Students Recognized for Academic Achievement at The University of Scranton

        Students at The University of Scranton were recently recognized for outstanding academic achievement at an awards ceremony held on campus.

        Frank O’Hara medals were given to first-, second- and third-year students with the highest grade point averages in the Kania School of Management, the Panuska College of Professional Studies, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Graduate and Continuing Education for the 2009-2010 academic year. The award is named in honor of the late Frank O’Hara, who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions.

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management are:

Laura A. Cicirelli, Towaco, N.J., received the award for her freshman year. A double major in marketing and finance, she serves as committee chair of The University of Scranton Programming Board (USPB) and is a consultant at the writing center at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. She is a member of Leaders for a Brighter Scranton, Habitat for Humanity and the Pre-Law Society.

Timothy P. McGurrin, Jr., Clarks Summit, is a medal recipient for his sophomore year. He is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the first-year student honor society, and is involved in the Business Club, The Society of Accounting Students and the tennis team.

Nicholas A. Caselli, Peckville, received the award for his junior year. A double major in economics and finance with a minor in mathematics, he is a Presidential Scholar and a second-time recipient of the Frank O’Hara medal. He serves as vice president of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society, and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the first-year student honor society. He is also a consultant at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence’s Writing Center.

Recipients of The University of Scranton’s Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management pictured with Kenneth Lord, Ph.D., (left) associate dean of the Kania School of Management are, from left:  Laura A. Cicirelli, Nicholas A. Caselli and Timothy P. McGurrin, Jr.

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies are:

Michelle G. Thomas, Peckville, is a medal recipient for her freshman year. She is pursuing a degree in middle level education with a concentration in mathematics. She is founder and president of the Middle Level Education Club and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society. Outside the classroom, she works as a peer tutor at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and volunteers with the Homework Help program at Abington Heights Middle School.

Mary Allison Mackell, Gwynedd Valley, received the award for her sophomore year. An early childhood and elementary education major, she is a two-time recipient of the Frank O’Hara award. She is a member of the Council for Exceptional Children and Association of Childhood Education International. She volunteered as an assistant teacher at Cape May Regional Early Childhood Center in New Jersey, where she interacted with children whose parents were employed at the hospital.

Marla E. Osborne, Carbondale, received the award for her junior year. An exercise science major with a concentration in nutrition, she is a two-time recipient of the Frank O’Hara award. She was also a past recipient of the Rose Kelly Award and was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship. She serves as treasurer of the exercise science club and vice president of the Alpha Epsilon Delta, the health professions honor society. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society, and the Health Professions Organization. Marla engages in her community through volunteerism at the Leahy Clinic for the Uninsured and the Growing Stronger Program, an exercise program aimed to improve health in elder adults.

Megan M. Walsh, Laflin, is a medal recipient for her junior year. A second-time recipient of the Frank O’Hara award and the Dean’s Scholarship, she is a nursing major with a minor in psychology and a concentration in nutrition. She has participated in the Student Nurses Association and Biology Club, and serves on the curriculum committee for the nursing department. A member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and the Sigma Theta Tau honor societies, Megan also was recognized as a Janssen Scholar with the American Psychiatric Nurse’s Association. She is also a consultant at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence’s Writing Center. She has volunteered at the Day Nursery Association and Leahy Clinic, and remains active in her community by serving as volunteer organist at her church and a Sunday school teacher for third and fourth graders.

Recipients of The University of Scranton’s Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies pictured with Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., (far left) dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies are, from left, Michelle G. Thomas, Mary Allison Mackell, Megan M. Walsh, and Marla E. Osborne.


Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences are:

Andrew S. Lunney, Scranton, received the medal for his freshman year. As a political science major, he hopes to fulfill his dream of building a career around public service, either as lawyer specializing in public defense or as an elected official.

Walter R. Schuster, Nazareth, is an award recipient for his freshman year. A Presidential Scholar, he is a double major in philosophy and chemistry with a minor in Spanish. He is a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program (SJLA) and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. He is a staff writer for the campus newspaper, The Aquinas, and is a peer tutor for mathematics and Spanish. He received his first degree from the Knights of Columbus and holds the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts for America.

Allison E. Carey, Olyphant, is an award recipient for hre sophomore year. She is an international language/business major with minors in history and finance and concentrations in Latin American and Asian studies. A member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, she is involved in the Spanish, Business and Latin Music and Dance clubs. She is also involved in the PRISM Group, Model U.N. and the Royal Historical Society. In addition, she serves a copy editor for the student newspaper, The Aquinas, and was a resident assistant in a freshman dorm. She volunteered at the Leahy Community Health and Family Center as a Spanish translator and SCOLA Volunteers for Literacy.

Bradley M. Wierbowski, Owego, N.Y., is a medal recipient for his sophomore year. He is pursuing a double major in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and English, and a minor in history. A Presidential Scholar, he is a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program (SJLA), the Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor society and Signa Tau Delta, an international English honor society. He serves a consultant at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Writing Center and is an editor for Esprit, the University’s literary magazine. He volunteers at Moses Taylor Hospital’s Elder Life Program.

William C. Woody, Bryn Mawr, is an award recipient for his junior year. He is pursuing a degree in theology and philosophy with a minor in French and a concentration in Catholic studies. He is a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts honor program (SJLA) and the University’s honors program. He holds several leadership positions on campus, including president of Alpha Mu Gamma, the national honor society for foreign language; vice president of Phi Sigma Tau, the honor society for philosophy; and secretary of Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society. He is also the past president of the Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society and a three-time recipient of the Frank O’Hara award. He serves on the University’s Board of Governors as an alumni liaison and is a member of his class committee. He is active in University Ministries as a lector, a Eucharistic Minister, an organizer for the Stations of the Cross during Lent and a liturgy committee member. He also serves on the University Review Board for Judicial Affairs and worked as the student coordinator for the annual Diversity Festival. He works as a staff member in the Language Learning Center, where he tutors students in French, Latin and Greek.

Kaytlin Roholt, Tafton, received the award for her junior year. She is an English and theology double major with a philosophy minor and concentration in Catholic studies. She is a member of the Mu Omicron Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, and Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for theology and religious studies. She is active on campus as a resident assistant and member of the women’s prayer group, and serves her community through volunteering at Lackawanna Pro Bono, Inc., a non-profit legal aid organization.

Recipients of The University of Scranton’s Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences pictured with Bran Conniff, Ph.D., (far left) dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, are, from left. Andrew S. Lunney, Walter Ryan Schuster, William C. Woody and Bradley M. Wierbowski. Allison E. Carey and Kaytlin Roholt are absent from the photo.

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education are:

Meredith C. Colohan, Scranton, received the award for her first year in the College of Graduate and Continuing Education. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society for adult learners in higher education. She is employed by Dex One Corporation in Dunmore where she has been recognized for several distinguished achievements, including the Top of the Class Award for her performance within her department and the Can Do Award, which encourages customer advocacy in the company.

Joel D. Braverman, Tyler Hill, is an award recipient for his second year in the College of Graduate and Continuing Education. A full-time student in the LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, he has a cumulative average of 4.0. Prior to beginning his nursing studies, he graduated with honors from the Sullivan County Board of Cooperative Educational Services LPN program in Liberty, N.Y., and is a Certified EMT-B and Wilderness EMT. Currently, he is employed as an emergency medical technician. He volunteers at Leahy Clinic and is a recipient of the Panuska College of Professional Studies Outstanding Service and Inspirational Leadership Award.

Judith A. Gunshannon, Luzerne, is a medal recipient for her junior year in the College of Graduate and Continuing Education. A second-time recipient of the award, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society, a national honor society for adult learners in higher education. An employee of The University of Scranton for 16 years, she works in the President’s Office and serves as secretary to the Board of Trustees and University secretary. She is a member of the Records Management Advisory Board and an ex officio member of the Pro Deo et Universitate Board of Directors.

Recipients of The University of Scranton’s Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education pictured with W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., (far left) dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education, are, from left, Judith A. Gunshannon and Meredith C. Colohan. Joel D. Braverman is absent from the photo.