May 2024

The University will host numerous events honoring members of its graduating class of 2024 on Friday, May 17, Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, with many events live streamed as well.

Friday evening events include the The Panuska College of Professional Studies (now the Leahy College of Health Sciences) Outstanding Graduate Awards Ceremony, which will take place at 4 p.m. in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall. At 5:30 p.m., Kania School of Management will host a reception for their graduates on the 5^th floor of Brennan Hall.

Also on Friday evening, undergraduates will be recognized for academic achievement, leadership and service at Class Night, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

On Saturday, May 18, at 9 a.m., the University will conduct a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates in the Byron Recreation Complex. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Long Center. The Donning of the Stole Ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Byron Recreation Complex. A reception immediately follows the ceremony in the lobby of the Long Center. The Class of 2023 Legacy Photo will take place at 2:45 p.m. on the patio area near the Atrium of the Loyola Science Center. At 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, ROTC Army cadets will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army during a ceremony in the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall.

The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 4 p.m. in the Byron Recreation Complex.

Saturday evening, at 8 p.m., the University will host the President’s Reception for Graduates and Parents in the Byron Recreation Complex. Tickets are required to attend this event. 

On Sunday, May 19, the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will take place in the Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, at 11 a.m. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. Shabana Basij-Rasikh, the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), will serve as the commencement speaker. Basij-Rasikh; Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., the president of Marywood University; and Joseph M. Vaszily ’95, former University trustee; will receive honorary degrees at the ceremony.

At 12 p.m., noon, the University will hold the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduation Awards Ceremony in the DeNaples McIlhenny Ballroom.

The University will hold its Graduate Commencement Ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Guests attending the events at the Mohegan Sun Arena can review their security procedures, which include a clear bag policy and security checkpoints, to assist with alleviating the time required for entry to the commencement ceremonies. Tickets are not required for the undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies.

The University will live video stream several of the commencement events. For additional information about the University’s 2024 commencement events, including live stream of events, visit scranton.edu/commencement.

Two University of Scranton students, Sarah Boyle ’24 and Annalisa Mechanick ’23, G’24, will join a student from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and one from British University in Egypt, as the four participants selected worldwide to participate in the Institute of Management Accountants’ (IMA) “Jimmie Smith” 2023/2024 Student Leadership Experience.

This is the fifth year University of Scranton students have been chosen to participate in this highly-selective, elite program.

Through the leadership program, Boyle, an accounting major from Peckville, and Mechanick, a graduate student from Randolph, New Jersey, will participate in a series of virtual meetings focused on governance and volunteerism. Each student will be assigned an IMA Global Board of Director mentor to learn more about the IMA Global Board and explore future IMA volunteer leadership opportunities. The program will conclude in June with their participation in IMA’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

The IMA Selection Committee only chooses students from IMA Higher Education Endorsement Program member schools to attend this experience. Approximately 100 colleges have achieved endorsement by IMA internationally. The University of Scranton received its endorsement in November 2017.

Boyle, who recently earned a perfect score of 180 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), will graduate from Scranton, summa cum laude, in May 2024 with bachelor’s degree in accounting. At Scranton, she received the Rose Kelly Award for the Kania School of Management in 2023. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students at Jesuit colleges and universities. She is the president of the student chapter for the Institute of Management Accountants and the fundraising chair for the CURA consulting club. Boyle worked as an intern at Neumentum and will work full time at Baker Tilly next year while pursuing an MBA at Scranton through its combined B.S./MBA program. She plans to earn the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure in addition to a law degree.

Mechanick earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from the University in 2023. As an undergraduate member of the University’s Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program, she worked with faculty advisor Amanda Marcy, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting, on a thesis titled “Study of Business Student Experiences with Imposter Syndrome.” She will graduate from Scranton in May of 2024 with Master of Accountancy degree with a concentration in forensic accounting. During her time at Scranton, she was an audit intern at KPMG, Short Hills, New Jersey, and Forvis in New York City. She was a resident assistant, an admissions tour guide, and officer with the Institute of Management Accountants’ (IMA) student chapter. Mechanick is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society for AACSB accredited business programs; Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor society for financial information; Omega Beta Sigma, the women’s business honor society; and Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students at Jesuit colleges and universities. After graduation, Mechanick plans to earn her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure while working as an audit associate at KPMG

Globally, IMA supports the profession through research, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) program, continuing education, networking and advocacy of the highest ethical business practices. IMA has a global network of more than 140,000 members in 140 countries and over 300 professional and student chapters.

A team of six nursing students from The University of Scranton won the 18th annual Jeffery Allan Walp Student Nurse Challenge, becoming the sixth Scranton team to win the competition.

At the competition, students answered questions similar to those they will encounter on the nursing licensure exam.

Team members are Aimee M. Bouchat ’24, Hockessin, Delaware; Rylee M. Gabrielson ’24, Harrisburg; Sierra R. Giranda ’24, McAdoo; Samantha G. Hoffmann ’25, Millington, New Jersey; Kalindi B. Maggs ’24, Williamsport; and Sarah E. McGovern ’24, Havertown. Faculty members, Laura Skoronski Chavez, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, and Anna Grippi, lecturer in the Nursing Department, served as team coordinators.

The team received a $500 prize, donated by Lehigh Valley Health Network, along with a traveling trophy.

Five area schools participated in the competition that took place recently at East Stroudsburg University.

University of Scranton student Claire Lodger ’24, Westfield, New Jersey, won the 2023-2024 American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania Silver Award for Integrated Campaigns. The senior majoring in advertising and public relations won for the “BCF Animal Refuge Campaign” submission.

Francesca Ragusa ’24, advertising and public relations major from Trenton, New Jersey, won honorable mention.

In addition, three University of Scranton students were nominated as 2023-2024 American Advertising Federation of Northeastern Pennsylvania (AAF NEPA) Rising Stars. Mia Familetti ’25 is an English and philosophy double major from Dalton. Isabella Chungata ’24 is a social media strategies major from Valley Stream, New York. Claudia Campo Mirabent ’24 is a advertising and public relations major from Tuscon, Arizona.

University of Scranton alumna Bethany Staples ’10, Market Share Consulting, won the 2023-2024 AAF NEPA Game Changer Award. Staples earned her bachelor’s degree in adverting from the University.

AAF NEPA is part of a national network of nearly 200 local federations, representing 40,000 advertising professionals from across the country. There are currently more than 200 AAF college chapters with more than 6,500 student members.

In an occasional series, Royal News spotlights clubs from the university’s 100+ student organizations on campus, speaks to members and offers information on how to connect with the clubs. 

To suggest a club for a future Royal News article, to share ideas or to inform us of any upcoming club events, please email RoyalNews@scranton.edu.

By Felicia Domiano, Student Correspondent

Club: Cheerleading Team

Meet: Leandra Rodriguez ’26, shown, a health promotion major from Queens, New York, and the secretary of the cheer team.

Connect: @universityofscrantoncheer 

Q: What is your team’s mission?

"The University of Scranton Cheerleading Team's mission is to be an ambassador for our school in and out of uniform, as well as create a family that athletes can turn to at any point in time."

Q: What, in your opinion, are the most exciting events or activities you present?

"In my opinion the most exciting events we present at are Men’s and Women’s basketball games at our very own John Long Center and UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida competing in the Open All Girl GameDay Division. This is a huge part of our season. Going to UCA overnight camp in the summer is a vital part in our game day and nationals' preparation when we are working vigorously on new skills, cheers and team bonding for the upcoming season."

Q: Why would you recommend someone join University of Scranton Cheer Team?

"I would recommend that someone join the University of Scranton cheer team to not only to become involved within the University community, but also to become a part of a hardworking uplifting community you can call a family on and off of the mat."

Q: Why did you join?

"I joined The University of Scranton Cheer Team to pursue my love and passion for the sport at a higher level. I could not imagine my school life without the structure and discipline cheerleading has given me. Being able to connect with upperclassman going to UCA camp prior to moving on campus when I was entering a new environment as a freshman gave me a sense of comfort and belonging on campus."

Q: Please share the format of a typical meeting/practice.

"Typically, in season we practice three times a week, in the Byron Center. Our practices consist of going over cheers, fight song dances, and stunting skills for game days. Leading up to nationals, we consistently practice our competition routine and team bonding activities.

Post season we practice around one to two times a week to stay consistent with skills for the upcoming season. In season and post season we also cheer for our very own Royals and Lady Royals in the John Long Center on Wednesday nights and Saturday afternoons."

University of Scranton graduate and former trustee Joseph M. Vaszily ’95; Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., the president of Marywood University; and Shabana Basij-Rasikh, the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA); will receive honorary degrees from The University of Scranton at its undergraduate commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19.

Vaszily served as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees from 2013-2019, including as chair for 2018-2019. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from Scranton, and an MBA from New York University. He had a distinguished career in finance, retiring as vice president of the fixed income sales/trading group at Goldman Sachs in 2015 after 16 years working in finance. Prior to that, he was employed with JP Morgan in various leadership positions after starting his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1996. 

Vaszily currently serves as a referee for Women’s Division I Basketball in the Big East Conference. He has officiated at ten Final Four games, including the 2018 and 2024 National Championship games.

Vaszily has served on the University’s Alumni Board of Governors, President’s Business Council and as co-chair for Scranton’s 2012 President’s Business Council dinner. He serves on the board of Kay Yow Cancer Fund, as finance chair, and as chair of Monsignor Farrell Vir Fidelis Fund board. He is a former trustee of the New Jersey Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Students. He resides in Westfield, New Jersey, and is actively engaged with his parish, Saint Helen’s Roman Catholic Church in Westfield.

Sister Persico will retire from serving as the 12th president of Marywood University in June. During her tenure, Marywood successfully concluded a $30 million capital campaign and reorganized the school’s academic structure. Previously, she served as executive vice-president of mission integration for Trinity Health, Livonia, Michigan, and the former Catholic Health East, Newtown Square. Sister Persico served as treasurer and then president of the religious congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scranton. She also served in Catholic secondary education in several states as principal and teacher for many years.

Since its inception, Sister Persico has had a relationship with the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC), a program designed to provide bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to leaders of congregations of women religious in ten African countries. For more than 30 years, she has facilitated meetings and other gatherings of women religious in Europe, South America, Africa, Canada, Australia and the United States.

Sister Persico was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to Pennsylvania Humanities, where she served as chair for two years. Currently, she serves as a member of the Governor’s task force for Higher Education in the Commonwealth, a board member of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and as chair of the Board of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania.

Sister Persico earned her bachelor's degree in French and education from Marywood College (now University), her master’s degree in French from Assumption College (now University), and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University.

As a student at Middlebury College in 2008, Basij-Rasikh co-founded the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), which is the first and only boarding school for Afghan girls, currently operating in Rwanda. In 2012, she presented “Dare to Educate Afghan Girls” at the TEDWomen event in Washington, D.C., where she discussed her life and dream for SOLA.

In 2021, she spoke again for TEDtalk about her experience with the Taliban’s second rise to power in Afghanistan and her determination to continue to educate Afghan girls. Within days of Taliban regaining control of Kabul and Afghanistan in August of 2021, 250 SOLA students, staff and family were evacuated from Afghanistan to Rwanda, where the boarding school continues to operate.

Basij-Rasikh earned her bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and her master’s degree in public policy from Oxford University. She has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Malalai Medal, one of Afghanistan's highest national honors, recognizing her work in promoting girls’ access to education. In 2019, she was named to the Forbes “30 Under 30 Asia” list in the social entrepreneurship sector. In 2023, she received the Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award from the National Geographic Society; the Joaquín Ruiz-Giménez Prize from UNICEF Spain; and was named an Inaugural Carnegie Distinguished Fellow at the newly-launched Institute of Global Politics at Columbia University in New York.

Basij-Rasikh received honorary degrees from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London and Cedar Crest College. She is also a contributor to The Washington Post Global Opinions section.

Basij-Rasikh will serve as principal speaker at the University’s 2024 undergraduate commencement ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. on May 19 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre.

Hundreds of students have been inducted into national and international honor societies represented at The University of Scranton throughout the 2024 spring semester. Lists of students inducted into some of the University’s honor societies can be seen by clicking below.

Student Government confirmed its 2024-25 Senate and has begun its term for the upcoming academic year during its meeting May 3.

Following this spring's general election, Maria Stephen '25 and Amanda Campbell '25 have been elected as the new student body president and vice president after winning a contested executive ballot. Stephen and Campbell will lead Senate meetings, voice Senate concerns to institution executives and support committee initiatives during the upcoming academic year.

At the May 3 Senate meeting, the Senate appointed the new executive cabinet after interviews with Student Government Moderator Michael Ritterbeck, Stephen and Campbell. After a competitive interview process, Senate leadership selected Lamar Bishop '25 as executive treasurer, John Sinclair '25 as chief of staff, Joseph Agnone '25 as executive secretary, Mia Familetti '25 as director of communications, and Buse Onat '26 as director of technology. 

Senators elected during the 2024 general election cycle have begun their term during the May meeting, and vacancies unfilled by the election have been appointed.

The University of Scranton Student Government was established in 2002 to advocate for the needs of the student body and represent undergraduate students during executive and Senate meetings. Student Government Senate meets biweekly and hosts general elections each spring to allow the student body to select their representation. More information about student government can be found on our website. Questions about the organization can be directed to studentgovernment@scranton.edu .

Ten University of Scranton students and one alumnus presented their work at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri in April. Four won awards for work they presented at the conference: Bethany Belkowski, senior, first place Common Reader Award; Dimitri Bartels-Bray, senior, first place Stemmler/Dennis LGBT& Award; Elias Kerr, alumnus, honorable mention for Stemmler/Dennis LGBT& Award; and Faith Montagnino, sophomore, second place Creative Nonfiction Award.

At the convention, Maille Allardyce, senior, "Pensive Illustrations in Arthur Morrison's 'The Lenton Croft Robberies,'" Belkowski, "Power and Vulnerability in Philips 'Electric,'" Jillian Tremblay, senior, "The Varying Methodologies in Detective Fiction," and Megan Zabrouski, senior, "Alien Landscapes Portrayed in The Drowned World," presented critical essays.

Shannon Parker, senior, "A Red Couch," Amelia Semple, junior, "The Treehouse Above the Woods," and Therese Shimkus, sophomore, "Talking to You First," presented original prose pieces.

Bartels-Bray, senior, "Climbing," Faith Montagnino, sophomore, "Metaphor and Remembrance: 9/11/01," and Brenna Parker, junior, "The Airplane Rule," presented works of creative nonfiction. Kerr, alumnus, presented original poetry "trans [re]incarnation—[re]living this body’s birth". Janvi Patel, sophomore, "Suit Yourself" and Aud Munley, junior, roundtable member, were also accepted, but were unable to attend.

Additionally, Belkowski, Semple, Brenna Parker, Shannon Parker and Zabrouski presented a roundtable on the Common Reader entitled "Then the War: Limits of Language and Jesuit Values." Aud Munley assisted in creating the roundtable but was unable to attend.

Each current student's travel was supported by the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Student Research Grant program.

Sigma Tau Delta is the national honor society in English. The honor society recognizes students who major or minor in English, theatre or secondary education/English and maintain a grade point average of 3.4 or better in English, theatre and writing courses and an overall grade point average of 3.4 or higher. English professors Billie Tadros, Ph.D. and Madeline B. Gangnes, Ph.D., serve as co-moderators of Scranton’s chapter of the honor society.

Seventy-five University of Scranton students were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the national honor society for students in Jesuit colleges and universities in 2024. The Scranton chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu was founded in 1943 and is the oldest honor society at the University. Juniors, seniors and graduate students, including students in doctoral level degree programs, who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service are eligible for membership.

Also at the ceremony, three members of the University community were given honorary inductions into the honor society. Honorary inductees were: Theo Lawless Zayac, a Scranton alumna who served as the keynote speaker at the event; Lauren S. Rivera, J.D., M.Ed., vice president for student life and dean of students; and Jill A. Warker, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and co-director of the University Honors Program.

In addition, Christopher Fremaux, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy at the University, was presented with the Edward Gannon, S.J. Teacher of the Year Award.

The following undergraduate and graduate students at Scranton were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu: