University Recognizes Members of Class of 2015 for Academic Excellence, Leadership and Service

The University of Scranton honored 59 outstanding members of its undergraduate class of 2015 at Class Night on May 29. The awards were given for academic excellence, service or both.

Students with the highest GPA in each of the University’s three undergraduate colleges, as well as the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students, were presented Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, a memorial to the late administrator who served the University for 53 years.

This year’s O’Hara Award recipients were: Cassidy M. Kemp of Newark, Delaware, for Panuska College of Professional Studies; Karl R. Kretsch of Scranton for the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students; Rebecca L. Meyers of Lindenhurst, New York, for Kania School of Management; and Samantha Saylock of Moscow, for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Also recognized were the University’s two Fulbright scholarship recipients for the 2015-2016 academic year: Benjamin Turcea of Baltimore, who was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Mongolia; and Brian Entler of Scranton, who was awarded a Fulbright Academic Award to Australia.

In addition, students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study. The students honored, and the awards received are as follows:

Kaitlyn M. Arbizo of North Wales, Excellence in Human Resource Studies;

Joshua J. Bayzick of Sugarloaf, Excellence in Mathematics;

Sarah E. Beckley of Moscow, Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Christopher P. Cacioppo of Smithtown, New York, Excellence in Electronic Commerce;

Alannah S. Caisey of Scranton, Excellence in Women’s Studies;

Kelsey A. Carmody of Thompson, Excellence in Health Administration;

Vincent A. Castellani of Jessup, Excellence in Chemistry-Business;

Natalie A. Ceresnak of Valley Cottage, New York, Excellence in Environmental Science;

Samantha L. Cerimele of Lehighton, J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies;

Leo J. DeBarba of Marion, Connecticut, Excellence in Marketing;

Brian T. Dolan of Pearl River, New York, Jesuit Community Award;

Matthew A. Fava of New Carrollton, Maryland, Excellence in Forensic Chemistry;

Laura A. Fay of Thornton, J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism;

Craig A. Fisher of Scranton, Excellence in Computer Science;

Christopher R. Flannery of Horsham, Spitzer Award;

Shannon M. Flickinger of North Syracuse, New York, Excellence in Nursing;

April V. Francia of Albrightsville, Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Kristen D. Frost of Freehold, New Jersey, Excellence in Finance and Excellence in Accounting;

Stephen J. Gadomski of Laflin, Excellence in Exercise Science and  Sport;

Theresa B. Germano of Jermyn, Sigma Theta Tau, International Scholarship in Nursing Award;

James J. Gillespie of Philadelphia, Excellence in Philosophy;

Reshma S. Gore of Seattle, Washington, Excellence in Neuroscience;

Emily A. Goss of Morristown, New Jersey, Excellence in Early and Primary Education;

Michelle T. Graham of Succasunna, New Jersey, Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Bridget G. Hanley of East Islip, New York, Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology;

Thomas G. Holtman, Jr. of Warwick, New York, Excellence in Operations Management;

Jayde T. Hooven of Northampton, Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Anthony J. Jensen of South Abington Township, Excellence in Management;

Joshua Ray N. Jimenez of Apalachin, New York, Kathryn and Bernard Hyland Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology and Excellence in Biomathematics;

Cassidy M. Kemp of Newark, Delaware, Excellence in Occupational Therapy;

Kathryn A. Kitcho of Avoca, Excellence in Media Information Technology;

Michael R. Kranick of Dunmore, Excellence in Theatre;

Karl R. Kretsch of Scranton, Excellence in Liberal Studies Award and Alumni Loyalty and  Service (graduate);

Dylan H. Lang of West Orange, New Jersey, Excellence in Counseling and Human Services;

Daniel P. Lyle of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Excellence in Criminal Justice;

Nicole E. Mahaffey of Harrisburg, Excellence in International Business and the Prof. Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages;

Dmitro J. Martynowych of Danville, American Chemical Society Award;

Diana M. Mastrobuono of Edison, New Jersey, Excellence in Middle Level Education;

Rachel F. Mendez of Clarks Summit, Excellence in Nursing Award, (LPN to BSN);

Paris N. Metzger of Nutley, New Jersey, Excellence in Business Administration;

Rebecca L. Meyers of Lindenhurst, New York, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award;

Brett A. Nance of Morganville, New Jersey, Excellence in Community Health Education;

Melanie J.  Nasser of Scranton, Excellence in Criminal Justice;

Kyle A. Niederer of Pennington, New Jersey, Excellence in Chemistry;

John D. Niemiec of Howell, New Jersey, Excellence in Health Advocacy Award;

Emily N. O'Connor of Sherman, Connecticut, Excellence in Psychology;

Melissa C. Olsakowski of Randolph, New Jersey, Excellence in Latin American Studies;

Andreas S. Panagakos of Cranford, New Jersey, Excellence in Economics;

Christine E. Panzitta of Hamilton Square, New Jersey, Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History and the Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education;

Lindsey A. Pelucacci of Scranton, Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English and Excellence in Theology and Religious Studies;

Daniel J. Podeszwa of Warwick, New York, Excellence in Biochemistry;

Danielle T. Roamer of Massapequa PK, New York, Alumni Loyalty and Service (undergraduate);

Stephanie A. Romano of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award;

Samantha Scott of Falls, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology;

Amanda J. Sonzogni of Long Valley, New Jersey, Excellence in Entrepreneurship;

Matthew P. Tarantino of Garwood, New Jersey, Student Life Award;

Benjamin D. Turcea of Baltimore, Maryland, Excellence in International Studies;

Taliessin E. Wescott of Scranton, Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Engineering.

An archived recording of Class Night can be seen at www.scranton.edu/eventslive.

Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence were presented to members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2015 with the highest GPA in each of the University’s colleges at a Class Night ceremony on campus. From left, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; and O’Hara Award recipients Samantha Saylock, Rebecca L. Meyers, Karl R. Kretsch and Cassidy M. Kemp.

Two University of Scranton graduates were awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2015-2016 academic year. From left, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright Program advisor; and Fulbright award recipients Benjamin Turcea, Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Mongolia; and Brian Entler, Fulbright Academic Award to Australia.