Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards

It is the dedication and commitment of our parent and community volunteers which strongly contributes to the success and achievement of our students, while working to strengthen our Catholic communities through a positive, educational environment.

Each year the Durham Catholic Parent Involvement Committee and the Durham Catholic District School Board come together in April to celebrate and thank our volunteers for their countless hours helping our schools, fundraising and/or sitting on Board-wide committees.

2024-2025 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Awards

We celebrated the 2024-2025 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer recipients at an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

We are honoured to present our 2024-2025 Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Award recipients below.

  • Kevin Biney, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School
  • Ana Ramos, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
  • Allison Odorico, St. André Bessette Catholic School
  • Nicole Gilmour, St. Bernadette Catholic School
  • Tharshika Kuruparpan, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
  • Lacey Mangos, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School
  • Shannon Kettle, St. James Catholic School
  • Kerry Rojas, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School
  • Rose De Mel, St. Jude Catholic School
  • Sophia Chow, St. Patrick Catholic School
  • Liliana Arangio, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School

  • Kyla Brennan, Good Shepherd Catholic School
  • Samantha O'Connor & Kim Schiafone, Holy Family Catholic School
  • Jessica Small, St. Joseph Catholic School (Uxbridge)

  • Annette Eldridge, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
  • Nicole Zara, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
  • Bob Giulietti, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School 
  • Nicole Scovino, Sir Albert Love Catholic School 
  • Laurie Kryshka, St. Anne Catholic School 
  • Manuela Cameron, St. Christopher Catholic School 
  • Meagan Shorts, St. Hedwig Catholic School 
  • Dana Cayer, St. John XXIII Catholic School 
  • Melissa Hardy, St. John Bosco Catholic School 
  • David Lockie, St. Joseph Catholic School (Oshawa) 
  • Gary Metcalfe, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School 
  • Carrie Fisher, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

  • Todd Idenouye, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School 
  • Robyn Gibb, Father Fénelon Catholic School 
  • Amanda Scott, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School 
  • Kathryn Meloche, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School 
  • Louisa Bunclark, St. Monica Catholic School 
  • Paula Thomas and Jennette Lobban, St. Wilfrid Catholic School

  • Laura Recine, All Saints Catholic Secondary School 
  • Roger Bryce, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School 
  • Zeina Saikali, St. Bernard Catholic School 
  • Cyndi Pelech, St. Bridget Catholic School 
  • Geraldine Sullivan, St. John Paul II Catholic School 
  • Belinda King, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School 
  • Rachelle Zamora, St. Leo Catholic School 
  • Theresa Santaguida, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School 
  • Tina Giacchetta-Quijada, St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School 
  • Andrea White, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School 
  • Nancy Ruscica, St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School 
  • Laura Ore, St. Paul Catholic School 
  • Crystal Arruda, St. Theresa Catholic School 

Previous Distinguished Catholic Volunteer Recipients

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:

  • Theresa Valera, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School;
  • Sven Paulsen, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School;
  • Alexa Rodney, St. André Bessette Catholic School;
  • Linda Lyne-Orr, St. Bernadette Catholic School;
  • MJ Mananquil, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Caldwell, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School;
  • Rachel Brabant, St. James Catholic School;
  • Ave Maria Anthony, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School;
  • Galina Neelamegam, St. Jude Catholic School;
  • Luz De Maria Villegas Estrada, St. Patrick Catholic School;
  • Angela Housen, St. Theresa of Calcutta Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools (Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge):

  • Sheri Wilson & Edith Fox, Good Shepherd Catholic School;
  • Colline Theodoru, Holy Family Catholic School;
  • Krystal Wagner, St. Joseph Catholic School Uxbridge.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:

  • Christine West, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School;
  • Raffaela Risorto, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
  • Kim MacDonald, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School;
  • Lyndsay Musclow, St. Anne Catholic School;
  • Deanna Ley, St. Christopher Catholic School;
  • Alanna Capogreco, St. Hedwig Catholic School;
  • Caitlin Johnston, St. John XXIII Catholic School;
  • Nicole Swift, St. John Bosco Catholic School;
  • Larry McAvoy, St. Joseph Catholic School Oshawa;
  • Andrea Provenzano, St. Kateri Tkakwitha Catholic School;
  • Kylie McAllister, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School;
  • Nicole Cunningham, Sir Albert Love Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:

  • Sue Priestman, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School;
  • Patricia Vanderputt, Father Fénelon Catholic School;
  • Vanessa Small, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School;
  • Antonietta Cillo, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School;
  • Paul Dalton, St. Monica Catholic School;
  • Margie Joyce & Barb Perrott, St. Wilfrid Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:

  • Geoffrey Bend, All Saints Catholic Secondary School;
  • Anna Lisa Althaide, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School;
  • Yuliana Tjie, St. Bernard Catholic School;
  • Jenna Stuart-Hagge, St. Bridget Catholic School;
  • Mirco Cabrias, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Lindsay McIntosh, St. John Paul II Catholic School;
  • Lynne Ruetz, St. Leo Catholic School;
  • Melissa Hull, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Nicole O'Neill, St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic School;
  • Melissa DaSilva, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Carly Muegge, St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Laura Ore, St. Paul Catholic School;
  • Zoran Mavrevski, St. Theresa Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:

  • Anissa Voisin, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School;
  • Corsina Miel, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School;
  • Natasha Headland, St. André Bessette Catholic School;
  • Gerard Murtagh, St. Bernadette Catholic School;
  • Vidal Massiah, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School;
  • Cathy Haynes, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School;
  • Lindsay Fraser, St. James Catholic School;
  • Lance Lambert, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Thompson, St. Jude Catholic School;
  • Bernadette Santiago Tan, St. Patrick Catholic School;
  • Stephanie Gafoor, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools (Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge):

  • Vanessa Sikora, Good Shepherd Catholic School;
  • Colline Theodoru, Holy Family Catholic School;
  • Maria Orsi-Giovanetti, St. Joseph Catholic School (Uxbridge).

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:

  • Nicole Zara, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
  • Patrice Joly, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School;
  • Michelle Sattler, St. Anne Catholic School;
  • Terri Gordon, St. Christopher Catholic School;
  • Alanna Capogreco, St. Hedwig Catholic School;
  • Heather Anderson, St. John XXIII Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Inget, St. John Bosco Catholic School;
  • Melissa Bevan, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School;
  • Joanne Cameron, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
  • Ken Polley, Sir Albert Love Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:

  • Adele Sartor, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School;
  • Mary Samson, Father Fenelon Catholic School;
  • Lisa Sadler, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School;
  • Amy Renton, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School;
  • Karen Williams, St. Monica Catholic School;
  • Kim Hajjar, St. Wilfrid Catholic School. 

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:

  • Vanessa Hopman, All Saints Catholic Secondary School;
  • Claudia Tinsley, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School;
  • Shawna Brown, St. Bridget Catholic School;
  • Linda Infanti, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Tricia Atwell, St. John Paul II Catholic School
  • Shayla Emery, St. Leo Catholic School
  • Ann Wainman, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School
  • Katie Kleinhorsman, St. Marquerite D'Youville
  • Karen Minacs, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Jayantha Kulendran, St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Willam (Bill) Joly, St. Paul Catholic School;
  • Erin Guerreiro, St. Theresa Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:

  • Kelvin Biney, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School;
  • Glenda Sajonas-Roopansingh, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School;
  • Kelly DonPaul, St. André Bessette Catholic School;
  • Melanie Greco, St. Bernadette Catholic School;
  • Madeline Roberts, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School;
  • Rachel Hickey, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School;
  • Vicky Miceli, St. James Catholic School;
  • Denise Samson, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Thompson, St. Jude Catholic School;
  • Josie Mullin, St. Patrick Catholic School;
  • Linda Sarang, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School. 

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools (Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge):

  • Marie Walsh, Good Shepherd Catholic School;
  • Colline Theodoru, Holy Family Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Tungatt, St. Joseph Catholic School Uxbridge.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:

  • Katy Brennan, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School;
  • Lorna Kettles, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
  • Melanie Hodkinson, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School;
  • Rose Ambra, St. Anne Catholic School;
  • Dawn Kotsopoulos, St. Christopher Catholic School;
  • Anne Fernando, St. Hedwig Catholic School;
  • Kathy McGhee, St. John XXIII Catholic School;
  • Katherine Pilgrim & Cynthia Loughran, St. John Bosco Catholic School;
  • Maryanne Fowler, St. Joseph Catholic School;
  • Brenda Giovis, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School;
  • Jen Lee, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
  • Mel Buddel, Sir Albert Love Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:

  • Shelly McMurter, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School;
  • Rita Fajardo, Father Fenelon Catholic School;
  • Melissa Vanderputt, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School;
  • Maria Calberry, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School;
  • Carla Hipolito, St. Monica Catholic School;
  • Enobia Lewis, St. Wilfrid Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:

  • Tes Loney, All Saints Catholic Secondary School;
  • Nicole Emanuel, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School;
  • Christina Melick, St. Bridget Catholic School;
  • Nicole Sorichetti, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Sharleen Hawco, St. John Paul II Catholic School;
  • Stacey Beck, St. Leo Catholic School;
  • Kay Di Vizio, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • David & Susan Honderich, St. Marquerite D'Youville;
  • Stephanie Woods, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Elizabeth Pozderec, St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School;
  • Stefan Ionescu-Balaceanu, St. Paul Catholic School;
  • Crystal Arruda, St. Theresa Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteer for Virtual School:

  • Carion Fenn, Durham Catholic Virtual Elementary School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:

  • Brad Levantis, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School;
  • Heather McFadden, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School;
  • Alban Cardoza, St. André Bessette Catholic School;
  • Paula Papagni, St. Bernadette Catholic School;
  • Georgina Dubeau, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School;
  • Damien Julien, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School;
  • Nicole Bellomo, St. James Catholic School;
  • Kristina Andrada-Wizzard, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School;
  • Philip Neelamegan, St. Jude Catholic School;
  • Karen Callery, St. Patrick Catholic School;
  • Stephanie Daga, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools (Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge):

  • Shelly Hopper, Good Shepherd Catholic School;
  • Coline Theordoru, Family Catholic School;
  • Julie Morrison, St. Joseph Catholic School Uxbridge.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:

  • Carrie Bon, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School;
  • Lesley McAvoy, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School;
  • Cristal Surla, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School;
  • Amanda Brake, St. Anne Catholic School;
  • Marcia DeSouza, St. Christopher Catholic School;
  • Anne Fernando, St. Hedwig Catholic School;
  • Jennifer Falzon, St. John XXIII Catholic School;
  • Debora Ribeiro Picarte, St. John Bosco Catholic School;
  • Nicole Zara, St. Joseph Catholic School;
  • Amanda Hazarie, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School;
  • Erin Avery, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School.
  • Michelle Acorn, Sir Albert Love Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:

  • Keisha Petrolo, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School;
  • Aliki Zacharia, Father Fenelon Catholic School;
  • Suzanne Charles Watson, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School;
  • Lisa Werner, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School;
  • Michelle Mendonca, St. Monica Catholic School;
  • Sylvia D’Souza, St. Wilfrid Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:

  • Vanessa Hopman, All Saints Catholic Secondary School;
  • Vernon Hiller, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School;
  • Shantel Ielasi, St. Bernard Catholic School;
  • Christina Melick, St. Bridget Catholic School.

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Ajax Schools:

  • Pete Dean, Archbishop Denis O'Connor Catholic High School
  • Karen Gibson, Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School
  • Fazena Mapp-Campbell, St. André Bessette Catholic School
  • Pauline Daley, St. Bernadette Catholic School
  • Rusell Caracciolo, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
  • Previn Francis, St. Francis de Sales Catholic School
  • Jennifer Lobo, St. James Catholic School
  • Jessica Di Benigno, St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic School
  • Gilana Neelamegam, St. Jude Catholic School
  • Sabrina DeSousa, St. Patrick Catholic School
  • Jenny Joseph, St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Northern Schools 9 Beaverton, Port Perry and Uxbridge):

  • Vanessa Sikora, Good Shepherd Catholic School
  • Krystal Ley, Holy Family Catholic School
  • Sarah Madigan, St. Joseph Catholic School

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Oshawa Schools:

  • Lori McManus, Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
  • Ray McWhirter, Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
  • Michelle McClean, Father Joseph Venini Catholic School
  • Jocelyn Rowell, Monsignor Philip Coffey Catholic School
  • Danielle Pereira, Sir Albert Love Catholic School
  • Mary Celebre, St. Christopher Catholic School
  • Sean Greeley, St. Hedwig Catholic School
  • Ruth Nithiananthan, St. John XXIII Catholic School
  • Krystyna Pekala, St. John Bosco Catholic School
  • Stephen Whitbread, St. Joseph Catholic School
  • Andrea Provenzano, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School
  • Jennifer Lee, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Pickering Schools:

  • Carmelina Morra, Father Fenelon Catholic School
  • Gina Comand, St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School
  • Toni Edwards Kelegan, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School
  • Luella DeFrancesco, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School
  • Babz Boehm, St. Monica Catholic School
  • Kim Hajjar, St. Wilfrid Catholic School

Distinguished Catholic Volunteers for Whitby Schools:

  • Vanessa Hopman, All Saints Catholic Secondary School
  • Anne Provenzano, Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School
  • Blair Harvey, St. Bernard Catholic School
  • Christina Melick, St. Bridget Catholic School
  • Nicole Emanuel, St. John Paul II Catholic School
  • Stephen Baker, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School
  • Stacey Beck, St. Leo Catholic School
  • Christine Pegler, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic SChool
  • David Honderich, St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic School
  • Gina Bruni, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic School
  • Deidre Melenchenko, St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic School
  • Kristen Fisher, St. Paul Catholic School
  • Mary Van Berkum, St. Theresa Catholic School