.com. Raffle tickets will be available until all 1,000 are sold. The entry fee for the raffle is $50 per ticket.

Every raffle ticket is eligible for all 15 cash prize drawings.

Proceeds from the “Bundle of Bucks” Raffle support the St. Luke–John Foster Burden Fund; benefiting those served in our community by the affiliated not-for-profit healthcare organizations of St. Luke Health Services, Bishop’s Commons, St. Francis Common and Michaud Residential Health Services.

Each raffle ticket admits two adults to the “Bundle of Bucks” Raffle Drawing Party taking place on from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Oswego. The raffle drawing event features free food, beverages, live entertainment by The Cortini Brothers, games and prize drawings. You must be 18 years or older to participate in the raffle.

You do not have to be present at the raffle drawing to win. For more information, call 342-3166.

FULTON – Michaud Residential Health Services said “Mahalo” (thank you in Hawaiian) to their dedicated volunteers as part of National Nursing Home Week celebrations by hosting a tropical “Luau-themed” luncheon in their honor.

Michaud Residential Health Services says “Mahalo” to their dedicated volunteers. “Mahalo”, which means “thank you” in Hawaiian, was shared with all the volunteers of Michaud at a recent luncheon in their honor. Pictured is Julianne Wrolstad, owner of the Hula Hut Polynesian Dance in Ithaca, who performed authentic Hawaiian-style hula dances, lending the “Luau-themed” event a tropical – feel. The appreciation luncheon was part National Nursing Home Week celebrations by the healthcare provider.

The “Luau” inspired event included a menu taken straight from the South Seas, and special guest Julianne Wrolstad, owner of the Hula Hut Polynesian Dance in Ithaca, entertained those attending by demonstrating authentic Hawaiian-style hula dances.

“We welcome the opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our dedicate group of volunteers on behalf of our residents, and what better time to do than during National Nursing Home Week,” said Michaud Activities Director Sue Parkinson. “Our volunteers play a vital role in the lives of our residents and we are proud that they are part of our team. The time and energy they share with our folks, each and every day, only adds to the homelike environment our residents enjoy at Michaud.”

Volunteers at Michaud contribute hundreds of hours and are involved in a wide variety of resident-centered activities ranging from personal visits, lending assistance with small group functions, to helping facilitate resident trips or outings throughout the Central New York area.

Students from school districts throughout Central New York showcased their athletic abilities and team spirit during the Special Olympic games held at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Thursday (May 15).

Tyler Ward, a student in the Hannibal Central School District, competes in the 400-meter run during the Special Olympics held Thursday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

“Play hard, play smart and have fun,” said emcee Breanna Stewart, former CNS basketball standout and a star for the University of Connecticut’s hoops team.

Stewart helped kick off the event by leading the teams in reciting the Special Olympics motto: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Following an opening parade of teams and with Stewart’s go-ahead, the roughly 800 participants from Oswego and Onondaga counties took to the track. Student-athletes could display their running skills in relays, sprint races or the 400-meter run. Field events included shot put, standing broad jump, softball throw and the running long jump.

“The kids have been so excited about the Special Olympics leading up to (Thursday’s event),” said Brittany Riesbeck, Hannibal school psychologist. “It was the best thing to see them get off the bus with smiles on their faces and ready to go.”

Brandon Germain represents the Phoenix Central School District in the shot put event during Thursday’s Special Olympics held in Cicero.

In addition to the 20 Hannibal Special Olympic athletes, Oswego County also fielded a 43-member team from the Phoenix Central School District, a group from Central Square, and its own squad of BOCES students.

“This is just awesome,” said Hannibal physical education teacher Dan Pawlewicz as he stood near the finish line. “The kids work so hard and it’s really nice to see them so happy when they complete an event.”

After the Special Olympics, participants from Hannibal returned to school where their classmates, teachers and administrators welcomed them with a parade to celebrate their accomplishments.

From left are: Michael Holcomb, Jordyn Stone, Ashley McCann, Tessa LiVoti, Danielle Rupert, Amelia Coakley, Julia Ludington and Noah Sorbello.

Eight seniors at G. Ray Bodley High School received the 2014 Scholarships for Academic Excellence award from John B. King, Jr., the current Commissioner of Education of the State of New York.

Students were selected based on an average calculation using Regents test scores in the subjects of English, Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, U.S. History and three science courses.

Scholarship winners must attend a college or university in New York State.

The Phoenix Lady Firebird’s “Strikeout Cancer” pitch tally climbed to 100 following a nine to eight win over Bishop Ludden on Tuesday.

Phoenix Varsity Softball Pitcher Megan Brown, center, is pictured with her two catchers, Alicia Midlar, left, and Isabella Garofalo following the team’s recent win and 100th strikeout of the season.

Varsity Softball Pitcher Megan Brown and her teammates are playing with a mission this season.

The mission is to strikeout pediatric cancer and support Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Center.

Several donors have sponsored Brown and the team’s “Strikeout Cancer” campaign, pledging a per strikeout donation to the campaign.

Tevin Simard, a senior at G. Ray Bodley, has been awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship.

The program selects 1,000 students each year to receive an all-expenses paid scholarship to a four year college or university of their choosing.

Pictured is graduating senior Tevin Simard, the Class President of 2014, who received a full-ride scholarship to Georgetown University. He will also travel to Jordan this summer to learn Arabic.

Simard was also chosen for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program that provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in overseas immersion programs.

He will stay with a host family for six-weeks in Jordan, and learn Arabic.

The program curriculum is designed to facilitate, through immersion and intensive learning, the equivalent of one year of Arabic instruction at a U.S. university.

With Ramadan beginning on June 29, Simard will be able to witness the holy month first-hand.

He will also visit the Ancient City of Petra and other historical sites.

Simard will attend Georgetown University in the fall, and leave for Jordan just before Fulton’s graduation ceremony.

Clifford the Big Red Dog recently visited students on Robyn Yorker’s Blue Team at Oswego County BOCES Stepping Stones Day Program at Fourth Street School in Fulton.

Oswego County BOCES student Madisyn Stuper holds swag she received after a recent visit by Clifford to her school.

BOCES students enjoyed a story from Clifford’s friend Renee Ames at WCNY-TV, who accompanied him during the visit.

The story was about his special relationship with Emily Elizabeth and the characteristics that make him a good friend.

The class talked about what it means to be in control of their choices, respecting personal space and strategies they can choose when feeling upset.

Walking and getting some exercise makes Clifford feel better, but students could also count to ten, go on a computer or listen to music to lift their mood.

Students were treated to Clifford pencils and books, and the Big Red Dog signed autographs.