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Wall of Distinction

CENTRAL SQUARE DISTRICT WALL OF DISTINCTION

“Honoring Graduates and Staff members of the Central Square School District”

The Wall of Distinction Nomination forms are now being accepted!

The deadline to hand in the nomination form for the 2025-2026 school year is January 30, 2026. Please return the nomination form to Pearl Horn in the Superintendent's Office, 44 School Drive, Central Square, NY 13036, or if you need any clarification or have any questions, please call her at 315-668-4220, x70221 or email PHorn@cssdapps.org.

The Central Square School District Wall of Distinction was established (spring of 2015) for the purpose of recognizing and honoring graduates and staff members of Central Square School District. Each year, an advisory committee considers nominated graduates who have achieved a high level of prominence in their personal and/or professional lives and who have participated in extensive community service or volunteer activities for induction into the Wall of Distinction.  This wall is separate from our Athletic and Fine Arts Walls of Distinction.

Each inductee has his/her picture and biography prominently displayed on the Wall of Distinction which is located at Paul V. Moore High School. Let's get these amazing people recognized!

The Wall of Distinction Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul V. Moore High School cafeteria.

Selection Process

Please fill out the Wall of Distinction Nomination form and include information such as the candidate’s name, present address if known, approximate year of graduation, the high school from which the candidate graduated, basis for the nomination to the Wall of Distinction, and all information regarding their personal or professional achievements and participation in community service or volunteer activities. 

Additionally, please include the phone number of the candidate, or a relative/friend of the candidate who has contact with, or personal knowledge of the whereabouts of, the candidate if needed in order to submit a nomination.

Wall of Distinction Honorees:

2014-2015:  Christopher Flaherty, Joni Hinds, Christian Keys, Marian Yerdon
2015-2016:  Denise Battles, Michael Ciannilli, Ronald Darrow, Mark Rogers
2016-2017:  Wayne Espinoza, Dottie Landers, Dr. Daniel Walsh
2017-2018:  Dean Burdick, Maryellen Commisso, Kenneth Sherman
2018-2019:  Kenneth Robarge, Mark Walczyk, Lorraine Wood
2019-2020:  Jesse Daino & Adam Williams, David Daniel Eiffe, Deborah O’Mara
2020-2021:  Sharon BuMann, Irene Meyers, Bruce Rio
2021-2022:  Katherine “Katie” Haberer, Richard “Rich” Matthys, Millard “Mudd” Murphy
2022-2023:  Molly (Race) Buchanen, Michael “Mike” Hall, Richard “Rich” Mercer
2023-2024:  Michael Eiffe, Ronna (Kringer) Schindler
2024-2025:  Katherine “Katie” (Schultz) Coe, Randy House
2025-2026:  John E. DeMong

Candidate Criteria

  • Candidates for the Wall of Distinction must be recommended by members of the greater School District community including: Hastings, West Monroe, Constantia, Cleveland, Brewerton and Central Square. No self nominations please.
  • Candidates must have achieved a high level of professionalism, distinction or prominence.
  • Candidates must have participated in extensive community service or volunteer activities without compensation or personal/professional gain.
  • Candidates must be of sufficient moral character as to represent a positive role model to students in the school district.
  • Candidates must have graduated from Paul V. Moore High School at least 20 years prior to nomination (except in extenuating circumstances) or have been employed by the District for at least 20 years.
  • Candidates nominated for the Wall of Distinction are based on criteria not applicable to other walls' criteria (i.e.: arts, sports, etc.).
  • Fill Out the Wall of Distinction Form Here

John DeMong - 2026 Wall of Distinction Honoree

John E. DeMong – 2026 Wall of Distinction Recipient

John E. DeMong was a 1967 Paul V Moore High School graduate. John married Sue Huto (class of 1971) in 1972, they had 2 sons Jeremy – class of 1996 (married Teresa DeMong) and Jeffery – class of 2000 (married Vanessa Lalley, class of 2001).

John joined the United States Army in 1968 as a Combat Engineer (SP5) and served two tours in Vietnam before finishing out his military career at West Point. He was an active member of the Disabled American Veterans and the IBEW Local 97 and 1249. John had a 30-year career with Niagara Mohawk serving in multiple roles – Fire Brigade, Meter Reader, Lineman and Forestrydepartments. 

John served the Town of West Monroe and the West Monroe Volunteer Fire Department in many capacities over 48 years. From 1977 - 1988 John was the Building Code Enforcement Officer for the town. In 1999 he became the Town Justice and served his community respectively through 2012.

John was a Charter Member of the West Monroe Fire Department, in which he began a 47-yeardedication to his community serving in multiple roles: Lieutenant, Captain, 2nd Asst Chief, 1stAsst Chief and Chief. From 1995 to 2009 John served as Vice President and President for the Fire Department. From 2010 to 2024 John served on the Board of Directors for the Fire Department. John was also a member of the Oswego County Fire Chiefs from 1982 through 1995 serving roles as Secretary, Vice President and President.

He supported Boy Scout Troop 735 as a committee member from 1988-1998, during that time he supported different projects and mentored Scouts with life assets.

Many from our community have achieved notoriety in academics, athletics, and business,however, few have contributed as much to his community with grace, honor, and pride as John did until his death in 2025.