May 2025

The University of Scranton recognized excellence in academic disciplines and exemplary leadership and service at Class Night, where 61 undergraduates of the Class of 2025 were honored.

Among the highest honors conferred at the on-campus Class Night celebration, held May 16, were the Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence. Named after an alumnus whose professional career at the University lasted 52 years until his death in 1977, the O’Hara Awards are presented annually to students with the highest GPA in each of the University’s three undergraduate colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, Kania School of Management and the Leahy College of Health Sciences.

Earning the O’Hara Awards for the Class of 2025 were: Grace E. Boyle, a finance major from Clarks Summit; Samantha G. Hoffmann, a nursing major from Millington, New Jersey; Jenna M. Kotlar, a kinesiology major from Branchburg, New Jersey; Elizabeth P. McKechney, a communication sciences and disorders major from Fairport, New York; Priyal Patel, a health administration major from Mountain Top; Kaitlyn N. Romito, a nursing major from Hauppauge, New York; and Alexandra L. Shomali, a mathematical sciences and philosophy major from Ellicott City, Maryland.

Also recognized at the ceremony was Jenyah A. Cunningham, a double major (secondary education, English; English) from Brooklyn, New York. Cunningham is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan.

The event also featured remarks from Maria Stephen, of Huntingdon Valley, the outgoing president of Student Government.

Below is a full list of the students honored for their leadership, service and outstanding achievement in their fields of study:

Joseph Agnone, Phoenix, Arizona, Lawrence A. Mann Award, ex aequo;

Elliott David Ballino, Scranton, Excellence in Chemistry;

Gabrielle Martine Bingener, Barto, J. Timothy Cannon Award for Excellence in Neuroscience;

Shandon Jason Black, Scranton, Excellence in Environmental Science;

Grace Elizabeth Boyle, Clarks Summit, Excellence in Finance, as well as the Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Jack Burke, Dublin, Alumni Loyalty and Service Award;

Stephen Butler, Telford, Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service, ex aequo;

Amanda E. Campbell, Farmingville, New York, Sigma Theta Tau Award (International Honor Society of Nursing), ex aequo;

Logan H. Campbell, Chalfont, Excellence in Business Analytics;

Brigid R. Carlin, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Excellence in Economics and the Prof. Timothy H. Scully Award for Excellence in Political Science;

Abigail Casal, South Abington Township, Jesuit Community Award for Outstanding Service, ex aequo;

John Michael Christiansen, Honesdale, Prof. Frank C. Brown Award for Excellence in History;

Timothy J. Davila, Brooklyn, New York, Excellence in Cybercrime and Homeland Security;

Patrick David DelBalso, Plains Township, Excellence in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology;

Edward R. Drong, Flemington, New Jersey, Excellence in Occupational Therapy;

Julia A. Dugasz, Woodbridge, New Jersey, Excellence in Biochemistry;

Madison G. Dunlop, Oreland, Excellence in Communication Sciences and Disorders;

Julia L. Edmonds, Babylon, New York, J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism;

Alexander L. Eriquez, Howard Beach, New York, Edward J. Spitzer Scholarship Award;

Jackson F. Feiner, Pittstown, New Jersey, Excellence in International Studies;

James P. Fox, Hillsborough, New Jersey, Excellence in Computer Science;

Samuel E. Gates, Vestal, New York, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Award (PICPA) Outstanding Senior Student;

James K. Gillen, Staten Island, New York, Excellence in Operations Management;

Samantha G. Hoffmann, Millington, New Jersey, Sigma Theta Tau Award (International Honor Society of Nursing), ex aequo, as well as the Frank J. O'Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Evan M. Hromisin, Dallas, Dr. A.J. Cawley Award for Excellence in Engineering;

Gabrielle Judith Jamieson, Bradley Beach, New Jersey, Excellence in Psychology;

Jeremiah J. King, Lawrence Twp, New Jersey, Excellence in Accounting;

Jenna Marie Kotlar, Branchburg, New Jersey, Excellence in Kinesiology, as well as the Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Robert M. Kretschmer, Honesdale, Excellence in Theology and Religious Studies;

Mary Elizabeth Krichbaum, Endicott, New York, Excellence in Mathematics, B.S.;

Xavier Joseph Long, Germantown, Maryland, The Military Science Leadership Award;

Grace Kathryn McDonald, Jamison, Susquehanna Valley American Chemical Society Senior Award;

Elizabeth P. McKechney, Fairport, New York, Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Rebecca Mary Miller, Archbald, Excellence in Marketing;

Evie J. Mitchell, Morristown, New Jersey, Health Advocacy Award;

Jacob Mohring, East Stroudsburg, Rev. J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies, ex aequo;

Michael Joseph Molzen, Bloomsbury, New Jersey, Prof. Joseph P. Harper Award for Excellence in Physics;

Priyal Patel, Mountain Top, Excellence in Health Administration, as well as the Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Nathan Bernard Pfund, Honesdale, Excellence in Information Technology;

Theresa Pham, Philadelphia, Excellence in Biology;

Zane E. Price, Scranton, Mary E. Quinn Award for Excellence in Secondary Education; and the Prof. Joseph B. Cullather Award for Excellence in English;

Taralyn Rose Reilly, Archbald, Excellence in Health Promotion;

DeJanna B. Richardson, East Stroudsburg, Excellence in Counseling and Human Services;

Vincent L. Rinella, Staten Island, New York, Prof. Bernard J. McGurl Award for Excellence in Communication;

Kaitlyn Nicole Romito, Hauppauge, New York, Excellence in Nursing, as well as the Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Tyler Daniel Roueche, Jamesville, New York, Croteau & Marx Family Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering;

Anika H. Sehne, Dalton, Excellence in International Business;

Zainab Shah, Grapevine, Texas, Student Life Award, ex aequo;

Alexandra Shomali, Ellicott City, Maryland, Excellence in Philosophy, The Lawrence A. Mann Award, ex aequo; and the Rev. J.J. Quinn, S.J., Achievement Award for Demonstration of Excellence in English Studies, ex aequo, as well as the Frank J. O’Hara Award for General Academic Excellence;

Maria Stephen, Huntingdon Valley, Student Life Award, ex aequo;

Matthew J. Stern, Lawrence Twp, New Jersey, Excellence in Economics;

Kayla Marie Sullivan, Elkins Park, Excellence in Middle Level Education;

Kim Thi My Dang, Scranton, Lawrence Lennon Award for Outstanding Service and Achievement in Psychology;

Meghan A. Theofield, Smithtown, New York, Excellence in Business Administration;

Emilia Rose Tobey, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, Excellence in Criminal Justice;

Miriam M. Vandewater, Souderton, Excellence in Mathematical Sciences;

Kerrigan E. Wilson, Mount Pocono, Excellence in Physiology;

Sara Madison Wynne, Staten Island, New York, Excellence in Forensic Chemistry;

Kiley A. Yanochik, Dunmore, Excellence in Early and Primary Education;

Madison Glencer Zarone, Pittsburgh, Excellence in Management.

More than 725 graduates took part in The University of Scranton’s undergraduate commencement ceremony held May 18 at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Bachelor’s and associate degrees were conferred to students who had completed their academic degree requirements in August and December of 2024, as well as January and May of 2025. 

In addition to covering the Northeast United States, this year’s graduating class included members from Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky and Texas. The graduates collectively spanned 17 states, as well as China, Ireland and Vietnam. The most common major among the graduates was nursing, followed by kinesiology, biology, occupational therapy, finance and accounting. In total, the graduates covered 59 distinct majors.

The graduating class includes Jenyah Cunningham ’25, a double major (secondary education, English; English), from Brooklyn, New York. Cunningham is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan. The class also includes outgoing student government president Maria Stephen ’25, a triple major (philosophy, history, political science) from Huntington Valley, and vice president Amanda E. Campbell ’25, a nursing major from Farmingville, New York.

Nicole Young ’00, H’20, a senior producer for “60 Minutes,” served as the principal speaker. In her address, Young spoke about the importance of showing up and being willing to take the next step forward in life.

“I’ve shown up to stories that broke my heart and interviews where everything went wrong,” Young said. “I’ve been in rooms where I was the only woman, the only person of color, the youngest voice, the last one invited; sometimes all of the above. And I showed up. That is the job; not just in journalism but in life.”

Honorary degrees were presented to Scranton graduates Jacquelyn Dionne ’89 and Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., ’72.

Dionne, a Scranton native who previously worked as an intensive care nurse, is the health and wellness coordinator of Brookdale Senior Living in Wilton, Connecticut. She serves on the University’s Board of Trustees and has led and supported numerous significant campaigns to benefit the University, including co-chairing with her husband, John Dionne ’86, H’10, the largest capital campaign in University history.

Msgr. Quinn graduated from Scranton with an accounting degree. Rev. Quinn’s pastoral career includes 16 years as rector of rector of St. Peter’s Cathedral, the mother church of the Scranton diocese. Rev. Quinn, who recently retired from his role as senior priest of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Clarks Summit, and St. Gregory Parish, Clarks Green, was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for 15 years.

Sofia Termini ’25, a nursing major from Northport, New York, spoke on behalf of the Class of 2025.

“In my time at bedside, I’ve cared for people from every walk of life: the young and the old, the hopeful and the hurting and many in the final stretch of their journey,” Termini said. “Whenever I could, I took the time to sit with them, talk to them and help ease their minds, even briefly, from the pain they’re enduring. During these moments, something became strikingly clear: the dying rarely speak of social standing, awards or dream cars. …

“In the end, love is what remains. Not things. Not titles. Just love. My fellow graduates, fall in love, with people, with your work, with life itself and above all stay in love.”

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, addressed the graduates at the ceremony. He also conferred degrees upon candidates presented by Victoria Castellanos, Ph.D., dean of the Leahy College of Health Sciences; Mark Higgins, Ph.D., dean of the Kania School of Management; and Carolyn Berry, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., H’14, Bishop of Scranton, provided the Invocation. Cara Galli ’25, a double major in early and primary teacher education and philosophy from Carmel, New York, delivered the Benediction. Christopher J. Neumann, Esq. ’87, president of the University’s Alumni Society, also spoke at the ceremony, as did Tracy Stewart, Ph.D., interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.

An archived recording of the ceremony is available online.

The University of Scranton conferred more than 550 master’s and doctoral degrees at its graduate commencement ceremony held May 18 at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township. Graduates received master’s degrees in numerous disciplines, as well as doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in accounting, doctor of physical therapy degrees and doctor of nursing practice degrees. Graduates must have completed their academic requirements in August and December of 2024 or January and May of 2025.

Graduates hailed from 34 states, including the Northeast United States and Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas, among others. International graduates spanned Ghana, India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uganda and the Cayman Islands.

Andrea Alexandra Navarro Montoya, of Albrightsville, who earned a master of business administration degree in accounting, addressed the crowd on behalf of the Class of 2025. Navarro Montoya spoke about leaving Peru seven years ago in hopes of finding and building a better future.

“At the beginning of my time here, there were moments when I questioned if I belonged — if I truly ‘fit in,’” Navarro Montoya said. “But that changed when I met some amazing people who I now proudly call my best friends, incredible professors who became mentors and staff who became like family. …

“Scranton has been more than just a university — it has been a home, a place where I have grown, learned and found a community that has supported me every step of the way.”

An archived recording of the ceremony is available online.

Ten members of The University of Scranton’s Class of 2025 capped their undergraduate careers by being commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.

The 10 Scranton graduates, as well as six additional members from other regional colleges, were honored at an on-campus ceremony, held May 17.

Among those in attendance was Brig. Gen. Maurice “Moe” Barnett, national commanding general, U.S. Army ROTC. Also participating in the ceremony was Lt. Col. Jay Wenger, University professor of military science and leader of the Royal Warrior Battalion Army ROTC program.

University of Scranton ROTC graduates commissioned at the event were:

2nd Lt. Prescila S. Bryan, of Yonkers, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice;

2nd Lt. Anthony David Campola, of New Hartford, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree;

2nd Lt. Timothy J. Davila, of Brooklyn, New York, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in cybercrime and homeland security;

2nd Lt. Thomas R. Gibson III, of Great Bend, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history;

2nd Lt. Kyle Stephen Kimler, of Bethlehem, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice;

2nd Lt. Xavier Joseph Long, of Germantown, Maryland, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science;

2nd Lt. Taegan J. Mills, of Montrose, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and criminal justice;

2nd Lt. Conan J. O’Donnell, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history;

2nd Lt. Evan A. Rose, of Weehawken, New Jersey, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in operations management;

2nd Lt. Caroline Williams, of Scranton, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The University of Scranton recognized 35 outstanding master’s and doctoral degree graduates at its graduate commencement events the weekend of May 16-18, including at the graduate commencement ceremony at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre.

The following graduate students were honored for achievement in their academic area:

Gabrielle M. Andiario, Wyoming, received the Outstanding Student Award for Business Analytics;

Lee D. Ashlin, New Orleans, Louisiana, received the Outstanding Student Award for Cybercrime Investigation and Cybersecurity;

Sarah G. Boyle, Peckville, received the Outstanding Student Award for Accounting;

Imani M. Brown, Island Park, New York, received the Doctor of Philosophy Outstanding Student Award for Accounting;

Meghan L. Callahan, Cranbury, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for Special Education;

Emily J. Carpenito, Pottsville, received the Outstanding Student Award for Forensic Accounting;

Destiny R. Carpitella, Brooklyn, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Speech-Language Pathology;

Bharat Varma Chittari Vyacharouthu, Hyderabad, received the Outstanding Student Award for Business Analytics;

Madeline R. DeBaro, Cranford, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for School Counseling;

Regis Flaherty, Nazareth, received the Outstanding Student Award for Supply Chain Management;

Shawnna M. Giumento, Greenfield Township, received the Outstanding Student Award for Operations Management;

Emily K. Glutz, Metuchen, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling;

Kyle B. Hromisin, Dallas, received the Outstanding Student Award for Chemistry;

Andre A. Keller, Groton, South Dakota, received the Outstanding Student Award for Healthcare Management;

Bridget L. Klein, Melville, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Family Nurse Practitioner;

Julia H. Kopf, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for International Business;

Kathryn M. Kwapniewski, Middletown, New Jersey, received the Doctor of Physical Therapy Outstanding Student Award;

Amanda M. Laubshire, Oak Ridge, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for Accountancy;

Lan Luo, Wyckoff, New Jersey, received the Outstanding Student Award for Accounting Analytics;

Abigail R. Lynott, Dalton, received the Outstanding Student Award for Health Administration;

Kimberly Ann McClellan, Pottstown, received the Outstanding Student Award for Health Informatics;

John P. McDonough, Waverly Township, received the Outstanding Student Award for Secondary Education;

Vanessa S. Moylan, Jefferson Township, received the Outstanding Student Award for Marketing;

Cuong D. Nguyen, Ashley, received the Outstanding Student Award for Software Engineering;

Vanessa C. Pinto, Jenkins Township, received the Outstanding Student Award for Finance;

Dean A. Richards, Wilkes Barre, received the Doctor of Nursing Practice Outstanding Student Award for Nurse Anesthesia;

Hamilton L. Roldan, Long Beach, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Human Resources Management;

Jennifer M. Schmoyer, Alexandria, Virginia, received the Outstanding Student Award for Operations Management;

Zainab E. Sesay, Bladensburg, Maryland, received the Outstanding Student Award for Applied Behavior Analysis;

Aubrey Skolny, Pittsford, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Occupational Therapy;

Nathan J. Spak, Endwell, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Biochemistry;

Scott T. Stefanek, Rockville Centre, New York, received the Outstanding Student Award for Finance-Corporate Finance and Investments Specialization;

Susan Sutton Stopper, Clarks Summit, received the Outstanding Student Award for Clinical Mental Health Counseling;

Luke Sullivan, Mountain Top, received the Outstanding Student Award for General Business Administration;

Kevin R. Weaver, Walnutport, received the Outstanding Student Award for Healthcare Management.

A handful of national and international organizations and underserved populations will benefit in the coming months and years from recent University of Scranton graduates.

Seven Scranton graduates, listed below, including six members of the Class of 2025, have chosen to commit to long-term service projects:

Jackson Feiner ’25, Pittstown, New Jersey, will serve with the Peace Corps in Madagascar. Feiner earned a Bachelor of Science degree in international studies.

Theodore Krokus ’25, Scranton, will serve with the Peace Corps in Cambodia. Krokus earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

Victoria Lewis ’25, Dunmore, will serve with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps at the KC Care Health Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology.

Maria Stephen ’25, Huntingdon Valley, will serve with the St. Joseph Worker Program at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, California. Stephen, a triple major in history, political science and philosophy, was the student government president.

Ousmane Thiam ’25, Dumont, New Jersey, has also committed to service. Thiam earned a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology.

Nicole Thompson-Almada ’25, Bernardsville, New Jersey, has also committed to service and is a finalist to serve with the Peace Corps in Albania. Thompson-Almada earned a Bachelor of Science degree in international studies.

Isabelle Wohlleber ’24, Hazleton, will serve with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps as a direct care navigator at Women’s Lunch Place in Boston, Massachusetts. Wohlleber earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematical sciences.

Community service is a hallmark of an education at The University of Scranton, where students annually complete more than 175,000 hours of service.

The University of Scranton honored more than two dozen undergraduates in the Class of 2025 at its Multicultural Graduation Celebration, held on campus commencement weekend. 

The ceremony honored the academic achievements, unique experiences, rich heritages and numerous contributions of University students of various cultures. 

In total, 26 students participated in the event, which celebrated their determination, perseverance and resilience that helped them become key contributors in and out of the classroom. 

The celebration was held on campus at the Kane Forum of Leahy Hall and included remarks by Zainab Shah '25, a computer engineering major from Grapevine, Texas, and Kapil Patel '25, a health administration major from Wyckoff, New Jersey. Curtis Scott '25, a computer engineering major from Cresco, offered the closing prayer.

Also speaking at the event were Jose Sanchez, assistant director of the cultural centers at the University, and Lauren S. Rivera, J.D., vice president for student life and dean of students.

Recently the inaugural Omega Rho Induction Ceremony took place at The University of Scranton.

Omega Rho is the official honor society of INFORMS—the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. INFORMS is the premier international association for professionals in analytics, operations research, and decision sciences, and Omega Rho serves to recognize those who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in these disciplines.

Inductees are: Heena Anjum, Bharat Varma Chittari Vyacharouthu, Gayathri Siriki, Vaishnavi Valluri, Devakalyan Adigopula, Abdul Aziz Fuzail, Mohammed Divya Nimmala, Logan Hollis Campbell, Angelina Violet Serafimov, Dominick Gulius, Yasmin Ramirez, James  K. Gillen, Katie Elizabeth Brennan, Dean J. Finan, Matthew Tyler Pilotti and  Vani Thanmayee Kasarla.

"The induction celebrated an exceptional group of students with academic excellence, commitment and leadership in the fields of business analytics and supply chain management," said Dr. David Mahalak, an assistant professor in the Operations and Analytics Department who serves as the faculty advisor for the University's chapter of the Omega Rho Honor Society.

This recognition is extended to students across several distinguished programs—undergraduate students majoring in business analytics and supply chain management, as well as graduate students in the Master of Science in Business Analytics program and the MBA program with concentrations in business analytics or supply chain management.

On May 7, four University of Scranton students were inducted into the SALUTE National Honor Society, which recognizes veterans and active military who exemplify service, academic achievement, leadership, unity, tribute and excellence. SALUTE was established in 2009 by Colorado State University with the support of the American Council of Education and Walmart Foundation. Scranton's chapter of SALUTE is one of over 400 chapters of the society. 

Congratulations to new members of SALUTE: Drew Dearden '26, Marine veteran and cybercrime and homeland security major; Lindsey Ford G'26, Army veteran, applied behavior analysis graduate student; Nicholas Luzetski G'26, Army National Guard, international business graduate student, and Melanie Ortiz '26, Air Force veteran and forensic chemistry major.

Ten University of Scranton students and one alum presented their work at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in March. Scranton's chapter, Mu Omicron, was recognized for its 45th anniversary, and alum member Elias Kerr '23 won this year's Creative Works Alumni Award for an original poetry project, "trans [re]conciliation."

Emily Carey '26, "Gender and Genre: On Queer Writers Queering Writings", Gabriella Meditz '26, "William Blake's Poetic Illustration of Celestial Ideas," Faith Montagnino '26, "'Unsexing Ourselves': Proto-Feminism in Victoria Cross's 'Theodora' and Sara Grand's 'Woman Question,'" and Audrey Munley '25 "Trauma in Mother-Daughter Relationships" presented critical essays; Allen Stankiewicz '26, "The Tempus" presented an original prose piece; Gabriella Palmer '26,"To the Tune of Chaos: A Ten-Minute Play" presented an original play; Adelle Confer '26, "Must it Have been Akin to a Wife-Swap?", Lauren DeSantis '26, "What the War of Life Taught Me So Far," Benna Parker '25, "Novelty", Nya Rowe '26, "a hunger to belong" presented creative nonfiction pieces; and Kerr, '23 "trans [re]conciliation" presented original poetry.

Additionally, Montagnino, Munley and Parker presented a roundtable on the Common Reader entitled "One of Ours, One for Others: Exploring Jesuit Values Through When My Brother Was an Aztec." The roundtable was moderated by Dr. Billie Tadros, faculty co-moderator, and assisted by the other chapter members. Dr. Tadros and Kerr co-led a LitFest writing workshop for Convention attendees on "Creative Mentorship: Connection, Collaboration, and Craft," and Dr. Tadros co-led a faculty development session entitled "Teaching/Writing/Publishing/Advising: Making it All Work" with a fellow faculty moderator from Friends University. Dr. Madeline B. Gangnes, faculty co-moderator. Dr. Tadros and several students served as panel chairs and moderators.

Current students' travel was supported by the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Student Research Grant program and funding from the Jesuit Center.

Sigma Tau Delta is the national honor society in English. The honor society recognizes students who major or minor in English, theatre or secondary education/English and maintain a grade point average of 3.4 or better in English, theatre and writing courses and an overall grade point average of 3.4 or higher. English professors Billie Tadros, Ph.D., and Madeline B. Gangnes, Ph.D., serve as co-moderators of Scranton’s chapter of the honor society.

The University of Scranton this spring added hundreds of students, representing all colleges and majors, to its chapters of numerous national and international honor societies.

Click the links below to access the lists of students inducted into each honor society:

Alpha Delta Sigma
Alpha Epsilon Alpha
Alpha Mu Gamma
Alpha Phi Sigma
Alpha Sigma Nu
Beta Beta Beta
Beta Gamma Sigma
Chi Delta Rho
Eta Kappa Nu
Eta Sigma Gamma
Lambda Pi Eta
Mu Kappa Tau
Nu Rho Psi
Omega Beta Sigma
Omega Rho
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Epsilon Kappa
Phi Lambda Upsilon
Phi Sigma Tau
Pi Gamma Mu
Pi Mu Epsilon
Pi Sigma Alpha
Psi Chi
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Theta Tau
Tau Upsilon Alpha
Theta Alpha Kappa
Upsilon Phi Delta
Upsilon Pi Epsilon
Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Lambda Delta
Alpha Sigma Lambda
Institute for Management Accountants
Kappa Delta Pi
Sigma Iota Rho
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Phi Delta Kappa
Sigma Nu Tau
Sigma Pi Sigma
Sigma Theta Tau
Sigma Xi

The University of Scranton’s oldest honor society now has its newest group of honorees.

The annual Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society Induction Ceremony was held recently on campus, where 66 University students officially took their place as inductees into the coveted honor society for high-achieving students in Jesuit colleges and universities.

Juniors, seniors and graduate students who have distinguished themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service are eligible for membership.

Alpha Sigma Nu is the National Jesuit Honor Society. The Scranton chapter was founded in 1943.

The following students earned the distinction of being inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu:

Kenneth Altman
Maria Amato
Amber Armitage
David Banko
Owen Barlow
Jaznie Belfont
Madalyn Beretzki
Rebecca Berry
Diana Bobko
Katie Brennan
Emily Carey
Samantha Colby
Alyssa Cosklo
Chelsea Curran
Erica Czerwinski
Linda Daly
Anna DiFiori
Madison Dunlop
Julia Edmonds
Dean Finan
Kevin Finning
Michael Gallo
Patrick George
Emily Alexa Gotiangco
Ryan Hanley
Ryan Hawk
Rachel Hoffman
Samantha Hoffmann
Sally Hopkins
Matthew Jasienski
Kathryn Kwapniewski
Jenna LaBarca
Kiera Lapham
Julia LeMay
Grace Lennox
Brooke Levengood
Grace Lloyd
Aiden Mackrell
Sofia Mastellone
Victoria Mauri
Andrew Mauriello
Grace McDonald
Ashley McVeigh
Gabriella Meditz
Hailey Monaghan
Faith Montagnino
Anne Murphy
Sheldon Myers
Lila Naccari
Brian O'Connor
Hailey Patts
Michael Redmond
Kevin Reilly
Kaitlyn Romito
Matthew Schade
Angelina Serafimov
Julia Shimshock
Allison Slovak
Rebecca Stankoski
Nicole Tonny
Morgan Tullio
Joseph Vazquez
Jordon Wagner
Girmachew Wasihun
Molly White
Madison Zarone

Multiple University of Scranton undergraduate students made poster presentations for the 2025 University of Scranton Brain and Behavior Conference, held April 26 at the Loyola Science Center.

The following Scranton students made poster presentations at the event, which served as an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. researchers to present their findings:

• Stephen Butler, a neuroscience major from Telford: Neurological structural and chemical effects of chronic morphine exposure in Camponotus floridanus
• Matthew Bispo, a neuroscience and philosophy major from Vineland, New Jersey: Hsd17b7 Localizes Along Neurite Structures in Differentiating Neuro2a Cells
• Andrew Mauriello, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Duryea: Isolating and identifying candidate Neuro2a cells deficient in Hsd17b7
• Vlad Dumitrescu, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Lords Valley: Analyzing expression of Hsd17b7 during Neuro2a differentiation
• Mackenna Percey, a neuroscience major from Branchville, New Jersey: The Effects on Dopamine of Socially Isolated Drosophila Flies
• Madasen Mariano, a neuroscience major from Mayfield: The Buzz of CBD: Analyzing Locomotive Behavior in Campontus floridunas
• Madalyne Gasper, a neuroscience major from Stroudsburg: Investigating the Role of the Telencephalon on the Startle Response in Goldfish, Carassius auratus
• Martine Sirianni, a physiology major from Media: Impacts of taurine on zebrafish aggression and gene expression
• Jacob Mohring, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from East Stroudsburg: Effects of OBA in a Castration-Based Model of Parkinson's Disease​
• Gerald Donahue, a neuroscience major from Clarks Summit: Comparing Anxiety Levels in Castrated vs. Intact Mice Using the Elevated Plus Maze
• Stephen Kudriavetz, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Randolph, New Jersey: Behavioral Cellular and Molecular Characterization of a Castration Based Model of PD
• Alexandra Shomali, a mathematical sciences and philosophy major from Ellicott City, Maryland: Computational Modeling of the BK Ion Channel Using the Morris-Lecar Equations
• Patrick Kane, a neuroscience major from New Milford, New Jersey: Developing a Female-Specific Mouse Model for Parkinson’s Disease Using a High-Sensitivity Neural Network

Additionally, Patrick Orr, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Scranton, presented “Misinformation Concerning the H.M. Case Study: A Temporal-Lobe Focused Seizure?”

The morning keynote speech, “Reward Interrupted: Impulsivity and Addition in Diverse Animal Models,” was given by J. David Jentsch, Ph.D., distinguished professor and chair, Psychology Department, Binghamton University. The afternoon lecture, “Seaing Neurobiology Through the Lens of an Anemone,” was made by Michael J. Layden, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences/Neuroscience, Lehigh University.

Ten University of Scranton students – three graduate students and seven undergraduates –recently presented research at the eighth annual HamSCI Workshop. This two-day program attracted amateur radio operators and enthusiasts from around the world, coming together to collaborate on their latest findings, strategies and outlooks.

Physics professor Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., presented and chaired multiple sessions at the event for the group he founded. The HamSCI Workshop was hosted this year on March 14-15 at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Among the presenters were the following University of Scranton graduate students and their topics: Cuong Nguyen, Ashley, who is pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering, “Software Development for the Grape Personal Space Weather Station, V2;” Diego Sanchez, Basking Ridge, New Jersey, who is pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering, “Climatology of Large-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Observed with 14 MHz Amateur Radio Using a Novel Automated Detection Technique;” and Nicholas Guerra, Scranton, who is pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering, “Integration & Validation of a Standardized Library and File Format for PyDARNMUSIC and DARNtids: Migrating from Legacy Pickle Files to HDF5 and Implementing a Comprehensive Testing Suite.”

Additionally, seven undergraduate students presented on the following topics: Alexandros Papadopoulos, Scotrun, a computer engineering major, “Analysis of the HamSCI Solar Eclipse High Frequency Time Difference of Arrival Experiment Observations Using Automated Techniques;” Rebecca Potter, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, a physics and philosophy double major, “How Do We Put a HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station in America?” and “Electron Thermionic Emission and Tunnelling Transport in Spherically Symmetric Charged Grains in Dusty Plasmas;” Gerard Piccini, Monroe Township, New Jersey, an electrical engineering major, “A Low-Cost, Low-Power Chirp Ionosonde for Studying Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts;” James Fox, Hillsborough, New Jersey,  a computer science and mathematical sciences double major, “Southern Hemisphere MSTID Response to a Sudden Stratospheric Warming Observed by the Falkland Islands SuperDARN Radar; Owen Ruzanski, Shohola, a computer engineering major, “Development of a Contesting and DXing Dashboard for the HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station;” Michael Molzen, Bloomsbury, New Jersey, a physics major, “Investigating January 2016 Traveling Ionospheric Disturbance Causes with SuperDARN;” and Tom Pisano, Staten Island, New York, an electrical engineering major, “University of Scranton W3USR Teaching Amateur Radio at the Lackawanna Blind Association.”

In addition to Dr. Frissell, Rachel Frissell, faculty specialist in the Physics and Engineering Department, presented “Understanding HamSCI Magnetometers Measurements and Observations;” and Kornyanat Hozumi, Ph.D., a post-doctoral research associate, presented “HamSCI as a Tool for Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Study.” Also attending the workshop were faculty members Bob Spalletta, Ph.D., professor of physics and engineering; Argyrios Varonides, Ph.D., professor of physics and engineering; and Christine Zakzewski, Ph.D., associate professor of physics and engineering.

For more information about the HamSCI Workshop and additional details on each presentation, visit the organization’s website.

The University celebrates three new Noyce Scholars—Britney Walsh '24, G'25, Devang Patel '24, G'25, and Joseph Phillips '24, G'25 —who will walk across the Commencement stage this month with master's degrees in secondary education. From there they will head straight into high school classrooms where curious minds are waiting. Walsh, Patel and Phillips, alongside juniors Alessandra Bellino and James Kane, show what a rock‑solid STEM foundation can do: inspire teens to become tomorrow’s biologists, mathematicians, coders, chemists, physicists, engineers and more.

Grounded in cura personalis and the Ignatian spirit of reflection, service and excellence, the scholars are preparing to spark curiosity in high school classrooms. The scholars invite students to picture themselves as the next generation of researchers, innovators and problem‑solvers working for the common good.

Good news: Applications for the next Noyce Scholar cohort are still open. 

The Noyce Scholarship Program offers $35,000 in funding to cover full tuition for the 11-month MS in Secondary Education Program at The University of Scranton, thanks to support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Questions? Reach out to Dr. Juan Serna (juan.serna@scranton.edu) or Dr. Maria Oreshkina (maria.oreshkina@scranton.edu)

Meet the Noyce Scholars

Britney Walsh '24, G'25

Walsh graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology. As an undergraduate at the University, she participated in many clubs, including Asia Club, Scranton Students Association of the Philippines (SSAP), the Society for Sustainability and Conservation (SS&C), and served as production manager of Esprit. 

Devang Patel '24, G'25

Patel graduated with majors in neuroscience, environmental science and philosophy. He was also part of SJLA and Magis Honors Programs.

"Teaching in a high-need school aligns with my passion for fostering equity in STEM education. I want to empower students to see the relevance of chemistry in their daily lives and future aspirations, especially those who may not have had consistent access to quality instruction or resources.  By portraying chemistry through real-world applications, I hope to ignite curiosity and inspire confidence in students. As a teacher, I want to provide not just academic knowledge, but also mentorship, encouragement and a belief in my students’ potential to succeed, no matter their circumstances." 

Joseph Phillips '24, G'25

Phillips graduated with a major in mathematics.
"I was not entirely sold on what I wanted to do going into college. It took me about a year to decide that teaching math was an interest of mine...

"This program allowed me to stick to my original path. Also, teaching at a high-need school seemed like a way of giving back to the system that I had to learn in. Overall, this program provided a great opportunity for me to keep my life on track while also doing some good."

Alessandra Bellino '26

Bellino is a junior secondary education and mathematics double major from Schwenksville.
"At The University of Scranton, I am the treasurer of the Student Education Club. I am also a coxswain for the women’s crew team. Through the Noyce foundation I am given the opportunity to teach in a high-need school after graduation. I am very grateful for this opportunity because I think that is extremely important to have qualified teachers in high-need schools, so the students can succeed."

James Kane '26

Kane is a junior secondary education and mathematics major from Westchester, New York.

"I enrolled into the Noyce Scholarship program for the opportunities provided and this program allows me to prepare myself to be the best teacher I can be. With the shortage of STEM teachers, I hope to be able to impact students’ lives and help prepare them for the world."

By Alexa Cutter '28, and Samantha Kosmark '26, student correspondents

The University of Scranton aims to preserve the beauty and historical significance of the Quain Memorial Conservatory and position it as a leading example of how educational institutions can embrace sustainability.

Originally built in 1872, the Victorian-style greenhouse was constructed for the Scranton family, who used the conservatory to cultivate and prepare cut flowers. The structure has been a part of the University since its establishment in 1959; its historical information reflects the architecture of the Victorian era and holds a significant place in the University’s heritage.

In the early 1970s, a group of students, faculty, and volunteers began their mission to restore the conservatory. Their commitment and hard work showed in the formal reopening and dedication of the Quain Memorial Conservatory on Sept. 14, 1975. This event marked a new chapter for the greenhouse, making it one of the few Victorian-style conservatories that are still unaltered from their original design.

The Quain Memorial Conservatory now serves a multi-purposed role at the University. The atmosphere within the greenhouse encourages individuals, including students and staff, to explore their passion for environmental sustainability. The greenhouse serves as a home for a variety of plants. Recently, the Office of Sustainability hosted events to keep people involved with the environment on campus. At one of these events, individuals were invited to paint rocks for Valentine’s Day.

Looking to the future

The University is actively working on plans to transform the Quain Memorial Conservatory into a sustainable community resource. In 2023, a new high-efficiency Lochinvar 80 boiler was installed, reducing the cost of heating. In 2024, phase one of a three-phase project began effect. This first phase involved the renovation of the glass on the east wing of the greenhouse and the removal of old glass that might have been broken. Phase two is set to be completed in 2025, and phase three in 2026.

Through these efforts, Scranton aims to preserve the beauty and historical significance of the Quain Memorial Conservatory and position it as a leading example of how educational institutions can embrace sustainability. The ongoing preservation and enhancement of this greenhouse shows dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and responsibility, ensuring that it is still an important asset for generations of students, faculty and staff.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the greenhouse or planting greenery at The Quain Memorial Conservatory, should contact Mark Murphy in the Office of Sustainability at mark.murphy@scranton.edu 

Academic research could be an isolating endeavor.

The long, lonely hours spent in laboratories and libraries could sometimes have researchers wondering if their hard work will pay off in the end.

Then, an event like The University of Scranton’s Celebration of Student Scholars happens, and it’s clear that the sacrifice was worth the effort.

The 25th annual Celebration of Student Scholars was held during the afternoon of April 30. The three-hour social event, which was catered and featured nonstop foot traffic inside the Loyola Science Center, drew hundreds of University community members, including friends, family and faculty.

About 185 students participated in the showcase, including more than a dozen oral presenters like Cuong Nguyen.

“I am very proud of myself and of course there’s a sense of relief, as well,” said Nguyen, of Ashley, a Scranton graduate now pursuing his master's degree in software engineering here. “This project, I’ve been working on it since at least 2023.”

The origin of Nguyen’s research project, “Software Development for the Grape Personal Space Weather Station,” predates the college careers of some other presenters.

For example, Jonathon Symuleski, a biochemistry major from Hop Bottom, is a sophomore at the University. Symuleski’s relative youth didn’t stop him, however, from reading ahead and getting a jump on some sophisticated concepts he’ll learn in the years to come.

“Overall, super beneficial,” Symuleski said of his research project. “I learned so much doing the project. I was able to take some concepts from class that I had and then apply them to actual work. I got to work with a great professor and it’s helped me discover what I like doing.”

Arati Kishore, of Pakistan, said it was a dream of hers to present a poster at a globally recognized university such as Scranton. Kishore covered “Commodity Pricing Reduces Costs While Prices Stay Stable.”

“It was a big thing for me; analyzing the data, making charts, reviewing and discussing with your peers and teachers and finally making a project which you can present and find out the research,” Kishore said. “There’s a problem and you find out some research (to solve it). It was a great experience.”

Presenters spanned all three of the University’s colleges and covered timely topics, including “Rewriting the Rules: NIL and the College Sports Economy,” by Colin Merriman, a senior finance major from Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Timeless subjects were covered, too, including former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill; students in a history class taught by Robert Shaffern, Ph.D., were assigned to research different aspects of Churchill’s life.

“I did my research project on Clementine Churchill, Winston Churchill’s wife … she really fascinated me and was a beautiful and interesting person,” said Therese Shimkus, a history major from Scranton. “Through her whole life, she was a rather lonely, isolated individual. That carried over into her adulthood. But she really supported her husband — completely, wholeheartedly — all the time. I was so impressed by her story and I’m happy to be able to share it.”

In total, 110 of the 124 poster presentations were solo and the remaining 14 were made in small groups.

Each presenter worked closely with a faculty mentor who helped guide them along the way.

“It’s just a chance for us as a university community to celebrate and recognize their hard work because they put a lot of work into it,” said Brooke Leonard, director of the office of research and sponsored programs. “We have some excellent students doing amazing research. And our faculty are really great mentoring them and taking them on. We like to recognize that.”

College is all about impactful and transformative experiences.

Sometimes, as was the case with a recent adventure to Poughkeepsie, New York, the turning points and pushes that happen behind the scenes provide an experience nearly as compelling as the end destination.

Months of student-led planning and preparation culminated on April 29 with about 30 University of Scranton students receiving an extensive tour of Poughkeepsie’s IBM Innovation Studio.

“It began with an introduction to what the facility does and the role IBM’s mainframes play in everyday life — from processing payments for airline tickets to delivering up-to-date financial and banking information,” said Bernard Scott, a computer science major from West Chester. “We were then greeted by one of the cybersecurity professionals who talked about how IBM incorporates security into every level of their mainframe systems. Following the presentation, we met nine professionals who were all beginning their careers at IBM. The professionals took several questions from students and gave us a lot of valuable information and lessons about starting at IBM or any other company.”

And that’s just scratching the surface.

Scott and his classmates — from both the University’s student chapters for the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) — also toured the live system testing floor and received an up-close view of IBM’s prototype mainframes, the mainframes currently running for clients and the cutting-edge IBM-Z mainframes.

“We appreciated the sheer scale of the operations that were happening under one roof,” Scott said.

The seeds for this trip were planted back in October, when the Computer Science Department hosted a talk with PJ Catalano, a mainframe influencer who works at IBM’s Poughkeepsie facility. Catalano’s visit was arranged with help from Chris Filachek ’96, an IBM employee and member of the Computer Science Department’s Advisory Board.

“Before the presentation, the department has a tradition of holding an informal meet-and-greet with the presenter, inviting students and faculty to engage with them while enjoying some pizza,” Scott recalled. “In my conversation with PJ, he extended to The University of Scranton ACM an invitation to tour the facility.”

Scott and his classmates took that invitation and set into motion plans to make it happen.

Obstacles included planning a date, forming an itinerary and negotiating affordable transportation.

However, the two student clubs were undeterred and determined to execute what ended up being a highlight of their time at the University.

In addition to the aforementioned nine young professionals at IBM, Catalano and a handful of other veteran coworkers also greeted the University students and their two faculty mentors, Mark Fenner, Ph.D., computing sciences professor, and Andrew Berger, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Physics and Engineering Department, who made the trip with them.

“It was exciting to see the implementation of topics from our operating systems and computer architecture classes into professionally maintained mainframes,” Scott said. “I hope the students and faculty learned valuable lessons and are inspired to use the knowledge from class to accomplish greatness and move the world forward.”

Experiential learning trips such as this are supported by gifts made as part of the University’s Day of Giving.

In an occasional series, Royal News spotlights clubs from the university’s 100+ student organizations on campus, speaks to members and offers information on how to connect with the clubs. 

To suggest a club for a future Royal News article, to share ideas or to inform us of any upcoming club events, please email RoyalNews@scranton.edu or elizabeth.vanderneut@scranton.edu.

GET INVOLVED:

Club: University of Scranton Student Nurses Association

Connect: @scranton.nursing

Meet: Grace Moran, senior nursing major from Oradell, New Jersey

Role: club secretary

Meet: Maura Schaab, senior nursing major from Hillsborough, New Jersey

Role: club president

Meet: Erin Hartey, senior nursing major from Milford

Role: club senior vice president


Q: National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2025, honors the invaluable contributions of nurses worldwide. Please share details about any activities in which the Student Nurses Association plans to participate? 

In honor of National Nurses Week, the Student Nurses Association will be preparing goodie bags for the nurses in the hospitals where the nursing students have their clinical rotations. Within each goodie bag contains an assortment of candy and a motivational note to express our gratitude toward the nurses as not only healthcare professionals but as mentors and preceptors. After the goodie bags are put together, we distribute the bags to the students so that they can provide the goodie bags to the nurses on their designated unit. This has been a tradition of the Student Nurses Association for several years, and something we hope to continue for all future Nurses Weeks to come.  

Q: What is the mission of the Student Nurses Association? 

The Student Nurses Association is an organization aimed to provide students with a community to enhance professional growth and leadership skills, promote campus and local volunteerism, and support academic and long-term success. 

Q: What, in your opinion, are the most memorable events or activities you present as an association? 

GM: One of my favorite events hosted by the Student Nurses Association is the blood pressure clinic! I had recently learned and been cleared off by the nursing department lab coordinators on how to take a blood pressure. Some of my upperclassmen friends at the time encouraged me to take part in the clinic as it not only was a way to give back to the community but also a great way to practice my new skill. I remember this clinic being the first moment in my nursing career that allowed me to really feel like a nurse. Since this clinic, I have participated in each one thereafter. I love being able to get involved within the campus community and work on my foundational skills.      

Q: Why would you recommend someone join? Why did you join the club?  

EH: I would recommend joining the Student Nurses Association because it helps you feel more connected to your fellow nursing students and the nursing program. It’s a great way to build relationships, develop leadership skills, and give back through community service events. Being part of the club also gives you the chance to learn from upperclassmen, who can offer helpful advice and insight about classes, clinicals, and what to expect as you move through the program.  

I joined because I wanted to be more involved on campus, especially within the nursing program. I was excited to be a part of a community where the members support each other through the challenges of nursing school. I also really liked that the club focuses on helping us grow as future nurses while also encouraging us to stay active on campus and give back to the community.  

Q: When and where does the Student Nurses Association meet, and how can someone who is interested find out more about it? What topics do you discuss? 

The Student Nurses Association meets on the first Friday of every month, starting at around 2:30 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater on the 4th floor of the DeNaples Center. Anyone interested in the organization should join the club via Royal Sync so that they may be included in the email chain. Additionally, those interested should follow the Instagram (@scranton.nursing) where we post about important club events, volunteer opportunities, and various activities nursing majors are participating in around campus! 

Q: Any upcoming plans for the fall semester? 

We have several exciting events planned for the upcoming fall semester! We will be hosting the annual blood pressure clinic alongside the Center for Health Education and Wellness' flu shot clinic. We will also have an externship panel where upperclassmen can share their experiences and answer questions to help students prepare for future opportunities. One of our most popular events at the end of every fall semester is the holiday party where students and faculty come together to celebrate the holiday season and the end of the semester.  

Q. What would you like all Royals to know about the association that we have not asked about? 

The Student Nurses Association utilizes a mentorship program where underclassmen are paired with upperclassmen to provide insight and advice to help them through nursing program. The coursework and time dedicated to clinicals can be overwhelming and stressful. However, with the mentorship program, we hope that students can lean on their mentors not only for their knowledge, but also for emotional support, empowerment and reassurance.