University Students Receive Frank O’Hara Awards

University of Scranton students received Frank O’Hara awards in recognition of their academic achievement.
From left: Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, and recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies Kellie Smigel, Danielle Desseyn and Melissa Busch.
From left: Debra Pellegrino, Ed.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, and recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the Panuska College of Professional Studies Kellie Smigel, Danielle Desseyn and Melissa Busch.

Frank O’Hara medals were given to the first-, second- and third-year University of Scranton students with the highest grade-point averages in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2016-17 academic year. The awards, named in honor of the late Frank O’Hara who served the University for 53 years in various administrative positions, were presented at a ceremony held recently on campus.

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

Abbey Murphy, Mountain Top, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year at the University. She is currently a sophomore accounting and philosophy double major with minor in theology and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program (SJLA). She serves as a peer health educator for the Center for Health Education and Wellness and as the co-chair for the Coffeehouse Committee for University of Scranton Programming Board. She was a member of the Kania Young Alumni Day Planning Committee. She is a student representative of the Business Club and works for the accounting firm, Snyder and Clemente.

Angela McGovern, Yardley, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior marketing major with minors in psychology and business leadership. McGovern serves as chief of staff for Student Government and previously served as a senator for the class of 2019. She works for Admissions at the University as a social media intern and tour guide. She is also involved in several clubs and activities on campus including Campus Ministries’ retreat program, the Marketing Society, the Praise and Worship Club, intramural volleyball and orientation. McGovern has been a leader for the SPARK service program for the past two summers and has taken part in a Habitat for Humanity service trip to Abington, Virginia.

Patrick Tuzzo, Bayville, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for his junior year. He is a senior accounting and finance double major with a business leadership minor and participates in the University’s Business Leadership Honors Program. This is the third O’Hara award Tuzzo received, having also earned O’Hara Awards for both his sophomore and freshman years at Scranton. Tuzzo is a member of the International Business Club, the Society of Accounting Students and PRISM, which is a select group of undergraduate students who have the responsibility of managing a portion of the University’s endowment fund. Tuzzo also served as a resident assistant for three years and as a member of the Kania Young Alumni Day Planning Committee.

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

Michaela Farrell, Kirkwood, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year at the University. She is currently a sophomore biology major on the pre-medicine track with a minor in philosophy and concentration in environmental studies. Farrell is a member of the women’s soccer team as well as the newly established track and field team. She is also a member of Autism Speaks and the Health Professions Organization. She serves as a chemistry tutor on campus, and a teacher’s assistant for the general biology lab.

Sara Wierbowski, Owego, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior neuroscience and philosophy double major with a minor in biochemistry. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Owego Free Academy and is a full-tuition Presidential Scholar at the University, where she maintains a 4.0 grade point average. Wierbowski is a member of the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program (SJLA) and the Undergraduate Honors Program and has been inducted into the Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health professional honor society; the Nu Rho Psi, the national honor society for neuroscience; and the Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology. She has also served as a teaching assistant for the general biology lab and behavioral science lab and lecture. Wierbowski volunteers as a student clinical scribe as well as one of the clinical scribe managers at the Leahy Center.

Samuel Morano, Clarks Summit, received a medal for academic achievement for his junior year. He is currently a senior biology major on a pre-medicine track with minors in psychology and biochemistry. He graduated as valedictorian from Abington Heights High School and is a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. He volunteers with Big Friends Little Friends and also serves as a student scribe at the Leahy Clinic. Morano is also a member of the Health Professions Organization (HPO) and the Random Acts of Kindness club. He is a member of the Beta Beta Beta, national honor society for biology and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health professional honor society. He has served as a teaching mentor for the Leadership and Civic Responsibility seminar and is a teaching assistant for the Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy lab.

Recipients of the Frank O’Hara Awards from the Panuska College of Professional Studies

Danielle Desseyn, York, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year. She is currently a sophomore occupational therapy and Hispanic studies double major. She serves as a class representative for the Student Occupational Therapy Association and is a teaching assistant for the general biology lab. Desseyn volunteers at St. Clare’s food pantry and as a Spanish translator in the Leahy Clinic. She also works part-time as an occupational therapy and physical therapy rehabilitation technician.

Kellie Smigel, Blairstown, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. She is currently a junior exercise science major with a minor in business. She is a recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. This is the second O’Hara award Busch received, having also earned an O’Hara Award for her freshman year at Scranton. Smigel is a peer tutor for general chemistry through the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. She is a member of an intramural volleyball team and a lifeguard at the campus pool. She volunteers as a scribe for the Leahy Community Health and Family Center, and serves as the liaison between the scribe committee and the Leahy Board. Smigel is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health professional honor society. and Omega Beta Sigma, the women’s business honor society. She is also a member of the exercise science and physical therapy clubs.

Melissa Busch, Yardley, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. She is currently a senior occupational therapy major with a minor in psychology and counseling and human service with a concentration in human development. This is the third O’Hara award Busch has received, having also earned O’Hara Awards for her sophomore and freshman years at Scranton. Busch serves as a teaching assistant for the human anatomy/physiology lab class and for statistics in the behavior sciences course and as a tutor for the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE). She also volunteers with Big Friends Little Friends. She is the secretary of the Circle K Club and a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association. Busch has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and participated in a weeklong service trip in Jamaica through the International Service Program.            

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From left: recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the Kania School of Management Angela McGovern, Abbey Murphy and Patrick Tuzzo; and Murli Rajan, Ph.D., associate dean of the Kania School of Management.

 

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From left: Brian Conniff, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and recipients of the Frank O’Hara medals from the College of Arts and Sciences: Michaela Farrell, Sara Wierbowski and Samuel Morano.

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