PORT BYRON - At the age of 28, Jill Jorolemon was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a mastectomy, Jorolemon thought she was cancer free, but two months later she was informed the disease had spread to her liver.

This time, Jorolemon had three tumors the size of golf balls and numerous miniature cancer spots. Today she is on several medications and all of the tumors have been removed, but she will most likely remain on chemotherapy for the rest of her life.

For the Port Byron resident, however, this is no time to quit. She has worked to raise funds for cancer research.

An inspiration to a number of students, Jorolemon was one of six Port Byron residents to be honored at the Dana L. West High School Leadership Celebration Wednesday.

"(Jorolemon) turned what most people would call a tragedy into a reason to live," said 11th-grader Anne Marie Bernardoni. "This one woman has made a difference without being rich, famous or any of the other things you might expect."

Two generations of leaders gathered on the auditorium stage as high school students also honored Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Herbert Marshall, Lori DeBois, Joni Lincoln and Bernard Tomasso. The assembly was held to wrap up a leadership program the district began earlier this year.

"As you graduate high school and have your own little ones, you'll remember days like today," master of ceremonies Ronald Otis Jennings told the students that filled the auditorium.

"You are somebody here at Port Byron, and you have been gifted with much."

This year, 39 students took part in the district's leadership program. Students took on a number of tasks to help improve the district as a whole, as well as enrich their own education. Projects like Homeroom Wars helped collect items for local food pantries, and put together packages for U.S. soldiers overseas.

The assembly was held to recognize community leaders who serve as role models in the district. The students selected all the honorees.

Marshall, a Port Byron graduate and former justice of the peace, was nominated for his perseverance as a public servant. When asked what obstacles he had to overcome to get where he is today, Marshall told Port Byron students he has never faced any obstacles, only opportunities.

"(Marshall) has overcome many trials to try and become a better leader," Marshall's grandson and Port Byron freshman Tyler Quanbeck said. "He has shown great determination when others would have cracked under the pressure."

DeBois, known among students as the "prom queen," has been helping plan the district's after-prom party for 15 years. Over the years, DeBois has helped coordinate fund-raisers and special events to help fund the party, which offered students an alternative to drinking and partying.

"Everything she has done she's done because she wanted to," DeBois daughter and high school senior Kari DeBois said. "Her commitment, courage and dedication were key to her success."

Lincoln is the district's drama coach and has introduced a number of students to the theater and arts. Lincoln inspires her students to be proud of their roots and be happy they are from Port Byron.

"She is also very involved in our community," senior Justin Roe said. "More so than anyone else I know. She could tell you anything you could ever want to know about our town."

Tomasso has been living in Port Byron for 28 years, and although he is originally from Rochester, he calls Port Byron home. Once a high school English teacher, Tomasso now works in the middle school library, where he encourages literacy and shares his love of reading with his students. Tomasso's advice to future leaders was "do unto others."

"People will forget what you say to them, and people will forget what you did to them," Tomasso said. "But people will never forget how you made them feel."

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235

or ashley.lipsky@lee.net