Members of Class of 2016 recognized for Academic Excellence, Leadership and Service

The University of Scranton honored more than 60 members of its undergraduate class of 2016 for academic excellence, service or both. The awards were presented at Class Night on May 27 on campus.

Students with the highest GPA in each of the University’s three undergraduate colleges 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: Sarah Elizabeth Kosik of Pittston for Panuska College of Professional Studies; Daniel R. Clark of Scranton for Kania School of Management; and Christopher L. Kilner of Rockville, Maryland, for the College of Arts and Sciences. Kilner was also recognized for receiving two of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships during his years at Scranton: the George J. Mitchell Scholarship and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, which is one of the most coveted honors in science, mathematics and engineering that an undergraduate can earn.

Also recognized were the University’s five Fulbright scholarship recipients for the 2016-2017 academic year: Sarah Fitch of Candor, New York, English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia; Olivia Gillespie of Woodbine, New Jersey, English Teaching Assistantship to Brazil; Ivan Simpson-Kent of Philadelphia, Academic Award to Germany; Veronica Sinotte of North Wales, Academic Award to Denmark; and Aimee Miller ’12, G’17, Lancaster, Academic Award to China.

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

Angela Rose Agostini of Laflin, Excellence in Nursing RN to BSN Award;

Louis S. Balzani of Scranton, Excellence in Computing Information Systems;

Diana Elvira Barany of Pearl River, New York, Excellence in Criminal Justice Award;

Alyssa Biondo of Massapequa Park, New York, Excellence in Theology and Religious Studies Award;

Tia R. Bird of Scranton, Excellence in Economics Award;

Emma L. Black of South Abington Township, Professor Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Jennifer A. Bowers of Fairfield, Connecticut, Excellence in Sociology Award;

Meghan Campbell of Doylestown, Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award and the Excellence in Operations Management Award;

Margaret Capooci of Jessup, Excellence in Environmental Science Award;

Seth A. Cardona of Dickson City, Edward J. Spitzer Scholarship Award;

Sara E. Chapin of Yardley, Excellence in Neuroscience Award;

Elizabeth A. Chapman of Yardley, Excellence in Middle Level Education Award;

Daniel R. Clark of Scranton, Excellence in Accounting Award and Excellence in Mathematics Award;

John C. Clark of Scranton, Excellence in Finance Award, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award (ex acquo) and the Excellence in Chemistry-Business Award (ex acquo);

Eric M. Cross of Harrisburg, Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service;

Allison K. DeCarlo of Pennington, New Jersey, Excellence in International Business Award and the Prof. Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Language;

Caroline Hope Earnest of Chadds Ford, Excellence in Philosophy Award;

Michael L. Filardo of Fairfield, New Jersey, Excellence in Chemistry-Business Award (ex acquo);

Patrick J. Fricke of Factoryville, Excellence in Chemistry Award;

Viktoriya G. Georgieva of Scranton, Excellence in Human Resources Studies Award;

Carmine C. Gerrity-Gemei of Ossining, New York, J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism;

Olivia J. Gillespie of Woodbine, New Jersey, Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English (ex acquo);

Philip H. Gilmartin of Moscow, Excellence in Biochemistry Award;

Alison Elizabeth Gohn of Rocky Point, New York, Excellence in Nursing Award;

Jennifer Lynn Hadley of Pittston, Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History;

Garrett Brian Haviland of Lexington Park, Maryland, Excellence in Electronic Commerce Award;

Kimberly Marie Heinau of Wantagh, New York, Excellence in Community Health Education Award;

Emily R. Holzman of Dalton, Excellence in Biomathematics;

Kaelyn C. Jacques of Archbald, Excellence in Latin American Studies Award and the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Angela E. Kelley of Woodbridge, Virginia, Excellence in Forensic Chemistry Award;

Eileen O. Kelly of Scranton, Excellence in Management Award;

Christopher L. Kilner of Rockville, Maryland, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Award (ex acquo) and the Student Life Award;

Claire Teresa Leisner of Rochester, New York, Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing Award;

Adriana R. Montagni of Allendale, New Jersey, Excellence in Health Administration Award;

Sarah Grace Morrill of Somerset, New Jersey, Excellence in Occupational Therapy Award;

Amy R. Mozeleski of Avoca, Excellence in Business Administration Award;

Sarah E. Mueller of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education;

Zachary Mulhaul of Wayne, New Jersey, Alumni Loyalty and Service Award;

Sam T. Nguyen of Upper Darby, Excellence in Applied Mathematics Award;

Gabriella M. Opalkowski of Phoenixville, Excellence in Exercise Science and Sport Award;

James W. Pennington of West Wyoming, Excellence in Theatre Award;

Ralph F. Petagna of Scranton, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award (ex acquo);

Christopher C. Pochis of Olyphant, Professor Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Cailin H. Potami of Harrisburg, Excellence in Women’s Studies Award and Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English (ex acquo);

Courtney Alexis Potteiger of Dillsburg, The J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies;

Joseph C. Princetta of Tobyhanna, Excellence in International Studies Award;

Marco M. Richione of South Abington Township, Excellence in Finance Award;

Alyssa E. Rodemann of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Excellence in Psychology Award and the Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service & Achievement in Psychology;

Katherine Elizabeth Sara of Marysville, Ohio, Excellence in Counseling and Human Services Award;

Jennifer A. Shields of Scranton, Excellence in Nursing LPN to BSN Award;

Veronica M. Sinotte of North Wales, Kathryn and Bernard Hyland Memorial Award for Excellence in Biology;

Devin Marie Sullivan-Phillips of Trucksville, Excellence in Marketing Award;

Timothy J. Thomas of Lake Ariel, Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Electrical Engineering;

Caitlyn E. Tschida of Haymarket, Virginia, The Military Science Leadership Award;

Monica Holly Vaidya of Bridgewater, New Jersey, Excellence in Early and Primary Education Award;

Amy Louise Wenrich of Morris Plains, New Jersey, Excellence in Health Advocacy Award;

Shayne D. Wierbowski of Owego, New York, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Award (ex acquo);

Krista M. Ziegler of Old Bethpage, New York, Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Eric A. Zielinski of Old Forge, Excellence in Computer Science Award;

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 2016 with the highest GPA in each of the University’s colleges at Class Night on campus. From left: University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; Patricia Harrington, Ed.D., acting provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; and O’Hara Award recipients Daniel Clark, Christopher Kilner and Sarah Kosik.

The University of Scranton recognized its five recipients of Fulbright scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year at Class Night. Seated from left: Susan Trussler, Ph.D., Fulbright Program advisor; University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; and Patricia Harrington, Ed.D., acting provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Standing are Fulbright award recipients: Sarah Fitch, English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia; Ivan Simpson-Kent, Academic Award to Germany; Olivia Gillespie, English Teaching Assistantship to Brazil; Aimee Miller, Academic Award to China; and Veronica Sinotte, Academic Award to Denmark.

The University recognized Christopher Kilner of the class of 2016, who received two prestigious national scholarships: the George J. Mitchell Scholarship and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. From left: Mary Engel, Ph.D., director of health-professional school placement and fellowship programs at the University, Kilner, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J.; and Patricia Harrington, Ed.D., acting provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.