Conor Amendola, a Media Studies major from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Molly Edgington, an Inclusive and Early Childhood Education major from Glastonbury, Connecticut, have been named Ideal Bonaventure Students for the Class of 2026.

The Ideal Bonaventure Students exemplify the spirit of St. Bonaventure and the ideals of St. Francis through their demonstrated commitment to community service and academic excellence throughout their collegiate careers at Bona’s. They are selected annually by a committee that considers nominations from the campus community.

Amanda Albert, a Health Science major with a Biomedical concentration from Long Island, New York, and Benjamin Vitale, a Public Health major from Rochester, New York, were selected as honorable mention Ideal Bonaventure Students. Albert is the daughter of David and Ashly Albert. Vitale is a son of Vince and Nicole Vitale.

All four undergraduate students were honored in April at the Student Affairs Awards Ceremony and recognized again on Sunday, May 17, at St. Bonaventure’s 166th Commencement Exercises at Reilly Center Arena.

Amendola, who also completed minors in Theology and Philosophy (Art and Literature concentration), has distinguished himself at St. Bonaventure through academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to service. He is the son of Alyson Amendola and Matthew Cummings of Erie.

A highly engaged campus leader, Amendola has held a number of impactful roles, including music and operations director for WSBU-FM campus radio, president of the Philosophy Club and founder of the Film Club. He also served as a Student Government Association class senator and external affairs chair and contributed to initiatives promoting accessibility and belonging within the Jandoli School of Communication.

A Dean’s List student every semester at St. Bonaventure with a 3.91 GPA, Amendola’s academic achievements have been recognized with the Hellinger Award honorable mention and induction into the Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism and Communication Honor Society. He was also named a top student of the 2024 Francis E. Kelley Oxford Program.

“Conor’s leadership, curiosity and dedication to service reflect the very best of St. Bonaventure,” said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the Jandoli School of Communication, who met Amendola and his parents when he was a prospective student.

“I saw then what we are celebrating today – an ideal Bonaventure student. I was so happy when he chose Bona’s, and he has made the most of his time here, engaging across campus,” Chimbel said.

Amendola has built an impressive portfolio in media and communications. As a production assistant with Erie PBS and NPR affiliate WQLN, he contributes to multimedia storytelling and marketing initiatives and has reported for PolitiFact New York.

His commitment to service is deeply personal. Inspired by his own experience as a Make-A-Wish recipient in 2016, he has raised more than $105,000 for the organization to support other children with critical illnesses.

Amendola lauded the faculty in the School of Communication for mentoring him, challenging him, broadening his perspective and helping him grow in confidence and direction.

“What sets Bona’s apart is how intentional that support is. It goes beyond academics and reflects a community of people who invest in each other,” said Amendola. “The faculty here do more than teach. They believe in their students. They challenge you, support you and often recognize your potential before you see it yourself.”

After graduation, Amendola will pursue a master’s degree in Marketing Communication at St. Bonaventure while serving as a minister in residence on campus and a graduate assistant in the Jandoli School.

Amendola said the university’s values have shaped who he is and who he wants to be.

“When I arrived as a freshman, I focused on doing well academically and getting involved in ways that could make a difference on campus. Over time, that grew into a deeper goal of becoming a more compassionate and thoughtful leader,” he said.

Amendola said one of the most important lessons he’s learned during his four years at SBU is that knowledge is rooted in love, and what you give matters as much as what you gain.

“I'm grateful for my time here, and I plan to carry that forward by leading with purpose, serving others and working to make a positive impact,” he said.

Like Amendola, Molly Edgington has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and service throughout her time at the university. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and earned Dean’s List recognition every semester.

She followed in the footsteps of her parents, Debra (Florance) and Thomas Edgington, both members of SBU’s Class of 1997. Her father was also selected as an Ideal Student in 1997.

Edgington served as an orientation coordinator and peer coach within the Student Success Center, where she mentored first-year students and helped guide their transition to college life. She was also a student ambassador for the Admissions Office, leading campus tours and representing the university to prospective students and families.

Since her freshman year, Edgington has worked as a coordinator at the Warming House, the university’s student-run soup kitchen, where she has helped prepare and serve weekly meals to community members in need while coordinating volunteers. She has also been a mentor in the Bona Buddies program, supporting local children through tutoring and positive role modeling.

“Her leadership within the Warming House and Bona Buddies reflects not only her strong work ethic but also her genuine care for others and commitment to service. She is the kind of student who immediately comes to mind when envisioning the Ideal St. Bonaventure Student, someone who loves this community and gives back to it at every opportunity,” said Maggie Rosenberg, director of Academic Support and Transition at the Student Success Center.

Edgington is actively involved in several campus organizations, including the Bonaventure Education Association, Student Government Association, the Dance Team, and three club sports teams – softball, soccer and tennis.

She is grateful for her roommates, classmates and teammates, who “have gotten me through every part of this journey.” She said her work with the orientation team for three years was the most meaningful and impactful experience of her college career.

“While I made some of my closest friends and created some of my most cherished memories, I was also able to connect with campus faculty and staff on a deeper level,” said Edgington. “I also had the opportunity to spread my love of St. Bonaventure with every incoming freshman class behind me. I would like to thank my teammates, Maggie Rosenberg and the entire Student Success Center staff for everything they have done for me.”

Edgington is teaching sixth-grade special education while pursuing her master’s degree in Inclusive Special Education at St. Bonaventure.

As a teacher, she said the university’s values of wisdom, compassion and integrity are in play every day.

“While St. Bonaventure taught me the academic rigor needed to be a teacher, what it really showed me was how to be a person. I am walking away from St. Bonaventure with lessons more valuable than a textbook – being able to communicate with empathy and intention. As a special education teacher, I am able to show my students and colleagues care and compassion in every interaction,” she said.