Scranton Team Earns 3rd in “Save Lives” Challenge
Members of The University of Scranton’s Students Save Lives College Challenge group participated in numerous activities during the spring. One such activity was a table sit inside the DeNaples Center, where members gathered signatures and raised awareness for the program. The University placed third out of 14 teams in the challenge. From left: Bridget Ulmer, Brenna Parker, Carly Nadal, Jane Bagatta, Lily Abreu and Kaitlyn Johnson.A team of more than 30 University of Scranton students excelled at this year’s Students Save Lives College Challenge, a competition whose goal is educating the public about organ donation.
The University of Scranton placed third out of 14 teams from institutions of higher learning. Scranton’s team consisted of students in a communications ethics course instructed by Brian Snee, Ph.D., associate professor of communications and media.
Teams competed for points across numerous activities, including social media posts, new donor registrations and participating in special days like National Donor Day (Feb. 14) and National Blue and Green Day (April 11).
The College Challenge is presented by the Gift of Life Donor Program. Gift of Life is an internationally recognized nonprofit organization that helps coordinate life-saving organ and tissue transplants. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 103,000 men, women and children are on the national transplant waiting list and nearly 50,000 transplants were performed in 2024.
The following is a list of students who competed on this year’s third-place team from Scranton:
Lucy Abdalla, an advertising/public relations major from South Abington Township
Lily Abreu, an advertising/public relations major from Wilkes-Barre
Dermot Alvidrez, a journalism and electronic media major from Summit, New Jersey
Alexander Arici, a communication major from Boonton, New Jersey
Jane Bagatta, a journalism and electronic media major from Rockville Centre, New York
Daniel Bohenek, a journalism and electronic media major from Scranton
Weston Camillone, a journalism/electronic media and advertising/public relations major from East Northport, New York
Michael Carrea, a communication major from Cranford, New Jersey
Ileen Castillo, a social media strategies major from Bronx, New York
Mia Chmela, a communication major from Franklin Square, New York
Mason Cuff, a business communication major from Clarks Summit
Jake D’Agata, a business communication major from East Moriches, New York
Jennifer D’Andrea, an advertising/public relations major from Tafton
Elise Doherty, an advertising/public relations major from Havertown
Emily Gallagher, a criminal justice major from Blackwood, New Jersey
Erin Gretsky, a communication major from Middletown, New Jersey
Nefty Guadalupe, a journalism and electronic media major from Newark, New Jersey
Ethan Haggerty, a journalism and electronic media major from Milford
Dean Hiltsley, a business communication major from Buchanan, New York
Kaitlyn Johnson, a business communication major from Coram, New York
Carson Kelleher, a business communication major from Clarks Summit
Haley Kenny, a journalism and electronic media major from Vestal, New York
Robert Latzanich, a business communication major from Point Lookout, New York
Patrick McCormack, a business communication major from Livingston, New Jersey
Cynthia McDermott, a communication major from Brightwaters, New York
Derek Myers, a business communication major from Cortland, New York
Carly Nadal, a journalism and electronic media major from Bronx, New York
Connor O’Keefe, an advertising/public relations major from Ramsey, New Jersey
Brenna Parker, an English major from Orangeburg, New York
Mila Racibor, a social media strategies major from Old Forge
Anthony Santos, a journalism and electronic media major from Scranton
Daniel Smith, a communication major from Havertown
Bridget Ulmer, a communication major from North Wales
Grace Werteen, a journalism and electronic media major from Orefield
