YOUNGSTOWN — The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown named 29 local high school students as recipients of the 2020 Eagle of the Cross award.

The Rev. John Zuraw, chancellor for the Diocese of Youngstown, said this year’s students were chosen from a pool of 67 nominees.

The Eagle of the Cross, which started in 1999, is given to a group of high school juniors and seniors each year who model the dedication, integrity, values and promises of the church and society.

Zuraw said the students model Christian discipleship and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works and Christian leadership in their school and parish communities.

Recipients demonstrating outstanding involvement in the parish and larger community:

Columbiana County

• Brianna Horvath, junior at East Palestine; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

• Karlie Grace Blissenbach, senior at Southern Local; St. George Parish

• Matthew Charles Garcia, senior at East Palestine; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Mahoning County

• Caitlin C. Pinto, junior at Ursuline; St. Charles Parish

• Alyssa Marie Ritter, senior at Boardman; St. Stanislaus Parish

• Steven Vasko, senior at Boardman; St. Stanislaus Parish

Trumbull County

• Jacob Buttar, senior at Niles McKinley; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Niles parish

• Frank Edward DePascale, junior at Champion; St. William parish

• Douglas Gurdak, senior at Lakeview; St. Robert parish

Recipients demonstrating outstanding involvement in a diocesan Catholic school:

Mahoning County

Cardinal Mooney High

• Louis M. Gentile, senior, St. Charles Parish

• Gina M. Ricciardi, senior, St. Charles Parish

Ursuline High School

• Riley Adair Burke, senior, St. Joseph, Austintown Parish

• Andrew Gerchak, senior, St. Christine Parish

Trumbull County

John F. Kennedy High School

• Zoe Therese Schlosser, junior, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish

The students were selected by the The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown.

The Eagle of the Cross was created by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and introduced to the diocese in 1999. The award is presented to teens in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown.

Zuraw said a maximum of two Eagle of the Cross Awards are presented to students in each of the six diocesan Catholic high schools, and up to three involved in the parishes in each of the six counties of the diocese.

“The recipients of the 2020 Eagle of the Cross Award, as well as all of the nominees, are commended for their positive witness to their Catholic Christian faith and the value of youth involvement in parish, school and community,” he said.

Zuraw said due to the novel coronavirus, the awards Mass and banquet scheduled for April 29 has been postponed. A new date has not yet been determined.