Outstanding Graduates Recognized at Class Night

The University of Scranton honored 56 members of its undergraduate class of 2024 for academic excellence, leadership and service at a Class Night Ceremony on campus May 17.

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.

Class of 2024 O’Hara Award recipients were: Tabitha R. Berger, Cresco, and Charles C. Sylvester, Newtown, for the College of Arts and Sciences; Sarah G. Boyle, Peckville, and Madalyne R. Buhler, Stony Point, New York, for the Kania School of Management; and Aidan R. Corrigan, Mansfield, Massachusetts, for the Leahy College of Health Sciences, (formerly named the Panuska College of Professional Studies).

Also recognized at the ceremony was the recipient of a prestigious student Fulbright Awards for the 2024/2025 academic year. Shelby A. Traver, Sweet Valley, received a Fulbright Award to Rwanda.

Member of the class of 2024 and the outgoing president of Student Government, Karla Shaffer, New Hope, offered remarks at the ceremony.

In addition, students were honored for outstanding academic achievement in their fields of study and leadership and service.

The students honored and the awards received are as follows:

Bethany R. Belkowski, Norristown, received the Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English;

In addition to the O’Hara Award, Berger also received the Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell, Molecular Biology Award;

In addition to the O’Hara Award, Boyle also received the Excellence in Accounting Award;

In addition to the O’Hara Award, Buhler also received the Excellence in Finance Award;

Alexandra J. Burke, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Marketing Award;

Gwyn A. Cruz, Dallas, received the Excellence in Kinesiology Award;

Ruth A. Deliman, Archbald, received the Excellence in Criminal Justice Award;

Caitlin J. Doughton, Throop, received the Excellence in Biology Award;

Victoria N. Dowling, East Northport, New York, received the J. Timothy Cannon Award for Excellence in Neuroscience;

Matthew J. Duffy, Plainview, New York, received the Lawrence A. Mann Award;

Thomas N. Elias, Tunkhannock, received the Excellence in Theology and Religious Studies Award;

Fione Evans, Scranton, received the Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service, ex aequo;

Alyssa M. Fontana, Douglassville, received the Excellence in Operations Management Award;

Christian Paul Joseph Gillich, Beachwood, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Chemistry Business Award;

Luke A. Glidewell, Clarks Summit, received the Excellence in Business Analytics Award;

Andrew E. Gordos, Leesport, received the Excellence in Biomathematics Award;

Emma O. Graff, Melville, New York, received the J. Harold Brislin Award for Excellence in Journalism ;

Aidan T. Guarnuccio, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, received the Excellence in International Studies Award;

Hunter H. Hackling, Noxen, received the Excellence in Management Award;

Thomas C. Kennedy, Scranton, received the Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History;

Elise S. Koegler, Scranton, received the Achievement in Psychology Award and the Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service;

Hannah M. Kohrn, Hamden, Connecticut, received the Excellence in Sociology Award;

Ryan V. Lally, Sussex, New Jersey, received the Military Science Leadership  Award;

James M. Lanning, Mountain Top, received the Excellence in Chemistry Award and the Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Ashley N. Livezey, Pottstown, received the Excellence in Nursing Award;

Julia L. Loury, Scranton, received the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award;

Taylor M. Maxson, Lakewood, received the Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing Award;

Brooke M. McNabola, Wallingford, Connecticut, received the Edward J. Spitzer Scholarship Award;

Kelly S. McGovern, Manalapan, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Occupational Therapy Award;

Jane M. Mecca, Chinchilla, received the Excellence in Physiology Award;

Anna J. Merkel, Skillman, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Forensic Chemistry Award;

Kathryn T. Moore, Oyster Bay, New York, received the Excellence in Counseling and Human Services Award;

Zachary S. Morrison, Shamong, New Jersey, received the Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service, ex aequo;

Vanessa S. Moylan, Jefferson Township, received the Excellence in Business Administration Award and the Student Life Award;

Mollie A. Murphy, Scranton, received the Prof. Joseph G. Brunner Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages Award;

Grace E. Murray, Havertown, received the Excellence in Cybercrime and Homeland Security Award;

John A. Nelson, Jefferson, Maryland, received the Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Engineering;

Kaitlin A. O’Sullivan, Merrick, New York, received the Excellence in Health Promotion Award;

Kathryn P. Olafson, Malvern, received the Excellence in Secondary Education Award;

Jason A. Opferman, Newtown, received the Excellence in Health Advocacy Award;

Spencer R. Owens, Coopersburg, received the Excellence in Health Administration Award;

Jordan N. Pedagna, Media, received the Excellence in Early and Primary Teacher Education Award;

Angelo J. Sacco, Kirkwood, New York, received the Excellence in Economics  Award;

Wilmarr J. Saint Surin, North Baldwin, New York, received the Alumni Loyalty and Service Award;

Simal Sami, Jessup, received the Excellence in Information Technology Award;

Megan J. Schurra, Easton, received the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Charles J. Seitz, Aston, received the Excellence in Computer Science Award;

Dominick J. Spera, Mount Laurel, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Biochemistry Award, the Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Award and the Susquehanna Valley Section - American Chemical Society Award;

Mitchell W. Sporing, Mount Ephraim, New Jersey, received the Croteau and Marx Family Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering Award;

In addition to the O’Hara Award, Sylvester received the Excellence in Environmental Science Award;

Kathleen A. Till, Newtown Square, received the Excellence in Philosophy Award;

Emma Trautfetter, Cedar Grove, New Jersey, received the Excellence in Psychology Award;

In addition to the Fulbright Award, Traver received the Excellence in International Business Award;

Mollie M. Veres, Glendon, received the Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Isabelle M. Wohlleber, Hazleton, received the Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Award.