
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.
$content.getChild('content').textValueClass Night Honors Outstanding Undergraduates
Sixty-one graduating University of Scranton undergraduates received awards for academic achievement, leadership and service.