Bianca Rojas Nieves and Alejandro Lopez Velazquez present their capstone project in pursuit of the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness during a special night of presentations at the Robert H. Jackson Center.

Over 20 Jamestown High School seniors demonstrated a commitment to civic engagement during a public presentation at the Robert H. Jackson Center on May 28.

The event was the second annual culminating experience for seniors who have been working to obtain New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. To earn the seal, students must demonstrate both civic knowledge and civic participation in both their coursework and community service. As part of the process, they were asked to identify a real-world problem or concern, conduct research, engage in thoughtful discussions about possible solutions, and present their findings.

The 24 students in the Class of 2026 will be the second in Jamestown High School’s history to obtain the seal, which was introduced by the New York State Board of Regents ahead of the 2022-23 school year.

“The Seal of Civic Readiness is a recognition of students who have demonstrated leadership, civic engagement, and a commitment to serving their communities,” said Christopher Scarpine, JPS arts and humanities coordinator. “Through their academic experiences, extracurricular involvement, and service opportunities, these students have developed the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive impact. We are proud to recognize their achievements and the example they set for others.”

Students presented on a variety of topics including tardiness, transportation, the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, and community recreation opportunities.

Students who will obtain the seal are: Lucas Arnone, Abigail Brandow, Geovany Brown, Finn Caswell, Vonnegut Chadwick, Camille Czerniak, Gina Delgado, Aidan Fodor, Dalana Jackson, Peyton Joly, Hayden Langford, Alejandro Lopez Velazquez, Allison MacCallum, Chase Maggio, Bianca Rojas, Isaac Rosenfeld, Gabrielle Seekins, Veronica Short, Angela Santizo Soto, Bryce Stone, Jazmyn Tonkin, Reagan Volpe, and Robbie Weber.

In addition to Scarpine, JPS and JHS administrators and faculty members who helped guide the students in their process, in addition to Scarpine, were: Allyson Smith, Bradley Peterson, Ashley Noon, Tage Hall, Elizabeth Rowe-Baehr, Jason Kathman, and Alex Kyler.

“Our students continue to impress us with their commitment to learning, service, and civic engagement,” said Allyson Smith, Principal of Jamestown High School. “Earning the Seal of Civic Readiness reflects not only their academic achievement, but also their willingness to make a positive impact in their school and community. We are incredibly proud of the leadership, initiative, and dedication these students have demonstrated throughout their high school careers.”