Students Recognized for Academic Achievement with Frank O’Hara Medals

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

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

Kania School of Management

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management are: sophomore Anna Heckman, Clarks Summit; junior Laura A. Cicirelli, Towaco, N.J.; and senior student Nicholas A. Caselli, Peckville.

Heckman is the co-chair of travel and recreation for the University’s Programming Board and is a member of the Business Club and Marketing Society. She is a marketing major.

Cicirelli is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society) and Omega Beta Sigma (women’s business honor society). She is involved with The University of Scranton Programming Board, Habitat for Humanity, the Business Club and community outreach. She was a recipient of the University’s O’Hara Award in 2010 and the 2011 Emerging Leaders Award. She is a marketing major.

Caselli is a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. He is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society) and is president of Omicron Delta Epsilon (economics honor society). He won first place in the Doyle Stock Trading Competition in 2010 and in the Kania School of Management’s Jesuit Identity Essay Contest. A double major in economics and finance, he received the University’s O’Hara Award in 2009 and 2010.

From left, Kenneth Lord, Ph.D., associate dean of the Kania School of Management, congratulates recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management Anna Heckman, Laura A. Cicirelli and Nicholas A. Caselli.

Panuska College of Professional Studies

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies are: sophomore Lindsay Scheve, Baltimore, Md.; junior Michelle G. Thomas, Peckville; and senior Safia Abulaila, Holmdel, N.J.

Scheve is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society) and the Student Nurses’ Association. She participated in FIRST (Freshmen Involved in Reflective Service Together). She is a Royal Ambassador and works as a teaching assistant for biology structure and function anatomy labs. Scheve is a nursing major.

Thomas is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society) and Kappa Delta Pi (education honor society). She is the founder and president of the Middle Level Education Club, on the Board of Governor’s Young Alumni/Senior Engagement Committee, and is a President’s Alumni Liaison. A middle level education major, she is a two-time recipient of the O’Hara Award.

A native of Hungary, Abulaila is a resident assistant, mentor for the University of Success Program, and active at the University’s Jane Kopas Women’s Center. She has participated in numerous community service events, youth mentoring programs and social justice initiatives. She is a counseling and human services major.

From left, Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, congratulates recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies Lindsay Scheve, Michelle G. Thomas and Safia Abulaila.

College of Arts and Sciences

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences are: sophomore Christian Burne, Langley Air Force Base, Va.; junior Andrew Lunney, Scranton; senior Bradley Wierbowski, Owego, N.Y.

Burne is the recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. He is a member of the crew team, the student senate and serves as editor of the Forum section of The Aquinas. An Army ROTC cadet, Burne is a political science and international studies major and member of University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

A native of Scranton, Lundy is vice president of the University’s Pre-Law Society. He is a President’s Alumni Liaison and is involved with Scranton Inclusion and Scranton ECO (Environmentally Concerned Organization). He also received the O’Hara Award in 2010. Lundy is a history major.

Wierbowski is the recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. He is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society), and Sigma Tau Delta (English honor society). He is the production manager for Espirit and a two-time recipient of the O’Hara Award. He is a double major in biochemistry cell and molecular biology and English and participates in the University’s Honors Program.

From left, Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, congratulates recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences Christian Burne and Bradley Wierbowski. Andrew Lunney was absent from photo.

College of Graduate and Continuing Education

Tom Gonczi, Tyler Hill, received the Frank O’Hara medal for undergraduates from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education. He is a member of Alpha Sigma Lamda (the honor society for adult students). A critical care nurse in the intensive care unit at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Gonczi is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Recipients of Frank O’Hara medals for graduates student from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education are: Kyersten Rozanski, Milford, for counseling; Lisa Schrader, Robinson Township, for human resources; Brian Gent, Scranton, for humanities; Lisa Zacheiss, Scotrun, for nursing; Jason Walsh, Pittston, for science; Jared Denisco, Horsham for business; Noel McFadden, Brick, N.J., for physical therapy; and Elke Miller, Milford, for education.

Rozanski is pursuing a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. She earned her bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton. At Scranton, she was active in the Jane Kopas Women’s Center, the Counseling and Human Services Student Association and cheerleading, and served as president of Tau Upsilon Alpha (counseling and human services honor society).

Schrader is pursuing a master’s degree in human resources. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s degree in education from Duquesne University.

Gent is pursuing a master’s degree in theology. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida.

Zacheiss is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Walsh is pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton. At Scranton, he was a member of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (computer science honor society) and Sigma Pi Sigma (physics honor society).

Denisco is pursuing an MBA. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton. At Scranton, he was an accounting tutor and participated in the VITA program, as well as the Business Club and the Society of Accounting Students.

McFadden is pursuing a doctor of physical therapy degree. She earned a bachelor’s degree from The University of Scranton. At Scranton, she was an O’Hara Award recipient and member of Phi Epsilon Kappa (physical education honor society), Alpha Lambda Delta (freshman honor society) and the exercise science club.

Miller is pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Padagogische Hochschule in Heidelberg, Germany.

 From left, W. Jeffrey Welsh, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Education, congratulates recipients of Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Graduate and Continuing Education Kyersten Rozanski, Lisa Schrader, Jason Walsh and Thomas Gonczi. Brian Gent, Lisa Zacheiss, Jared Denisco, Noel McFadden and Elke Miller were absent from photo.