University Celebrates Donning of the Stole Ceremony

The University of Scranton held its annual Donning of the Stole Ceremony, honoring members of its class of 2023.
Members of the University of Scranton’s class of 2023 who participated in the Donning of the Stole Ceremony, include, outstanding academic and leadership achievement award recipients and many other highly-successful members of the University’s graduating class.
Members of the University of Scranton’s class of 2023 who participated in the Donning of the Stole Ceremony, include, outstanding academic and leadership achievement award recipients and many other highly-successful members of the University’s graduating class.

Nearly 70 members of The University of Scranton’s class of 2023 participated in the Jesuit school’s Donning of the Stole Ceremony. The annual ceremony celebrates and honors the accomplishments of members of its class of 2023 from underrepresented identities who received their undergraduate degrees. The purpose of the ceremony, which was a student-led initiative, was to highlight the students’ success in overcoming the particular barriers and obstacles faced by students from these groups, particularly students of color, in attaining a higher education.

 The students honored include outstanding academic and leadership achievement award recipients, future physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, counselors, accountants, business analysts, forensic chemists, nurses and many other highly-successful members of the University’s graduating class.

The ceremony, organized by the student committee members and Jose Sanchez, assistant director of the University’s Cultural Centers, took place on campus May 20 as part of Scranton’s commencement activities and events. Janvee Patel, a health administration major from Scranton, spoke on behalf of the class of 2023. Deniya Thompson, of Scranton’s class of 2020, was the Alumni Speaker and Michelle Maldonado, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University, provided the opening remarks. Also speaking at the ceremony were Sanchez; Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministry; and members of the University’s class of 2023 Omolola Adetola, a journalism and electronic media from Bowie, Maryland; and Ayana McCalla, a sociology major from North Baldwin, New York.

Members of Scranton’s class of 2023 receiving stoles were:

Daymara C. Acevedo, Philadelphia, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology;

Carmen G. Acosta, Bronx, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Maame E. Addison, Bloomfield, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience;

Omolola G. Adetola, Bowie, Maryland, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and electronic media;

Aditya Agrawal, Old Forge, who earned a Master of Accountancy degree in accounting analytics;

Erika Aguilar, Throop, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history;

Valerie A. Alfaro, Deer Park, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education - English and English;

Melissa D. Almada, Bernardsville, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Paul Amara, Williamsport, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting;

Gabriel Arcentales, Lyndhurst, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing;

Alice B. Banks, Hazle Township, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Isabella R. Barberio, Leland, North Carolina, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising/public relations and social media strategies;

Jonathane R. Bernardez, Bronx, New York,w ho earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology;

Ryann E. Betancourt, North Bellmore, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy;

Natanael Casiano-Agosto, Trenton, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology;

Carissa A. Ceballo, Stroudsburg, who earned a Master of Science degree in clinical mental health counseling;

Ying Chen, People's Republic of China, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human resources studies;

Arielle S. Contrera, Brooklyn, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English;

Miranda A. Deevy, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and sociology;

Abigail M. Eckenrode, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing;

Jessica M. Escalante, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and history;

Naomie T. Felix, Flanders, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing;

Gianna C. Filiberti, Eastchester, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing;

Romina B. Gamarra, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in counseling and human services;

Gabriel Gomez-Tirado, Bronx, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology;

Gabriela A. Gonzalez, Farmingdale, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in international business;

Tika M. Kadariya, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health administration;

Marilena Kumbios, Staten Island, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting;

Kaylee E. Lopez, New York, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing;

Ian J. Lui, Brooklyn, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history;

Christine F. Mack, Rochelle Park, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Megan Magallanes, Chester, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience;

Erica Jeanne C. Mascardo, Kansas City, Missouri, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology;

Steve Shabu Mathew, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering management;

Ayana McCalla, North Baldwin, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology;

Mei Lin Q. McElhill, Moorestown, New Jersey, who earned a Master of Science degree in clinical mental health counseling;

Ashley Moronta, Hazleton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in forensic chemistry;

Damain D. Morris, East Stroudsburg, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology;

Kimberly J. Murillo, Harrison, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice;

Adeyemi A. Onafowokan, Garfield, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in counseling and human services;

Diya S. Patel, Parsippany, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and criminal justice;

Drashti A. Patel, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology;

Hirali Patel, East Stroudsburg, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and management;

Janvee U. Patel, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in health administration;

Jenis A. Patel, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science;

Siddharth A. Patel, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry;

Yashi D. Patel, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Juna Pokhrel, Taylor, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology;

Skyler A. Pozo, Wayne, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education - citizenship and political science and political science;

Johanna N. Rene, Union, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience;

Ariana L. Rivera, New Haven, Connecticut, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology;

Daniella M. Rodriguez, Franklin Square, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting;

James L. Russo, Franklin Square, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and philosophy;

Vanessa E. Ryan, Wyoming, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance;

Kasey Samalot, Port Jervis, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy;

Sara T. Serrano, Milford, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising/public relations and social media strategies;

Gaurav A. Shah, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology;

Tanya M. Siberon, North Baldwin, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and counseling and human services;

Gracie F. Silva, Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology;

Danica May Nichole I. Sinson, Floral Park, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and philosophy;

Anaiyah D. Smith, Bethel, Connecticut, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice;

Natalie E. Tiu, Metuchen, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology;

Michael G. Trought, New Rochelle, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology;

Luis A. Vasquez, West Hazleton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in counseling and human services;

Stephanie C. Vasquez, Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education - citizenship and history and history;

Andrea Velez, Easton, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy;

Ying Wang, York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

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