University Students Receive Frank O’Hara Awards

University of Scranton students received esteemed Frank O’Hara awards in recognition of their outstanding academic achievement.
University of Scranton students were recently given Frank O’Hara medals in recognition of having the highest grade-point averages in their first-, second- and third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2021-22 academic year. From left: Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management, and O’Hara Award recipients Samuel Hannah, Alice Banks and Madalyne Buhler.
University of Scranton students were recently given Frank O’Hara medals in recognition of having the highest grade-point averages in their first-, second- and third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2021-22 academic year. From left: Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management, and O’Hara Award recipients Samuel Hannah, Alice Banks and Madalyne Buhler.

Frank O’Hara medals were given to University of Scranton students with the highest grade-point averages in their first-, second- and third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Kania School of Management and the Panuska College of Professional Studies for the 2021-22 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.

College of Arts and Sciences

Patrick DelBalso, Plains, received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, he is currently a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the University’s Undergraduate Honors Program. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, he is a member of the Health Professions Organization, and is an editor for Esprit, the University’s literary magazine.

Mary Krichbaum, Endicot, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, she is a double majoring in mathematics and philosophy with a minor in chemistry. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program and the University’s Magis Honors Program in STEM. On campus, she is a lector for Campus Ministries. She is also mathematics tutor with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and is involved in research in the Chemistry Department.

Emily Amershek, New Ringgold, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. A recipient of the University’s full-tuition Presidential Scholarship, she is currently a junior majoring in philosophy with minors in theology and international studies and concentrations in legal studies and health humanities. She participates in the University’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is a member of the National Philosophy Honors Society and the National Theology Honors Society. At Scranton, she was awarded a Slattery Center for the Ignatian Humanities Fellowship and the President’s Fellowship for Summer Research, where she researches bail reform and originalism in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade. She also was the recipient of the O’Hara Award in 2021. She is a tour guide, an orientation assistant, a Campus Ministries lector, a tutor for logic courses, a student conduct University Review Board member and a member of the Pre-Law Society. In the greater Scranton community, she volunteers with Men’s Clothesline project and works part-time as a legal assistant at a local law firm.

Kania School of Management

Samuel Hannah, Dunmore, received a medal for academic achievement for his freshman year. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, he is currently a sophomore majoring in accounting. On campus, he is a member of the Society of Accounting Students and The Institute of Management Accountants. He also serves in the Visitor’s Center of the Admissions Office.

Madalyne Buhler, Stony Point, New York, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is currently a junior majoring in finance with a business leadership minor. She participates in the University’s Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program and the University’s Robert L. McKeage Business Leadership Honors Program. She is a member of the Women’s Business Honor Society. On campus, she is co-captain of the Women’s Golf Team and was awarded first-team all-conference honors for her sophomore season. She is a member of Scranton’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and serves as executive chair of the Kania School of Management’s Student Advisory Board, and co-president of PRISM, the University’s student investment club. She also participated in Wall Street Bootcamp. Buhler served as a summer intern for MetLife Investment Management and next summer will be a global markets summer analyst for RBC Capital Markets.

Alice Banks, Hazle Township, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. She is currently a junior majoring in finance and participates in the University’s Frank P. Corcione Business Honors Program. She was also the recipient of the O’Hara Award in 2021. On campus, she is a Royal Start Ambassador for first-year students and a resident assistant for junior and senior housing. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is a member of the Women’s Business Honor Society, the United Cultures Organization, Praise and Worship and the University of Scranton Black Student Union.

Panuska College of Professional Studies

Priyal Patel, Mountaintop, received a medal for academic achievement for her freshman year. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is currently a sophomore majoring in health administration with a minor in business. Off-campus, she volunteered with the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Behling, Raritan, New Jersey, received a medal for academic achievement for her sophomore year. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is currently a junior and is majoring in occupational therapy. On campus, she is a member of the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA), where she served as a delegate for the Class of 2024 on SOTA’s Executive Board and currently serves as the club’s vice president. She also serves as a teaching assistant for a second-year occupational therapy anatomy course, and served as a tutor for several anatomy courses.

Rosa Azzato, Harrisburg, received a medal for academic achievement for her junior year. A Dean’s List student at Scranton, she is currently a senior majoring in occupational therapy with a minor in psychology and a concentration in lifespan development. She is a member of the Psychology Honors Society. On campus, she serves as vice president of AFYA: The Global Health Club, as secretary and social media representative of the Student Occupational Therapy Association, and as the social media representative for the Students for Life Club. She is a peer mentor and a teaching assistant for the occupation therapy Anatomy and Mechanics of Human Movement course. She also participates in the University’s Performance Music choir and steel drum band, and the University’s music ministries choir, and the Praise and Worship Club. Azzato volunteers with service programs offered through the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice. In the greater Scranton community, she volunteered at the Lackawanna Blind Association.

In photos below, from left: Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D., dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies, and O’Hara Award recipients Elizabeth Behling, Priyal Patel and Rosa Azzato. From left: David Dzurec, Ph.D., interim dean for The University of Scranton’s College of Arts and Science; and O’Hara Award recipients Emily Amershek, Patrick DelBalso and Mary Krichbaum.

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