BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport High School’s Commencement Ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. Friday on the Bridgeport High School campus in the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.

Graduating with top honors from the Bulldog Class of 2019 are Noah Michael Riccelli, Jason Conrad Sommer, Lauren Elizabeth White, Angela Kay Sommer will graduate summa cum laude, and Mary Elise Grendel will graduate cum laude.

Noah Michael Riccelli earned the rank of valedictorian. He has been on the Principal’s List all four years and has also earned academic letters all four years. Throughout his high school career, he has been involved in many activities in and out of school. He was a four-year member of the JETS science/engineering team and was the team captain his senior year. He was a four-year member of the Math Club, serving as vice president his senior year. He was also a two-year member of National Honor Society, a three-year member of the Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Club, and a one-year member of the Future Medical Professionals Club. Athletically, Noah was a member of the basketball team for two years and a member of the baseball team for four years, serving as co-captain his senior year. Noah was the Student of the Month his freshman, sophomore, and junior years, a recipient of the OVAC All-Conference Academic Team award his junior year, JETS third place trophy his sophomore year, winner of the Bulldog Award for baseball his junior year, and Wheeling Hospital Volunteer of the Month his senior year. Outside of school, Noah has volunteered his time at several organizations including Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling Catholic Charities, Relay for Life and Cardinal Health. He plans to attend Seton Hill University for their five-year bachelor of science/master of science in physician assistant studies program. Noah is the son of Diana Riccelli and the late Randy Riccelli.

Jason Conrad Sommer graduates as one of the co-valedictorians in Bridgeport’s 2019 graduating class. He was a member of NHS, Spanish NHS, and took the role of secretary in Student Council during his senior year. He played basketball for two years, lettered two times while on the cross country team, lettered on the golf team for three years, and lettered all four years in track. He served as a tech aid his junior and senior years. He received an academic letter all four years, Principal’s List each nine weeks during all of his four years, and was awarded “Student of the Month.” He was photo editor for the yearbook his senior year, and was a member of the yearbook team his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Throughout his high school career, he was a member of the Interact Club, Spanish Club, Current Events Club, and was president of the Math Club his senior year. Jason was on the JETS Academic Team for all four years, and his team placed third his sophomore year. He plans on continuing his education at Ohio University to study mechanical engineering. He is the son of Jay and Maria Sommer.

Lauren Elizabeth White is graduating as a co-valedictorian in the Bridgeport High School Class of 2019 while earning an honors diploma. As a freshman, she was in the Fine Arts Club and Math Club. Her sophomore year she was in the Math Club and Hack Club, and she was a member of student council and the Sunnyhill Yearbook staff. While a junior, she was on the prom committee, and she was the photo editor of the yearbook. During senior year, she was the Sunnyhill Yearbook Editor, and she was on the WBHS News production crew while also a WBHS News anchor. She was a member of the Spanish Club, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society her junior and senior years. All four years she was on the TEAMS (Tests of Engineering, Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science) team, and she was a captain her sophomore year. She was also in Drug-Free Club all four years. She earned Principal’s List all four years of high school while also earning an academic letter each year. She received Student of the Month freshman, junior, and senior years. As a senior, she was named the 2018 homecoming queen. Alongside her academics, she also participated in sports. She ran cross country and played basketball all four years, earning four cross country letters and one basketball letter. She was the team captain in cross country her senior year and won the H.E.A.R.T. Award in basketball her freshman year. She also played softball her freshman and sophomore years and ran track her junior year, receiving one letter in each. In the fall of 2019, she plans to attend Muskingum University to major in adolescent and young adult education and plans to become a high school math teacher. She is the daughter of Randall and Jennifer White.

Angela Kay Sommer graduates co-valedictorian of Bridgeport High School’s 2019 class, earning an Honor’s Diploma. She has been on the Principal’s List all four years and received an academic letter all four years as well. As a junior, she was inducted into the National Honor Society, and was on the Prom Committee. She has been a member of the Interact Club, Math Club, Student Council, Drug Free Club and JETS team for four years. She served as captain of the JETS Team her freshman, sophomore and senior years, and she was treasurer of the Math Club her senior year. Her sophomore and junior years included her involvement in Spanish Club and Yearbook. She is also a member of the Spanish National Honors Society. She has been co-captain on her golf, basketball, and softball teams. She is a four-year letterman of basketball, and softball. She is also a three-year letter winner in golf. She was a member of the All OVAC team. She has also been named 2016 Golf All-Star 2nd Team Eastern District Division 2, Athlete of the Week her sophomore year, and 2017 All Times Leader Team. She was also District 12 Basketball Coaches’ Association Honorable Mention All-District and second team All-OVAC in basketball. In softball, she was OVAC All conference 1st team her junior and senior Year. She was also 1st Team All Eastern District her junior and senior year. Her team won the OVAC 2A Championship her junior year and was runner-up her senior year. She plans on attending Marietta College and is undecided in her studies. She is the daughter of Jay and Maria Sommer.

Mary Elise Grendel finishes fifth in the Class of 2019. She was Student Council vice president her senior year and student of the month her sophomore year. She was most active in the art departments of Bridgeport: she was a three-year member of choir and a two-year member of the theatre department. She competed at the OMEA Singing Competition and received a superior rating for a solo she sang her sophomore year and an excellent rating her senior year. She was a member of the Women’s Ensemble and Bridgeport’s first Chamber Ensemble. She was also selected to perform at the Belmont County Showcase at Ohio University Eastern. In theatre, she played a leading role in both spring musicals she participated in. She played the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz” her junior year and Rusty in “Footloose” her senior year. She also had two of her poems published in books her sophomore year and had her artwork displayed in the Belmont County Art Showcase. She was also a member of Bridgette’s her senior year. She is Bridgeport’s queen representative for the 2019 OVAC Queen of Queens Competition. In high school, She participated in the following clubs: the Staying Clean Club, National Honor Society, JETS, Cooking Club, and Fine Arts Club. She plans to further her education at Waynesburg University in the fall. She is the daughter of Robert and Mary Elizabeth Grendel.

Bridgeport High School Principal Tom Daley will present the class during the ceremony, and Superintendent Zach Shutler will accept the class.

The Class of 2019 potential graduates include:

Jaylon D’Shon Addison, Andrew Michael Allen, Jacob Robert William Bain, Shane Thomas Bennington, Darian Alexis Clark, Taylor Jane Coast, Briana Paige Conaway, Brooke Elaine Corrick, Cody Michael Creamer, Johnathon Logan Creer, Jordan Edward Cumberledge, Christopher Allen Davis, Jarret Cruz Deaton, Kirsten Marie Doughty, Hunter Emmanuel Duffey, Mateo Gary Dumortier*, David Lee Falcone Jr., Justine Beatrice Michelle Feuillen*, Richard Anthony DeWitt Foston Jr., Thomas Nicholas Fulton, Meadow Fraya Gerevics, Jared Alan Gossett, Ayana Nicole Green, Damion Maurice Green, Kortez Lee Green, Mary Elise Grendel, Brianna Annisa-Marie Hale, Jared Andrew Hammel, Kevin Jeffrey Herink, Thomas Eugene Hollingshead, III, Devon Jayze Kovacs, Lane Martin Krohn, Mason Donavan Kuneff, Santino William Kusic, Ethan Micheal Leiffer, Trevor Lee Leiffer, Tyler Julius Lewis, Adam Duane Loughman, Jr., Eric Edward Ludolph, Aleathia Marie Maher, Riccardo Francesco Mainetti*, Jer’ Kenneth Massey, Alexander Edward Matheny, Justin Joe McCormick, Thomas Austin Lee Miller, Robert Lee Mullen, Shaila Marie Patrick, Solar Raejean Perry, Trevonn Denzil Ray, Noah Michael Riccelli, Tyler Grant Roberts, Chandler Matthew Rodgers, Brooklyn Mae Ruble, Christopher Michael Shunk, Brayden Patrick Snodgrass, Angela Kay Sommer, Jason Conrad Sommer, Johnathan Oren Stark, Ryan Dalton Stewart, Eddie James Toson, III, Destiny Star Trager, Justin Andrew Trigg, Evelena Mae Trimmer, Kade Mitchell Tucker, Summer Nicole Varner, Destiny Faith Marie Vaughn, Abigail Marie Vitale, James Allen Obryan Walton, Jacob Philip Waterman, Lauren Elizabeth White, Dakota Cheyenne Wilson, Cameron Russell Witt and Samantha Paige Wojcik.

*Foreign Exchange Student