• A reminder: Liberty Central School District is closed Friday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth.
  • Transportation survey: Liberty Central School District has emailed a form to all district families asking them to update their information regarding transportation for the 2026-27 school year. Forms must be filled out by June 30. If you have not received the form, please call the Business Office at 845-292-6171.
  • Registration: All slots for the 2026-27 pre-kindergarten class have been filed. Applications to be placed on a waitlist are still being taken. Kindergarten registration is also now open. Find more information about registration for the programs here.
  • Construction update: Construction work has begun on the maintenance building. The walkway behind the district office from Winthrop Avenue to the high school is closed until further notice. Also, the athletic field and track area is no longer accessible to the public. The area will be closed as construction continues. The soccer, baseball and softball fields remain open.

Class of 2026 awarded honors, scholarships at Senior Assembly

Graduates in red and white gowns stand on a stage with a black curtain backdrop.

Graduates in red and white gowns stand on risers at Liberty High School.The members of the Class of 2026 donned their caps and gowns for a second time Tuesday, June 16, for the annual Liberty High School Senior Assembly Program, held in the David E. Panebaker auditorium.

During the annual event, seniors are presented with scholarships and awards from faculty, staff and members of the community, and symbolically (and literally) pass the leadership gavels to members of the junior class.

The evening kicked off with the pledge of allegiance, led by Carmela Burgio and Lia Guillerme, and the national anthem and alma mater sung by the senior class and a performance by the LHS Honors Choir.

Following opening remarks by Principal Mr. Stephen Matuszak, the awards and scholarships were presented as follows:

  • Worden Family Scholarship presented by Roy Worden: Carmela Burgio
  • Beaverkill Foundation Awards presented by Maurice Gerry: Joseph Arias Jr., John Palacios Medrano and Isaiah Young
  • Michelle Behrman Memorial Scholarships presented by Lois Behrman and Walter Behrman: Allison Monaghan, Amy Dworetsky, Reginald Williams, Markella Nikolis, Carmela Burgio, Kaley Klein, Cassandra Porter and Angela Wheeler
  • “Storman Norman” Scholarship presented by Rachel Graves: Kamoren Connell and  Makayla Morales
  • “Double Portion” Scholarship presented by Rachel Graves: Amir George and Arianna Wilson
  • Bethel Lions Club Scholarship presented by Chad Phillips: Cristian Argenal
  • Ed Wolff Memorial Scholarship presented by Mary Grabowski: Kaley Klein
  • Lorraine Carrington Memorial Scholarship presented by Mary Grabowski: Joseph DiBartolo
  • STEAM Fund Music Achievement Awards in Memory of Lee and Marge Siegel presented by Gary Siegel: Genna DeFrank, Eli Desrochers and Jacob Kelly
    Community Foundation for Orange & Sullivan County Award and Liberty Rotary Scholarships presented by Dan Hart, Elsie Kopcha and Gary Siegel

    • LRC Community Service Award in memory of Bob Blank: Shawn Bickham Jr.
    • LRC Community Service Award: Brooke Bull
    • LRC Community Service Award in memory of Anthony Sinacore: Marcus Curry
    • LRC Richard H. Fosler Achievement Award in memory of Theresa Pann: Kaley Klein
    • LRC Community Service Award in Memory of Richard H.Fosler: Brooke Porter
    • LRC Community Service Award in Memory of Carmela Starpoli: Phillo Romero
    • LRC Community Service Awards: Eli Desrochers, Cassandra Porter, Jose Rivera, Joshua Ross and Jaidon Simmons (2)
  • White Sulphur Springs Department. & Ladies’ Auxiliary Award presented by Kasey Barber: Tayler Schwartz and Angela Wheeler
  • Liberty Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary Scholarship presented by Sue Huggler: Kaley Klein
  • PTA Scholarships presented by Cynthia Farrand, Serene Owens: Addison Bury, Angelina Magie and Tayler Schwartz
  • Lowell Heffley Memorial Scholarship presented by Adam Bradley: Carmela Burgio and Kaley Klein
  • IOOB Chapter 583 Nelson Durland Scholarship presented by Adam Bradley: Angela Wheeler
  • LPA Alumni Scholarship (sponsored by the Clarke family) presented by Jennifer Clarke: Christopher DiBartolo
  • LPA Scholarships presented by Emily McConnell: Eli Desrochers, Sydania Foster, Jacob Kelly and Cassandra Porter
  • Liberty Elks Lodge Citizenship Awards presented by Maureen Crescitelli: Brooke Bull and Angela Wheeler.
  • Christopher Pekny Memorial Scholarship presented by Paul Minton: Jordan Unger
  • Brian Ingber Memorial Scholarship presented by Paul Minton: Kaley Klein
  • Federation of Sportsmen’s Club of Sullivan County Scholarship presented by Paul Minton: Carmela Burgio
  • Music Department Scholarships presented by .Eric Aweh: Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Genna DeFrank and Cassandra Porter
  • Ron Francisco Memorial Scholarship Sponsored by the Liberty Central School Physical Education  Department presented by Erin Alvord: Brooke Bull and John Palacios Medrano
  • SADD Presentation of Cords by Erin Alvord: Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Shawn Bickham, Jr., Brandon Buschmann, Lia Guillerme, Emma Stonick and Isaiah Young
  • Liberty Booster Club Scholarships presented by Karen McPhillips: Shawn Bickham Jr., Brooke Bull, Addison Bury, Carmela Burgio, Tayler Schwartz, Justin Simon and Angela Wheeler
  • Liberty Faculty Association Scholarships in Memory of George Hutchinson: Celia Golden, Lindsey Murphy Addison Bury, Carmela Burgio, Brooke Bull, Zane Kip, Kaley Klein, Angelina Magie, William Pennell, Cassandra Porter, Jose Rivera, Tayler Schwartz, Angela Wheeler and Isaiah Young

Following the award and scholarship presentation, the top 10 students were invited on state by Mr. Matuszak, in descending order Jacob Kelly, Kaley Klein, Genna DeFrank, Runxian Chen, William Pennell, Sheyla Anguisaca-Llanos, Carmela Burgio, Brooke Porter, Salutatorian Lia Guillerme and Valedictorian Cassandra Porter.

The seniors then ceremoniously passed the leadership roles to the junior class:

  • Senior Class Gavel to the Class of 2027 from Shawn Bickham Jr. to Peyton Hadjstylianos
  • Student Council Presentation/Gavel from Carmela Burgio and Kaley Klein to Mariely Medina Orellanos
  • 2027 Hawkmeister Wand (for school spirit) from Brandon Buschmann to Peyton Hadjstylianos

It wasn’t only the students who were honored during the event, as the senior class presented numerous gifts to faculty, staff and administrators who had a positive impact throughout their high school years.

The ceremony concluded with a slideshow of photos and videos created by Class of 2026 President Shawn Bickham Jr.

The next time the students will be wearing their caps and gowns, it will be for the graduation ceremony, which will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, June 26, in the high school gymnasium.